Izharulhaq Naveed returns to Sydney Sixers as Rehan Ahmed withdraws

Last season, the legspinner secured nine wickets in a total of nine matches.

Last season, Izharulhaq Naveed demonstrated his potential.

The Sydney Sixers have enlisted the services of Afghanistan legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed for the upcoming BBL season, following the withdrawal of England's Rehan Ahmed, who was selected for the West Indies tour in both white-ball formats. Naveed, initially an unexpected choice in last year's BBL draft, proved his worth by securing nine wickets in as many matches with an economy rate of 7.37. His impressive performance led to his top-ranking consideration when the team sought a replacement.

He will now join the Sixers' spinning lineup alongside experienced player Steve O'Keefe, Test offspinner Todd Murphy, and 20-year-old allrounder Joel Davies.

Sixers coach Greg Shipperd expressed, "Although we won't have Rehan Ahmed this season, we wish him well and warmly welcome Naveed back to the club. We're fortunate to bring back someone of Naveed's caliber, and we're confident he'll integrate well with our team."

Shipperd added, "Our spin department is shaping up nicely with the inclusion of SOK (O'Keefe), Todd, and the promising Joel Davies, whose left-arm off-spin bowling complements his strong batting and fielding skills."

Notably, Sixers didn't retain Nathan Lyon, who has moved to Melbourne Renegades and is slated to face his former team in the season opener at the SCG before heading for Test duties.

For the opening match, Sixers will have Steven Smith available, hoping to see him also in the derby against Sydney Thunder on January 12. Murphy won't be part of the opening game as he's been selected for the Prime Minister's XI against Pakistan.

Rehan joins Harry Brook as England players withdrawing from the BBL. Zak Crawley, signed with Perth Scorchers, will have a delayed arrival due to ODI commitments in the West Indies, concluding on December 10.

Davies is currently with the Australia T20I squad in India, serving as a net bowler for the final days of the trip, although not officially part of the tour.

Recent overseas signings for the BBL include England left-armer David Payne joining Adelaide Strikes as Rashid Khan's replacement, and allrounder Liam Dawson signing with Melbourne Stars for the first three games as captain.

Payne, a part of Perth Scorchers' title-winning side last season, is welcomed by Strikers' head coach Jason Gillespie, who said, "He is a proven performer at the highest level and will bring a wealth of experience to our team. His wicket-taking ability, skills in the field, and positivity around the group will be invaluable."

Several clubs are anticipated to announce additional overseas additions in the days leading up to the tournament's start on December 7.

Lyon geared up for a showdown against Test returnee 'superstar' Babar

The offspinner nears the milestone of 500 Test wickets, and the upcoming season commences at a venue where he has been particularly successful.

Nathan Lyon is set to make a crucial comeback as a vital component of Australia's Test bowling lineup.

Nathan Lyon is eagerly anticipating his return to Test cricket with even greater determination, having recovered from a calf injury that ended his participation in the Ashes earlier this year. The offspinner is particularly thrilled about the prospect of bowling against the renowned "superstar" Babar Azam.

After an extensive rehabilitation period following the first significant injury of his Test career, Lyon has participated in three Sheffield Shield matches in the past month. In his upcoming 101st match against Pakistan, he will resume his role as a crucial element in Australia's bowling attack.

The Optus Stadium in Perth, where the season's opening Test will take place, has proven to be a fruitful venue for Lyon, who has claimed 22 wickets in three matches there. Despite his success, Lyon acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by Pakistan, especially by the highly-rated Babar Azam.

Babar, who recently stepped down as Pakistan's captain, holds an average of 44.38 in 10 Tests against Australia. Notably, he played a remarkable innings of 196 in Karachi last year, salvaging the match before Nathan Lyon crucially dismissed him in the Lahore decider. Babar was a standout performer during Pakistan's 2019-2020 tour to Australia, scoring 97 and 101.

Expressing his admiration for Babar, Lyon stated, "Playing against him has been both a pleasure and a significant challenge. He's one of the best batters globally, especially facing spin. He's a class player against all types of bowling. As the No. 1 in the Pakistan side, he's a superstar, and his performance last time makes it a formidable challenge for us."

Lyon, entering the home summer with 496 Test wickets after an interrupted Ashes series, eyes a historic milestone in Perth, where he could become the eighth bowler, and the third Australian, to reach 500 wickets during the match.

Sharing his enthusiasm, Lyon said, "The hunger for playing Test matches is probably higher than ever. I'm genuinely excited, particularly about playing in Perth at Optus Stadium. Facing Pakistan will be a challenging and exciting battle."

Despite a moderate performance in three Shield outings for New South Wales, Lyon, with a significant workload in the nets, feels confident about his preparation. He highlighted the exceptional support in his rehabilitation and expressed contentment with his progress.

Before heading to Perth, Lyon has an unusual domestic outing, representing his new BBL team, Melbourne Renegades, in a match against Sydney Sixers at the SCG. Reflecting on this, he mentioned, "It's different being in the away rooms at the SCG, something I've never experienced. However, with one eye on Test cricket, I'm ready for the challenge."