Pakistan batting star Babar Azam has concluded his debut Big Bash League (BBL) season with an unwanted record: the lowest strike rate in BBL history among batters who scored 200 or more runs in a single season.
According to official BBL statistics, there have been 350 instances of players finishing a season with at least 200 runs. Among them, Babar’s strike rate of 103.06 for the Sydney Sixers in BBL 15 now ranks at the bottom.
Babar’s Performance in BBL 15
Babar played 11 matches, scoring 202 runs off 196 balls, with a highest score of 58 not out. He contributed two half-centuries, but his overall output was affected by frequent low scores and a slower scoring rate, which became a major talking point throughout the season.
| Player | Team | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | Strike Rate | 100 | 50 | 0 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Sydney Sixers | 11 | 11 | 202 | 58* | 22.44 | 196 | 103.06 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 3 |
| Nathan McSweeney | Brisbane Heat | 9 | 9 | 222 | 73 | 27.75 | 211 | 105.21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
Babar arrived in Australia as the Sixers’ marquee overseas signing on a reported $420,000 platinum deal, and remains one of the biggest names in world cricket, including being the leading run-scorer in T20I history.
Criticism Over Tempo
Questions about Babar’s scoring rate have followed him for years. He was even omitted from Pakistan’s T20 setup last year due to concerns about his tempo.
Babar began his BBL stint positively, scoring fifties against Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades, but his momentum soon dipped. He was dismissed for single digits six times in 11 matches and hit only three sixes, prompting criticism about his approach in the power-hitting format.
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh suggested that the Sixers consider dropping Babar for a do-or-die finals match, arguing for a more aggressive top-order option. However, that decision became irrelevant as Babar is returning to Pakistan to prepare for international fixtures.
Upcoming T20 Series for Pakistan
Pakistan will host Australia in a three-match T20 series starting January 29. Although the official squad has not been announced, Babar is widely expected to feature as Pakistan build toward the T20 World Cup.
