Pakistan’s star batsman and former skipper Babar Azam has revealed his reservations about the team management’s decision to remove him from the opening slot in T20Is, just months ahead of the crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Babar Opens Up After PSL Win
Following Peshawar Zalmi’s thrilling two-run victory over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024, Azam, the team’s captain, addressed the issue during the post-match press conference. When asked if there was additional pressure to reclaim the opening position, Azam stated, “As an opener, I don’t feel any pressure whatsoever.”
He further added, “The national team management requested the change [to number 3]. Whatever I did, I did it for Pakistan. Personally, I wasn’t happy batting at number three, but I did it for the team.”
Babar’s Performance in PSL Reinforces Concerns
Azam’s strong performance in the ongoing PSL strengthens his argument. He struck a crucial 51 off 46 balls, helping his team post a competitive 147/6. Overall, Azam has been a pillar for Zalmi, amassing 498 runs from nine innings at an impressive average of 62.25. This includes a century and five half-centuries, with a strike rate of 148.66, which isn’t the lowest among the top run-scorers in the tournament.
While under Shaheen Afridi‘s captaincy, Azam did bat at number three, a position he has experience within T20Is, the statistics reveal a slight dip in performance. He has scored 903 runs from 24 innings, averaging 47.52 with nine half-centuries. However, his strike rate is lower compared to his opening batsman stats.
Alternative Openers Yet to Shine
The team management’s decision to replace Azam with Saim Ayub, who has yet to score a half-century in his 12 T20I appearances, hasn’t yielded significant results either. Ayub’s strike rate sits at 124.61. Even Mohammad Rizwan, who retained his opening spot, hasn’t surpassed Azam’s strike rate in T20Is. While Rizwan boasts an average of 48.86 with 2981 runs from 90 innings, his strike rate is 127.55.
Babar Azam’s demotion and the lack of a consistent alternative opener raise questions about Pakistan’s batting strategy leading up to the T20 World Cup. With the marquee event approaching, Azam’s unhappiness and the team’s search for a solution add an element of uncertainty to their preparations.
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