Latest news with #ICCMen'sCricketeroftheYear
Mint
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
‘It's not fair': Jasprit Bumrah speaks about not becoming Test captain for Team India
It was Jasprit Bumrah's decision to skip the leadership roles of Team India. The ace fast bowler told the BCCI not to consider him for the Test captaincy as his back problems needed careful management, informed Bumrah himself. With Rohit Sharma stepping down from Test cricket, the BCCI chose Shubman Gill to lead the team in the five-match series against England starting on June 20 in Leeds. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that giving Bumrah the captain's role would add too much pressure. Bumrah, 31, said he had spoken to doctors and his surgeon. Then, he decided it was smarter to focus on managing his fitness. Jassi captained two Test matches in Australia in 2024 when Rohit was unavailable. But, then, he suffered a serious back injury in the final Test. That injury kept him out of action for three months. Bumrah, who won the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2024, has had several back issues and even had surgery in 2023. He believes a Test captain must be fully fit. While speaking on Sky Sports, Dinesh Karthik told Bumrah that many people, including him, were confused why the BCCI had not chosen Jasprit Bumrah as the Test captain. 'There is no controversy. There is no 'headlining' statement that I was sacked or I was not looked after,' Bumrah said with a smile. Bumrah said he had spoken to the BCCI before Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket. "I came to the conclusion that I have to be a little smarter. So, I called the BCCI and said 'I don't want to be looked at in a leadership role' because I won't be able to play all Test matches," Bumrah replied. 'It's not fair to the team if in a five-test series, three matches somebody else is leading and two matches somebody else is leading. I always wanted to put the team first," he added. Social media reacted to his justification and expressed their admiration. 'Bro is the real definition of selfless. No paid PRs, only facts and pure dedication towards the country. Hats off to him, wrote one user. 'Bumrah, the Respect for you increased a lot when i understood you are trying to offer to our country as much as possible in all the 3 Formats.. Try to Win India Few more Trophies.. Jai Hind…' wrote another fan. Another fan wished, 'I Pray that he plays for another 5/6 years. . All Format GOAT for a reason…' 'Love Bumrah in that he never indulges in PR pushes that a few other batsmen do. Performance is the best PR push,' came from another.
Express Tribune
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Babar Azam contract at Sydney Sixers revealed: Pakistan cricket star to earn shocking amount for BBL 15
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam has secured one of the highest salaries in Big Bash League (BBL) history after signing with the Sydney Sixers ahead of the upcoming season. Azam's contract is set to exceed the Platinum category base price, marking a significant achievement for the 30-year-old batter. Sources close to the deal confirm that Azam's salary will be nearly PKR 10 crore, making him one of the highest-paid players in the competition. The Platinum category for BBL overseas players has a base price of around PKR 7.75 crore. This will be Babar Azam's first appearance in the Big Bash League, and the Sixers are excited to have him on board for the 2025 season. Azam, who has accumulated over 10,000 international runs in all formats, brings a wealth of experience to the team. His signing represents a major boost to the Sixers' championship aspirations. The Sixers were allowed to pre-sign one overseas player before the official BBL 15 draft on June 19. The team selected Azam from the Platinum category, offering him a lucrative contract ahead of the draft, which positions him among the elite players of the competition. Babar Azam's career has been defined by consistency and success. He captained Pakistan's national team from 2019 to 2024 and led them to the semi-finals of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition. Renowned for his calmness under pressure, Azam is considered one of the finest T20 and ODI batsmen in the world. He has been ranked among the top players in both formats for several years and has been awarded ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2022, in addition to being named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022. With more than 11,000 T20 runs, Babar Azam is no stranger to global leagues, having played in the Pakistan Super League, the Caribbean Premier League, and various English domestic competitions. Sydney Sixers Squad for BBL 15 (so far): Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith. As the BBL season approaches, all eyes will be on the star-studded lineup that the Sydney Sixers have assembled, with Babar Azam playing a central role in their championship chase.
NDTV
13-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Babar Azam Joins Sydney Sixers Ahead Of Big Bash League Draft
Sydney Sixers have signed former Pakistan captain Babar Azam for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15 season, marking one of the biggest acquisitions in the league's history. Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era, Babar is set to bring his signature elegance, consistency, and match-winning prowess to the Sydney Sixers this summer. With over 10,000 international runs across all formats, the stylish right-hander has cemented his place as one of the most prolific and reliable players in world cricket. Under BBL 15 rules, each club is permitted to pre-sign one international player ahead of the Draft, which is scheduled for June 19. A key figure in Pakistan's national team for the past decade, Babar captained his country in all three formats from 2019 to 2024, leading Pakistan to the semi-final of the 2021 ICC World Cup and the final in 2022. Renowned for his calm demeanour and consistency at the crease, Babar has remained a fixture among the world's top-ranked batters in both ODI and T20I formats. He was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in both 2021 and 2022, and crowned ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2022. A record-breaker in his own right, Azam is the fastest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in just 97 innings. With extensive franchise experience in the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and English domestic cricket, Azam brings a wealth of T20 knowledge and over 11,000 runs in the format to date. In a major boost for the Big Bash League, the 30-year-old star will make his long-awaited BBL debut with the Sixers and is expected to be available for the entire tournament, including the finals. Speaking about the opportunity to join the Sixers, Babar said, 'I'm very proud to be joining the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming season. It's an exciting opportunity to play in one of the world's best T20 leagues and to be a part of such a successful and respected franchise. 'I'm looking forward to contributing to the team's success, building a strong connection with the fans, and sharing this experience with my friends, family and supporters at home in Pakistan.' Sixers General Manager, Rachael Haynes said the club was thrilled to secure a player of Babar's quality. 'We are absolutely delighted to welcome Babar to the Sixers this summer. Babar's resume speaks for itself. The skill, professionalism, and experience that he brings is of enormous value to our playing group and the news is obviously incredibly exciting for our fans. 'He is a world-class player and a proven leader. He's not only a huge addition to our club, but to the league as a whole. The Sixers strive to be a destination club on the global stage – from playing at the iconic SCG to delivering world-class match day experiences and signing the top talent from around the world – and securing a player of Babar's calibre only further strengthens that vision. 'We can't wait to welcome Babar into our group later this year and we know our members and fans will be thrilled to see him in Sixers colours.'
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Babar Azam signed by Sydney Sixers ahead of BBL 2025
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam was signed by Sydney Sixers for the upcoming Big Bash League season, marking one of the biggest acquisitions in the league's history. With over 10,000 international runs across all formats, the right-hander has been a central figure in Pakistan, leading his country across the three formats between 2019 and 2024. The 30-year-old has ranked among the world's top batters in the ODI and T20I formats in recent years, was named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and crowned the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2022. With franchise experience across the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and English domestic competitions, Azam brings a wealth of T20 experience and over 11,000 runs in the format to date Pakistan icon and global superstar @babarazam258 will play his first Big Bash season in #BBL15 🇵🇰 — KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) June 13, 2025 As per League rules, each club can sign one international recruit ahead of the BBL 15 Draft, which is set to be held next Thursday, June 19. Sixers General Manager, Rachael Haynes, said, 'We are absolutely delighted to welcome Babar to the Sixers this summer. Babar's resume speaks for itself. He is a world-class player and a proven leader. He's not only a huge addition to our club, but to the league as a whole.' 'It's an exciting opportunity to play in one of the world's best T20 leagues and to be a part of such a successful and respected franchise. I'm looking forward to contributing to the team's success, building a strong connection with the fans, and sharing this experience with my friends, family and supporters at home in Pakistan,' said Azam.
NDTV
25-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Sanjay Manjrekar Rubbishes BCCI's Logic For Not Making Jasprit Bumrah Captain: "Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma..."
Shubman Gill being appointed as India's Test captain meant that pacer Jasprit Bumrah missed out. Bumrah - the No. 1 ranked Test bowler in the world as per the ICC rankings - was not considered due to his injury-prone nature and concerns over fitness and workload. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah is likely to play no more than three Tests in the upcoming five-match series against England in June. However, despite these reasons, former India cricketer and renowned expert Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his disappointment at Bumrah not being considered for captaincy. "What I found strange about the selection was the captain's choice. I just failed to understand why Bumrah was not even considered," Manjrekar said, speaking on ESPNcricinfo. Manjrekar stated that Bumrah not being available for all Tests being cited as the reason to not make him captain did not apply to previous captains like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. "The reason for that was his likelihood of not playing the entire series. We've had Rohit Sharma, who recently captained India and played only three of the five test matches. We had Virat Kohli in the past opting out of test matches and not playing the full series. But still, the captain," Manjrekar stated. While announcing an 18-member squad for the England tour here on Saturday, India's chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said Bumrah does not have the clearance from the medical staff and physios to feature in all five Tests of the series starting in Leeds on June 20. "I don't think he's available for all five Tests going by what the physios and the doctors have told us," Agarkar said when asked if Bumrah was available for the entire series. India's over-reliance on Bumrah during their last tour of Australia, where he took 32 wickets in a little under five Tests, forced the ace pacer to limp out of the fifth and final match in Sydney and spend another three months recovering from a back-related trouble. Bumrah had won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year as well as the Men's Test Cricketer of the Year in 2024 for his exemplary performances across formats. With 11 wickets, Bumrah played a vital role in India's title-winning run in the T20 World Cup in the Americas in 2024, and he finished with a rich haul of 71 wickets in only 13 Tests last year. But towards the end of a successful run, Bumrah was forced to push his limits as a bowler while being the stand-in captain in Australia. Given the incredible workload, he crumbled eventually and even admitted to it during the Melbourne Test. Listen to the latest songs, only on
