Cricket

Victoria Cricket CEO Nick Cummins responds to reports of signing Babar Azam

January 14, 2024

Amid the fervour of the ongoing cricket encounters, a compelling report has surfaced, hinting at Cricket Victoria’s outreach to the talented Pakistani batter Babar Azam. The enticing proposition involves his potential participation in the prestigious Sheffield Shield tournament, with the added allure of donning the colours of either Melbourne Stars or Melbourne Renegades in the acclaimed Big Bash League.

Seeking to dispel the intrigue surrounding this development, Nick Cummins, the astute CEO of Victoria Cricket, has stepped forward to provide much-needed clarification.

Victoria Cricket CEO on signing Babar Azam

In a recent development, Pakistan journalist Arfa Feroz Zake ignited excitement with a tweet asserting that Cricket Victoria are actively pursuing Babar to join the Sheffield Shield and potentially represent the Renegades or Stars in the BBL. Zake hinted that the right-handed batter would factor in Pakistan’s international cricket schedule in the year’s final quarter before deciding.

However, dousing the flames of speculation, Cummins swiftly responded, categorically denouncing the tweet as completely false. This exchange adds a layer of drama to the cricketing narrative, underscoring the challenge of separating fact from fiction in the fast-paced world of sports updates.

Fake news https://t.co/zxDKdATUPo

— Nick Cummins (@CricketVicCEO) January 12, 2024

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Babar Azam’s aspect in domestic cricket

Babar has not made his mark in the Sheffield Shield, the premier Australian first-class cricket competition. Despite this, the 29-year-old showcased his skills in English conditions by representing Somerset in the County Championship during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In his inaugural 2019 appearance, Babar played a single match, notching up a total of 40 runs across two innings.

As the Lahore-born cricketer gears up for the upcoming cricketing calendar, he is set to grace the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2024, donning the colours of Peshawar Zalmi.