Tag: Babar Azam joins Colombo Strikers for LPL

Hasan Ali, McDermott shine as Dambulla Aura sink Colombo Strikers in LPL

COLOMBO: Ben McDermott’s unbeaten half-century and Hasan Ali’s three-for powered Dambulla Aura to a crushing 50-run victory over Colombo Strikers in the 16th game of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) on Saturday.

Dambulla Aura, having already booked their place in the playoffs of the LPL, comfortably sit at the top of the points table. Whereas, Colombo Strikers sank to the bottom of the LPL points table.

Opting to bat first, Dambulla Aura found themselves in trouble as they slumped to 24-3 in the fifth over.

Coming out to bat at number five, Ben McDermott put on a brief 22-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva before the latter perished.

Alex Ross joined McDermott at the crease with the scoreboard reading 46/4 and launched an astounding recovery for the Aura.

The pair batted sensibly under the pressure before taking the bowlers head-on.

They knitted a solid 102 runs partnership off 71 deliveries before Ross was caught behind off Matheesha Pathirana soon after amassing his half-century.

Alex Ross’s 38-ball 52 featured five boundaries and two sixes, while Ben McDermott remained unbeaten at 69 runs off 46 balls with the help of four boundaries and as many sixes.

This partnership helped Dambulla Aura reach a commendable total of 166 in 20 overs.

Matheesha Pathirana topped the bowling charts for Colombo Strikers with two wickets, while Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne and Jeffrey Vandersay chipped in with one wicket each.

Set to chase 167, Colombo Strikers, too, had a poor start to their innings as they were reduced to 55-3 in the sixth over when Hasan Ali sent Babar Azam packing.

Babar could score 11 off 13 deliveries.

Angelo Perera soon followed the footsteps of star batter as Noor Ahmed trapped him out lbw.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz then put on a cautious 28-run stand and attempted to anchor the run chase.

However, Aura bowlers kept the pair under check and soon got the reward as Iftikhar was cleaned up by Dushan Hemantha at a total of 102.

Iftikhar failed to clear the rope even once during his cautious 18 off 26.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Nawaz scored 20 off 24 with the help of two boundaries before falling to Noor Ahmed.

Following Iftikhar’s departure, the Strikers’ innings soon collapsed at a total of 116, thanks to clinical bowling Dambulla Aura.

Hasan Ali picked up three wickets for 16 runs, while Dushman Hemantha, Noor Ahmed and Binura Fernando picked up two wickets each.

Colombo Strikers will face B-Love Kandy tonight in the 18th game of LPL, whereas, Dambulla Aura will face B-Love Kandy on Monday in their final LPL group fixture.

READ: Tickets for Asia Cup 2023 go on sale

Tabraiz Shamsi defends ‘world-class’ Babar Azam amid criticism

South African left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has defended Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who is often criticised for his performance against left-arm spinners.

Tabraiz Shamsi in a recent interview showered praises on Babar Azam for averaging fifty in international cricket, while being labelled as weak.

“Well if people are saying that he [Babar] is weak and he’s averaging fifty, I wouldn’t like to see him when he’s not weak,” he said.

He called Babar Azam a ‘world-class player’ and stressed the fact that maintaining an average of fifty is not an easy feat in international cricket.

“He’s a world-class player, it’s not a joke averaging fifty in International cricket, so I think those kinds of things that people are saying it’s uncalled for,” Shamsi said.

He further added: “He’s obviously a class player and yeah at any given day any bowler can get any batsman out, and at any given day any batsman can make a hundred, so anybody that is playing at that level is very good, so I think we need to appreciate that.”

Recently, Afghaistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is playing for Jaffna Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), has also voiced the same kind of sentiments for Babar Azam.

“Babar is the favourite player of most of the young fans, even for me. I like the way he bats, everyone likes his way of batting, and I can say he is a legend right now,” he said.

Notably, Babar Azam, who is currently representing Colombo Strikers in the LPL, has been in stellar form in the tournament. He is the highest run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 235 runs in five games, maintaining an impressive average of 47.00 and strike rate of 143.29.

He showed his impressive batting prowess in his innings of 104 off 59 deliveries against Tabraiz Shamsi’s Galle Titans. Babar’s remarkable century was laced with eight fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 176.27.

Meanwhile, Tabraiz Shamsi has managed to pick up five wickets in as many games, at an average of 31.40.

READ: Shakib Al Hasan named Bangladesh captain for Asia Cup, ICC World Cup

Babar Azam joins Colombo Strikers for Lanka Premier League

Pakistan’s all-format captain and star batter Babar Azam has been signed by Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Colombo Strikers for the upcoming fourth edition of the Sri Lankan league.

The batting maestro Babar Azam was among the direct signings for the LPL ahead of the auction, scheduled to take place on June 11.

The last season’s runners-up Colombo Strikers roped in Babar Azam in the Icon Overseas category.

The franchise also acquired the services of young Pakistan speedster Naseem Shah, who will join his national team’s captain Babar. Naseem Shah was signed as the Platinum Overseas.

The fourth LPL season will run from July 31 until August 22. The five-team tournament will be staged at three venues, most likely Hambantota, Colombo, and Kandy.

Before LPL, Pakistan is slated to travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series,  which is part of the World Test Championship for next cycle.

Pakistan all-format skipper Babar Azam has taken world cricket by storm and claimed several records across formats since his debut in 2015.

Recently, the 28-year-old scripted history during the fourth ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi, becoming the fastest batter to complete 5,000 runs in One-Day cricket.

He shattered the world record, previously held by Hashim Amla, taking only 97 innings to reach the landmark, four less than Amla’s 101 innings.

Babar then added another feather to his cap as he completed the century of ODI matches as Pakistan took on New Zealand in the fifth PAK vs NZ ODI here at National Bank Cricket Arena.

READ: Former Man Utd youngster Otis Khan to represent Pakistan Football team 

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