Pakistan batter Babar Azam faced another setback in his debut Big Bash League season after a second-ball duck in the qualifier match on Tuesday.
Representing the Sydney Sixers, Babar fell early while chasing 148 against the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium. He lost his wicket in the first over when Josh Inglis stumped him off Cooper Connolly on just the second delivery.
Babar has played 11 matches this BBL season. He has scored 202 runs at an average of 22.44. His strike rate stands at 103.06, with two half-centuries to his name.
Earlier, Perth posted 147 for nine in their 20 overs. They lost Mitchell Marsh for five in the opening over, with Josh Starc striking early.
It's a duck for Babar Azam 😳
HUGE call from the third umpire. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/mvSDF5ITGJ
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 20, 2026Finn Allen and Aaron Hardie rebuilt the innings and pushed the score past 50. Starc broke the stand by dismissing Allen for 49 off 30 balls, which included two fours and four sixes.
The Scorchers then lost quick wickets. Inglis scored two, while Connolly made eight. Both fell to Joel Davies and Ben Manenti.
Captain Ashton Turner added 29 from 21 balls but could not lift the scoring rate. Jhye Richardson chipped in with 20 off 18 deliveries near the end.
For the Sixers, Starc, Jack Edwards, and Ben Dwarshuis claimed two wickets each. Davies and Manenti picked up one apiece.
