Tag: Babar Azam

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has praised star batter Babar Azam for guiding the team’s younger batters, including Saim Ayub, during the white-ball series against South Africa.

Pakistan suffered a 0-2 defeat in the T20I series, however, they bounced back in style and white-washed South Africa in the ODI series.

Saim played a key role in Pakistan’s victory and was awarded Player of the Series as he amassed 235 runs in three games, including two centuries. He also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets.

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During an appearance on the ARY News show Sports Room, Basit Ali praised Saim and acknowledged Babar’s role as a mentor to the young teammates.

“It is too early for me to say that he [Babar Azam] reminds me of Javed Miandad after seeing his role in the two games. However, his role in those games was crucial in building the confidence of the Pakistan batters,” Basit said.

He praised the shot selection of Pakistan’s batters throughout the ODI series, which demonstrated their confidence in their abilities.

The former batter further expressed hope that if the players continued to perform like this, Pakistan would definitely qualify for the final four in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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“I hope that players remain confident like this. If so, Pakistan will easily qualify for the semi-final for Champions Trophy 2025,” he added.

Meanwhile, he lauded the role of Pakistan’s interim coach Aqib Javed for giving ample chances to the batters including Saim Ayub to showcase their skills.

“He [Aqib Javed] took a decision which translated into the brilliant performance of our player,” he concluded.

READ: Fakhar Zaman breaks silence on his post in support of Babar Azam

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman broke his silence on Monday over his post in support of star batter Babar Azam back in October.

During Pakistan’s home series against England, Fakhar, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of Babar from the last two Tests after a string of poor performances.

Following the post, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a show-cause notice to Fakhar and left him out of the central contracts. The explosive batter was also not considered for the tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

While the PCB cited fitness issues for Fakhar’s exclusion, critics suggested that his supportive post about Babar was the real reason.

During an interview with a private media outlet, Fakhar addressed the whole situation and clarified the reason behind his post.

“I did think [later] it would have been better if I didn’t do it [the post]. But people misunderstood that I criticised the board’s decision, which is 100% wrong,” he said when asked if he could have avoided such a post.

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Fakhar Zaman mentioned that his post was targeted at journalists and former cricketers who were asking to drop Babar Azam from the Pakistan squad.

“I did the tweet before the team announcement. I was watching the news from the last 2-3 days prior to the tweet and some of the journalists and ex-players were saying that he [Babar Azam] should be dropped,” he added.

“I felt that these people were disregarding all his services and saying he should be dropped. It was coming to my mind again and again which prompted me do to that tweet.

“But I tweeted it before the announcement. I wouldn’t have done it after the announcement as I am a cricketer myself and also a centrally contracted player of the PCB. I have to play cricket in the future as well.”

While addressing his fitness issues, he mentioned that he had requested the PCB for a two-month rest as he was unwell.

“I had an understanding with the PCB that I would rest for two months and I had no idea about my sickness when the team was departing for Australia,” he revealed.

“Later, I found out that I was suffering from Hyperthyroidism. Now, I am thankful that I did not go with the team because you cannot perform in such a condition.”

READ: Mohammad Amir comments on Babar Azam-Virat Kohli comparison

Former Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir has recently shared his opinion on the comparison between star batter Babar Azam and Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli.

Babar and Virat are frequently compared within the cricket community due to their similar batting techniques. However, Amir called these comparisons funny.

During a recent appearance on a sports talk show, Amir praised Kohli as the greatest batter of this generation and dismissed comparisons with any modern players, including Babar Azam, Steve Smith, and Joe Root.

“Virat Kohli is the greatest player of this generation, I laugh when comparisons are made between him and Babar Azam, Steve Smith, or Joe Root,” he stated.

“We cannot compare Virat Kohli to anyone because he has won so many matches for India, which seems impossible for any one player. Not just in one format, but in all three formats, Virat is the greatest batsman of this generation.”

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Mohammad Amir praised Virat’s commitment and resolve, highlighting how the Indian batter revitalized his career after a difficult series in England in 2014.

“Virat Kohli’s work ethic sets him apart from all players,” the left-hander said. “After his bad phase in England in 2014, the way he made a comeback and then consistently performed brilliantly for the next 10 years was no ordinary feat.”

He emphasized that Virat’s wicket was crucial for Pakistan’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final.

“His wicket in the 2017 Champions Trophy final was very important for us, which helped us win the final,” he added.

“If Virat had not been dismissed, we would have lost the final because we all know how exceptional Virat’s record is while chasing runs.”

READ: Babar Azam lauds Saim Ayub after series-winning performance against South Africa

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam praised young opener Saim Ayub for his match-winning performance in the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

Saim played a stellar quick 101-run knock from 94 balls, laced with 15 boundaries that included two sixes, in the third ODI and helped Pakistan white-wash South Africa.

This was Saim’s second century in the series, earning him the Player of the Series award with a total of 235 runs and two wickets.

After the match, Babar Azam shared a photo of Saim on his Instagram story, referring to him as “Cheetah” in recognition of his outstanding performance.

During the third ODI, Babar Azam and Saim Ayub built a solid partnership of 114 runs from 133 balls for the second wicket to set-up Pakistan’s total of 308-9.

However, Kwena Maphaka broke the stand as he removed Babar, who scored 52 runs from 71 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Saim was joined by skipper Mohammad Rizwan (53) and they increased the scoring rate with their 93-run stand that conceded only 75 balls.

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Rizwan and Saim fell in quick succession but Salman Ali Agha played a quick-fire knock of 48 runs from 33 balls and added a crucial partnership of 74 runs with Tayyab Tahir (28) to provide a finishing touch to Pakistan’s innings.

In response, South Africa, despite a spirited performance, were bundled for 271 runs in 42 overs.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan became the first-ever team to clean-sweep the Proteas in an ODI series in South Africa.

READ: Pakistan batter proposes unique solution to host matches against India

Pakistan batting maestro Babar Azam has reacted to the shocking retirement of veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday.

Ashwin shocked the world earlier this week, announcing his retirement from international cricket effective immediately after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Brisbane.

He revealed his decision during the post-match press conference after the rain-affected third Test concluded in a draw, expressing gratitude for his journey with the Indian cricket team.

Babar Azam, who is currently in South Africa for Pakistan’s all-format series, posted a story on his official Instagram account today, congratulating Ashwin for a wonderful career.

“Congratulations on an incredible career Ravichandran Ashwin,” the former Pakistan captain posted.

Ashwin will go down in history as one of the greatest bowlers to play for India, having represented the country in 106 Test matches and taking 537 wickets at an average of 24.

He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, only behind legendary Anil Kumble, who finished with 619 wickets from 132 Tests.

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Moreover, Ashwin has also scored 3503 runs with six centuries and 14 half-centuries in Test cricket. He is one of 11 all-rounders with more than 3000 runs and 300 wickets.

During his 14-year-long international career, he has also played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, taking 156 and 72 wickets in the two formats respectively.

READ: Babar Azam breaks MS Dhoni’s record during second ODI against South Africa

CAPETOWN: Pakistan batter Babar Azam not only ended his half-century drought but also surpassed former Indian captain MS Dhoni to achieve a coveted milestone during the second ODI against South Africa here on Thursday.

Pakistan thumped the hosts by 81 runs in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series at Newlands.

The visitors posted 329 runs while batting first against South Africa, with Babar Azam scoring 73 runs from 95 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

This was Babar’s 33rd half-century in ODI cricket, but it was his first since November 2023. His last half-century was an unbeaten 66-run knock against New Zealand during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

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With his 33rd half-century, Babar Azam surpassed the record of MS Dhoni for scoring the most 50+ scores against SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries across all formats.

Both players were tied on 38 scores of 50 or more against SENA countries, but this half-century took Babar’s tally to 39 such scores.

Notably, Babar formed a solid partnership of 115 runs for the third wicket with Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan.

Andile Phehlukwayo broke the partnership with the wicket of Babar, while Rizwan fell prey to Maphaka after playing a gutsy knock of 80 off 82, which featured ten boundaries, including three sixes.

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Kamran Ghulam then played a blinder of a knock, smashing 63 runs from 32 balls, peppered with five sixes and four boundaries. His innings helped Pakistan post 329 before they were bowled out on the final ball of the innings.

In response, South Africa were bundled out for 248 in 43.1 overs with Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah taking four and three wickets respectively.

Heinrich Klaasen waged a lone war for South Africa, hitting 97 runs from 74 balls with the help of eight boundaries and four sixes, but could not take his team across the line.

It’s worth noting that the third ODI is scheduled to be played in Johannesburg on December 22, followed by a two-match Test series, which will start from December 26.

READ: PCB reveals venue of PSL 10 Player Draft

DUBAI: Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Saim Ayub made gains, while skipper Mohammad Rizwan experienced a drop in his position in the latest ICC T20I Batting Rankings released on Wednesday.

It’s worth noting Pakistan suffered a 0-2 loss in the three-match T20I series against South Africa after the third match was abandoned due to persistent rain in Johannesburg on 14 December.

This was Mohammad Rizwan’s second consecutive T20I series loss, since becoming Pakistan’s white-ball captain.

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Consequently, Rizwan dropped two places to eighth with 704 rating points after his 13-ball 11 in the second T20I.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam, who bagged a four-ball duck in the first T20I, scored 31 off 20 in the second match and moved one place up to sixth spot in the ICC T20I Batting Rankings.

Other than Babar and Rizwan, there is no batter from Pakistan in the top 50 batters, with Saim Ayub being the third-best-ranked batter from the country.

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Saim is sitting in the 58th spot with 483 rating points after making a massive 45-place jump.

The young batter enjoyed these gains on the back of his unbeaten 98 off 57 balls in the second T20I against South Africa.

In the bowling rankings, pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi fell one place to 21st, while Haris Rauf dropped three places to 26th after their below-par showing against South Africa.

READ: PCB chairman invites Saudi cricket chief to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

Former Australia pace bowler Jason Gillespie recently shared his experience of working with star batter Babar Azam during his tenure as the red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.

Gillespie was appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in April 2024 for a two-year period. However, last week he stepped down from the role unexpectedly ahead of the much-awaited Test series against South Africa.

After his sudden departure, he made shocking revelations about his time with the Green Shirts during an interview with Australian media. However, he heaped high praise on Babar, despite the right-handed batter’s below-par form during Gillespie’s tenure.

“Babar is a very driven individual. He works so hard on his game; he’s an elite player. A fantastic player, one of the best players I’ve been fortunate enough to work with,” he stated.

Jason Gillespie highlighted Babar’s intense dedication during practice sessions, noting that he consistently pushes himself to meet high training standards.

“I really enjoyed working with him. He sets high standards, not only for himself but also for his teammates,” he added.

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“It’s almost like he expects the same standards of everyone that he sets himself. He trains incredibly hard and keeps himself incredibly fit, robust, and strong.

“He works tirelessly on his game, whether it be his batting, his fielding, or even his offices [off-spin bowling] in case he’s called up to bowl. He’s a great cricket tragic and a great team man who works incredibly hard.”

When questioned about the circumstances surrounding Babar’s removal from the Test team during his tenure,

Gillespie clarified that he played no role in the decision to drop Babar Azam after the first Test against England. He emphasized that this decision was entirely made by the selection committee without his input.

“The decision was made by the selectors [to drop him], I had been removed from that process, and the decision was made to not play him [against England],” he concluded.

It’s worth noting that Jason Gillespie started his tenure as Pakistan head coach with the home Test series defeat against Bangladesh. However, in his second assignment, Pakistan bounced back and defeated England 2-1.

READ: South Africa captain to miss first ODI against Pakistan, replacement named

Pakistan batter Babar Azam surpassed West Indies legend Chris Gayle on Friday to become the fastest batter to amass 11,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Babar reached the elusive milestone during the second T20I against South Africa in Centurion, where he played a quick 31-run knock to set up Pakistan’s total of 206-5.

Chris Gayle achieved the feat in 314 innings, however, Babar Azam took only 298 innings to score 11,000 runs in T20 cricket.

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The right-handed maestro is not only the 11th player globally to accomplish this extraordinary feat but also the second from Pakistan after Shoaib Malik.

However, Shoaib and Babar also hold the record for slowest to reach the milestone in terms of strike rate. Shoaib completed his 11,000 runs at a strike rate of 127.47, while Babar’s strike rate was 129.37.

The record for the fastest to 11,000 runs in T20 cricket in terms of strike rate is held by Kieron Pollard, who achieved the feat with a strike rate of a whopping 150.51.

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Moreover, Babar Azam has also surpassed 14000 runs in international cricket, marking himself as just the fifth Pakistani batter to reach this prestigious milestone.

Notably, he stands out as the second-fastest Pakistani to achieve this landmark, trailing only the legendary Mohammad Yousuf.

During his brief 31-run innings, Babar smashed one six, which propelled him to equal Shahid Afridi’s tally of 73 sixes in T20I cricket.

READ: PCB reacts to Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim’s retirement

Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is set to surpass former captain Shahid Afridi in the list of batters with the most sixes during the second T20I against South Africa, which is scheduled to be played today in Centurion.

Babar has smashed 72 sixes in T20I cricket so far and is ranked fifth on the list of Pakistani batters with the most sixes in the format. He is just one shy of Afridi, who struck 73 sixes during his career.

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Most sixes for Pakistan in T20I cricket

Mohammad Rizwan — 95 sixes
Fakhar Zaman — 76 sixes
Mohammad Hafeez — 76 sixes
Shahid Afridi — 73 sixes
Babar Azam — 72 sixes

It’s worth noting that Pakistan will be looking to bounce back in the second T20I after suffering a narrow 11-run defeat in the series opener. Meanwhile, the final T20I is scheduled to be played in Johannesburg tomorrow.

After wrapping up the T20I series, Pakistan and South Africa will play a three-match ODI series.

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The opening ODI will take place on December 17 in Paarl, while the second and third ODIs will be played in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.

Pakistan and South Africa will then engage in a two-match Test series, which will kick off in Centurion on December 26, meanwhile, the second Test will start from January 3 in Cape Town.

Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: Pakistan make one change to Playing XI for second T20I against South Africa