Mark Waugh Joins Gilchrist as Babar Azam’s BBL Journey Ends

The spotlight around Mark Waugh Babar Azam criticism sharpened when the former Australian opener urged Sydney Sixers to show what he called tough love. Drop the star batter for a must-win Challenger at the SCG. The message landed hard and fast across Australian cricket circles.

That decision, however, never reached the table. Big Bash officials confirmed Azam would leave the tournament and return to Pakistan to begin preparations for upcoming international commitments. With that, the Sixers sidestepped a potential $420,000 headache and an awkward team call on the eve of a knockout clash.

Moments That Sparked the Storm

Tension had already been building after the Sydney Smash against the Thunder. During the chase, Steve Smith waved away a routine single to keep the strike during the Power Surge. Smith tore into Ryan Hadley for 32 runs in a single over, rewriting the BBL record books.

Azam, watching from the non-striker’s end, missed his moment. When he fell soon after for 47 from 39, frustration spilled over. A bat thumped against the rope followed. Post-match etiquette came under question too, with claims he skipped the traditional handshakes. 

Sixers captain Moises Henriques later cooled the noise, calling it a cultural misunderstanding that was quickly resolved.

Gilchrist’s Words Still Echo

Before Waugh weighed in, Adam Gilchrist had already lit the fuse on commentary duty. Azam’s run-a-ball approach, he said, shifts pressure unfairly onto partners in modern T20 chases. The clip raced across social media and kept the debate alive well beyond match night.

Gilchrist's remark on Babar's Batting gained traction quickly, spreading across social platforms within hours. While fans applauded Azam’s composure, critics argued the modern T20 game has little room for anchors without acceleration. With Pakistan’s World Cup plans approaching, the conversation has now grown beyond the BBL.

Bigger Questions Before Bigger Events

Since the last T20 World Cup, Azam’s returns have dipped, reflected in a slide to 31st in the ICC T20I rankings. With Pakistan yet to name their World Cup squad and a home series looming, the Babar Azam BBL exit now feels less like an ending and more like a pause before a defining stretch.

For now, Babar Azam is heading back for national duties. But the debate is still humming, and the weight of expectation waiting back home.