The Sydney Sixers have joyously welcomed Afghanistan’s Izharulhaq Naveed back to their ranks for the upcoming BBL season, filling the void left by England’s Rehan Ahmed, who withdrew due to his selection for the West Indies tour. Naveed made a remarkable impact during his debut last year, securing nine wickets across nine games, boasting an impressive economy rate of 7.37. His outstanding performance made him the prime choice when the Sixers sought a replacement, highlighting his immense value to the team.
Joining Rehan in withdrawing from the BBL are Harry Brook and Zak Crawley, both selected for the West Indies ODI leg, causing a delay in Crawley’s arrival for the Perth Scorchers’ campaign. Additionally, Davies, although not officially part of the tour, is engaged as a net bowler during the Australia T20I squad’s stint in India, aiming for valuable learning and development opportunities.
Expressing his sentiments, Sixers coach Greg Shipperd stated, “We will miss Rehan Ahmed this season but wish him the best, while simultaneously extending a warm welcome back to Naveed. We consider ourselves fortunate to have secured a player of Naveed’s caliber, and we are confident he will seamlessly integrate within our squad. Our spinning department is shaping up well, featuring SOK [O’Keefe], Todd, and the promising Joel Davies, whose left-arm off-spin perfectly complements his strong batting and fielding abilities.
Acknowledging Nathan Lyon’s departure to the Melbourne Renegades, the Sixers bid farewell to the talented cricketer, who is slated to confront his former team in the opening clash at the SCG before departing for Test duties. However, the team is optimistic about Steven Smith’s return for the game and eagerly anticipates his participation in the highly awaited derby against the Sydney Thunder on January 12.
Meanwhile, Murphy will be absent from the opening match as he has been selected for the Prime Minister’s XI against Pakistan. Recent overseas signings for the BBL include England’s David Payne, who joins the Adelaide Strikers as Rashid Khan’s replacement, and all-rounder Liam Dawson, signing with the Melbourne Stars for the initial three games, succeeding Payne’s tenure with the title-winning Perth Scorchers last season.
