'Fake News': CA CEO Denies Reaching Out To Babar Azam For BBL Stint

image-lrbpep1hBabar Azam in Pakistan outfit [X.com]

Cricket Australia (CA) acting chief executive Nick Cummins on Friday (January 12) denied claims of the governing body reaching out to Pakistan stalwart Babar Azam for a stint in the country's Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League (BBL) next summer. 

Cummins slammed the "fake news" reported by Pakistan journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on Twitter, where the media person, previously also called out for false reporting, alleged that CA contacted Babar for a gig in the 2024-25 editions of the nation's premier first-class and T20 competitions. 

Zake claimed that Babar could be in for a run of first-class matches in the Shield and also ply his trade for one of the Melbourne-based clubs in the following summer of BBL cricket. 


CA Denies Contacting Babar For Shield, BBL Stint

"NEWS - Cricket Victoria has contacted Babar Azam and offered him to play Sheffield Shield and BigBash from Melbourne Renegades or Melbourne Stars. Babar will make a decision keeping in mind the schedule of Pakistan Cricket Team from Sept-Jan 2024-25," Zake tweeted. 

Soon afterwards, the tweet stood nullified by the Cricket Australia head, who deemed it "fake news" with no contact made with the former Pakistan skipper for potentially returning to Australian shores for a stint on the domestic front. 

The tweet had raised speculations and doubts even before Cummins' verification as Pakistan have a packed international calendar this year, especially at the height of the Australian summer. 

Babar will return Down Under for the limited-overs leg of the trip in October-November after playing three Tests in December-January but won't stay longer to take part in the Shield or BBL since Pakistan then travel to Zimbabwe and South Africa immediately. 

Notably, the elegant batter's only form of domestic cricket outside Pakistan has arrived in England where he turned up for Somerset during the 2019 summer in the UK.