BBL Nightmare: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi Struggle in Big Bash League

• Pakistan stars Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are enduring a difficult Big Bash League 2025-26 season.
• Mohammad Rizwan was controversially retired out by Melbourne Renegades captain Will Sutherland after a slow innings of 26 off 23 balls; he has scored only 187 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 102.
• Babar Azam's strike rate of 107.48 has drawn criticism, highlighted by Steve Smith refusing a single to keep strike, leaving Babar stranded on 47 off 39 balls.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi's BBL debut for Brisbane Heat saw him bowl two waist-high no-balls and concede 43 runs in 2.4 overs without a wicket.
• Afridi's campaign was cut short due to a knee injury sustained against Adelaide Strikers, raising concerns for Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's top cricketers faced significant struggles and setbacks during the BBL 2025-26 season.