ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been picked by Sydney Sixers to debut in the upcoming 15th season of Australia鈥檚 Big Bash League (BBL), the club announced on Friday.

The BBL is a professional Twenty20 cricket competition in Australia that features eight city-based teams.

Launched in 2011, the league is held during the summer and features a mix of local and international players.

鈥淭he SCG [Sydney Cricket Ground] has been home to many legends. Now it鈥檚 home to the [king]. Welcome, Babar Azam,鈥� the Sydney Sixers said in a post on X.

Azam said he was 鈥渟uper pumped鈥� to join the team, highlighting that his BBL debut 鈥渨ill be something special.鈥�

鈥淐annot wait to share the dressing room with my favorite batter Steve Smith and world class bowler Josh Hazlewood,鈥� he was quoted saying in a video posted by BBL on X.

鈥淪o really excited and looking forward to getting over there and meeting my craziest cricket fans.鈥�

Azam has featured in several major franchise leagues around the world.

Apart from competing in the Pakistan Super League, Azam has played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, Sylhet Sixers and Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, and Somerset in England鈥檚 T20 Blast.