Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins has denied the reports of reaching out to former Pakistan captain Babar Azam with an offer of playing Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League on Friday, January 12.
Pakistani Journalist took to Twitter and wrote that Cricket Victoria contacted Babar Azam to play Sheffield Shield as well as Big Bash League for either Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades.
"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."
However, Nick Cummins dismissed the reports with a single in his tweet, "Fake News".
Babar Azam has never played in Sheffield Shield, Australian first-class cricket. However, Pakistan's star batter played for Somerset in County Championship in 2019 and 2020. In the 2019 season, Azam played one match and scored just 40 runs across two innings.
In the following English domestic season, Azam played in T20 Blast, wherein he scored 218 runs, including a century, at an average of 36.33 in 7 matches.
Babar Azam scored 57 in the 1st T20I vs New Zealand
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam showed his glimpses of return to form in the T20I series opener against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, January 12.
Azam scored 57 off 35 balls in Pakistan's 227-run chase. However, his effort went in vain as the visitors were bundled out for 180 in 18 overs. His knock failed to script a victory for the touring party as the target set by New Zealand was a huge to chase down.
At one point, Pakistan were 159/5 in 15.1 overs. However, Tim Southee and Adam Milne ran into visitors middle-order and picked next five wickets in just 21 runs. Azam Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Aamer Jamal failed to setup in crunch situation. With this, New Zealand won the match by 46 runs.
Pakistan are currently trailing 1-0 in five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Two teams will lock horns again in the second T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton on January 14.
