![Babar Azam and KL Rahul [Source: @sujeetsuman1991, @Kunal_KLR/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768919286496_BabarAzamandKLRahul.jpg?type=hq)
Babar Azam and KL Rahul [Source: @sujeetsuman1991, @Kunal_KLR/x]
Babar Azam once again failed to deliver the goods for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL 2025-26 season. KL Rahul has reportedly made himself available to play Ranji Trophy cricket for Karnataka. In other news, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf will likely be excluded from the national squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Tuesday, January 20.
Babar Azam flops in BBL qualifier as Sydney Sixers lose big
Babar Azam sustained yet another batting failure, this time falling for a two-ball duck for the Sydney Sixers in the qualifier match of the BBL 2025-26 season at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The legendary Pakistani batter got deceived by Perth Scorchers’ spinner Cooper Connolly in the first over of the run-chase as the Sixers crumbled for just 99 in 15 overs.
Marking his seventh failure in 11 innings of the season, Babar Azam has aggregated just 202 runs in the tournament at a substandard average of 22.44 and an underwhelming strike rate of 103.06.
Vaishnavi Sharma replaces injured Kamalini in MI squad for WPL 2026
Young Indian left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma has been roped in by the Mumbai Indians squad for the remainder of the ongoing 2026 WPL season. The 20-year-old was included in the side as a replacement of wicketkeeper-batter Gunalan Kamalini, who has been ruled out of the tournament owing to an injury.
Both Sharma and Kamalini recently made their respective international debuts for Team India during last month’s home T20I series against the visiting Sri Lanka team. The young Madhya Pradesh spinner picked up five wickets in the series to mark an impressive debut for the ‘Women in Blue’.
Haris Rauf likely to miss Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 trip
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf will likely be excluded from the national squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka next month. As reported by several Pakistan media outlets, the 32-year-old speedster will not be a part of the 15-member Pakistan squad for the tournament.
The report indicates that Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson is not supporting Haris Rauf’s inclusion in the squad, largely owing to his underwhelming performance in the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup final against India in Dubai last year.
Chris Woakes knocks Rangpur Riders from BPL 2025-26 with last-ball six
Sylhet Titans overcame Rangpur Riders in a low-scoring thriller to seal a spot in the second qualifier of the ongoing BPL 2025-26 season. Chasing 112 runs to win at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur after Khaled Ahmed (4-14) and Nasum Ahmed’s (2-12) wicket-taking spree, Sam Billings scored a crucial 29 for the Sylhet Titans.
Amidst tumbling wickets, the Titans eventually slipped to 105-7 in the final over on a difficult surface, leaving Chris Woakes to hit a six and win the match for his side. Woakes’ last-ball slap also knocked the Riders out of the BPL 2025-26 season.
KL Rahul, Nitish Reddy to play Ranji Trophy; Pant to head to CoE
Senior Indian batter KL Rahul and star all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will both reportedly be joining the Karnataka and Andhra cricket teams in the second phase of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. Fellow Indian players Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja will also likely be making their return to the domestic playing XI once the tournament resumes from January 22 onwards.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, however, will not be playing any Ranji Trophy match for Delhi this season as he is yet to recover from his injury. As per reports, the cricketer will likely head to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru as part of his rehabilitation program.
