Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins has dismissed claims that he actively sought to convince Babar Azam to join the Sheffield Shield or play for one of Melbourne’s teams in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Reports in local media suggested that Cricket Victoria approached the former Pakistan captain, offering a contract for an extended commitment to domestic cricket and potential involvement in the BBL.
The reports stated that Babar had shown interest and indicated his availability in line with Pakistan’s international schedule. Additionally, he was supposedly given the option to open for either the Melbourne Stars or the Melbourne Renegades, both under the management of Cricket Victoria.
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins has now contradicted these reports, stating there is “absolutely zero truth” to them. Responding to posts on social media, Cummins labeled the news as “Fake news” and clarified that Babar would need to go through the BBL draft, making him eligible for selection by any club.
In a light-hearted comment, Cummins humorously mentioned, “Wait until they find out about Kohli signing with the Stars.”
The initial report surfaced on Thursday, suggesting that they were exploring a potential extended deal with the former Pakistani captain. Notably, Babar has not previously participated in the Sheffield Shield but had represented Somerset in county cricket from 2019 to 2020.