For Shadab Khan, the ongoing Big Bash League season is not only about performance and fitness. It is also about playing against close friends and long-time Pakistan team-mates who are now opponents in Australian colours.
“Yeah, losing to friends is hard to digest,” Shadab said in The Surge Podcast on Tuesday. “In our culture, your friends don’t forget it for years.
We already play against each other in the PSL (Pakistan Super League), and whatever happens there gets talked about for the whole year.
“So there’s always pressure when you play against mates.”
This season is especially important for the Sydney Thunder all-rounder as it marks his return to competitive cricket. Shadab last played for Pakistan in a T20 international in June before a shoulder injury kept him out for months. The BBL is his first tournament since recovery.
His comeback has been impressive so far. In three matches, he has taken six wickets and scored 75 runs in two innings, striking at over 136 and averaging above 37.
Read more: Big Bash League: Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat ends in Thunder’s victory
His standout moment came against Brisbane Heat, where he claimed 4 for 24, showing clear signs that his bowling rhythm is back.
The BBL has also seen a rare surge of Pakistan players this season, creating excitement among fans at home.
“It’s very significant,” Shadab said. “Big names like Babar [Azam] are here, and fans back home are excited.
“Earlier, we didn’t have many players in the BBL, but now six or seven are playing. Everyone has their own fan base, and people love watching them in one of the top leagues in the world. You can feel the buzz back in Pakistan.”
While Shadab has found momentum, some other Pakistan stars are still settling in. Babar Azam has scored a half-century for Sydney Sixers but has yet to fully meet expectations. Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have also struggled to deliver consistent performances.
Shadab believes Australian conditions suit spinners because of bigger grounds and extra bounce.
“It depends on where you play, but I think the ground dimensions really help,” he explained. “In Asia, the grounds are smaller and the tracks are flat, so it’s very hard to bowl there. In Australia, you have a cushion — you can use your variations and deceive batsmen, especially in flight. “You also get extra bounce, which really helps spinners. That little bit of bounce makes a big difference.”
The 27-year-old feels the competitive nature of the BBL is making it an attractive league for Pakistan players.
“You can sense it already,” he said. “Players back home can see how tough and high-quality this league is, especially for batsmen. Everyone wants to challenge themselves here. Hopefully, we’ll see more Pakistan players next year.”
“I never thought only about white-ball cricket,” he says. “I played Tests and first-class cricket, but injuries affected me a lot, mostly because of my action. That’s why I focused more on white-ball cricket — to play more for Pakistan and around the world. Longer formats were harder for me physically at that time.”
Injuries have shaped Shadab’s career choices. Although he has played Tests and first-class cricket, physical issues linked to his bowling action pushed him towards white-ball formats.
