Pakistan’s ace hitter Babar Azam woes in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 continued on Wednesday night, with another low score adding to his long list of disappointments. Babar was removed for nine runs while playing for the Sydney Sixers against the Adelaide Strikers at the Sydney Cricket Ground, eliciting loud booing from sections of the home crowd.
The right-handed batter landed in Australia as one of the Sydney Sixers’ headline international signings, with the event viewed as a critical platform for regaining confidence and advancing his cause ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. However, the campaign has deviated significantly from projections. After began his BBL season with a dreadful score of two against the Perth Scorchers, his bad performance continued in the second game, with another single-digit score.
Facing the Adelaide Strikers, Babar greeted the second ball he faced with a boundary. But while batting for his next move, the batsmen went to rotate the strike, but attempting a half-hearted sort of body-line jab from Luke Wood — and protecting himself more than trying to score runs in all honesty — spooned it straight back to Matthew Short, who swallowed up an easy catch.
As Babar Azam walked back to the pavilion after scoring nine wickets in ten deliveries, boos rang out around the arena. While it is unclear whether the jeers were directed at Babar or by members of the audience reacting to the Strikers’ celebration.
Luke Wood gets the BIG wicket of Babar Azam!
The No.2 pick in the #BBL15 Draft has his first breakthrough for the Adelaide Strikers. pic.twitter.com/9eAmehbj38
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 17, 2025Strikers Hold Nerve to Chase 160
The Sydney Sixers were eventually all out for 159/9 in 20 overs, with Josh Philippe top scoring with 46 off 28 balls and Jack Edwards contributing 32. Luke Wood (3/26) and Jamie Overton (2/22) were best of Adelaide’s controlled bowling display.
In response, the Strikers kept losing wickets but held their nerve and completed the chase with four balls to spare. The innings was driven by Liam Scott (51) and Jamie Overton, who contributed 30 in an impressive all-round performance which saw him crowned Player of the Match.
