Tag: Babar Azam

LAHORE: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam has thrown his weight behind the wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan for the upcoming home ODI series against West Indies.

Babar interacted with the media ahead of the team’s scheduled training camp for the West Indies series and opined regarding Rizwan, who is struggling to get going in the ODI format.

“Form is temporary in cricket and I think it is a part of the game. Rizwan is our important player and supports me in challenging times,” Babar stated.

Rizwan is currently going through a rough patch in the ODIs as the right-handed batter could only manage to score 192 runs in his last 11 matches since 2020 with a dismal average of 17.45.

Babar, on the other hand, further opined about the upcoming series and expressed his delight in playing without a managed environment after 2020.

“We are going to play cricket in a normal environment after a very long time, which is a great pleasure for us,” Babar said.

“We are very happy and excited for the commencement of the camp. We’ll be playing in Multan after a long period and it is delightful for us,” he added.

“It is very hot there but we are ready to accept the challenge. We’ll be holding the camp at 2 PM in order to tackle the extreme weather,” he maintained.

While talking about the preparations for the forthcoming series, Babar claimed that he is aiming for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 and is looking to prepare accordingly.

“We have the 2023 World Cup in mind and we are preparing for it. This series is very important for us as it is a part of the World Cup Super League,” he said.

“We do not consider any team as an easy opponent as every team takes the field with full preparations. We, ourselves, did not play international cricket for the last two months. Our players, however, were playing County Cricket in England but I think domestic cricket is different than international cricket,” Babar added.

Pakistan’s skipper further claimed himself as a fully independent captain while also emphasising the need of giving proper chances to the players and to only analyze their performances after a particular time.

“I am an independent captain while I also think that everyone has a different way of thinking,” he claimed.

“In order to establish a good side, we need to provide consistent opportunities to the players and should only review their performances once they get consistent opportunities for a certain period,” he concluded.

It is apropos to mention here that Pakistan will take on the West Indies in a three-match ODI series. The three matches will be played on June 8, 10, and 12 respectively.

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s top batter and the current World No.1 batter in limited-overs format – Babar Azam, has been voted as the Somerset’s best-ever T20 player in a survey ahead of the Vitality Blast 2022.

Babar, who is in sublime form in the whit-ball cricket, also left his mark in the County cricket when he donned the jersey of the Somerset in the Vitality Blast 2020. The right-handed batter piled up 218 runs in just seven matches at an average of 36.36 including a magnificent century against the Glamorgan.

Following his brilliant stint for the county side in the 2020 edition, Babar has been picked as the best T20 player of the Somerset cricket by the fans.

County fans have chosen their team's best-ever T20 player 👀

Agree with your team's pick?#T20Best #20yearsofT20

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) May 27, 2022

 

Apart from the Pakistan captain, some prominent names picked by the fans include Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Ab de Villiers, Jonny Bairstow, and Jos Buttler as the best player of their respective county sides.

It is pertinent to mention here that Babar is not participating in this year’s Blast owing to his national duty in the forthcoming home ODI series against the West Indies.

The right-handed batter was also one of the most expensive players in the draft of The Hundred, however, the top-ranked white-ball batter pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons.

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DUBAI: Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik claimed that the top Pakistani batter Babar Azam has all the potential to become the No.1 batter in all formats of the game.

Karthik, while featuring in the latest episode of the ICC Review, hosted by Sanjana Ganesan, made a major prediction regarding the Pakistan captain; claiming the latter has all the potential and capabilities to achieve this astounding feat.

“One-hundred per cent (he is capable of achieving that). He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess and he has got some Test matches coming up,” Karthik stated.

“He has been phenomenal in all three formats of the game and he has done well in different batting positions too. I wish him all the best and think he has the potential. He has got all the following of Pakistan helping him in abundance to go on and do special things for his country,” Karthik maintained.

"He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess.”

Dinesh Karthik has made a big prediction about Pakistan captain Babar Azam on the latest episode of the ICC Review 👀

Details 👇

— ICC (@ICC) May 27, 2022

 

The veteran Indian wicket-keeper also expressed his firm belief in the capabilities of Babar, who he thinks can transform the ‘Fab Four’ into ‘Fab Five’, while also terming the latter a ‘very special player.’

“It is a very strong ‘Fab Four’ that we are talking about and they have obviously been there for much longer, but there is no doubt that Babar has all the credentials and he is going to make it a ‘Fab Five’,” Karthik noted.

“There is no doubt he is there or thereabouts … he is a very special player,” he added.

Karthik further claimed of noticed that Babar has made subtle changes in his batting technique in recent years which helped him become a better player while also heaped praises on his balance and striking point.

“The two things that struck me when I watched him bat is his balance and his striking point when he plays a ball,” Karthik explained.

“Whether it is on the front foot or the back foot, his ability to strike the ball more often than not under his eyes, has been phenomenal. He strikes the ball at the point where it is optimum power for where the ball is pitched and that makes him a very special player,” he concluded.

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KARACHI: Babar Azam, Pakistan’s best batsman, supervised his brother Safeer Azam’s batting practice against right-arm pacer Shahnawaz Dahani.

In a video circulating on the social networking websites, Babar can be seen reviewing his brother Safeer’s net practice.

The right-handed Safeer blocked several deliveries of Dahani and looked to be in great touch. His brother Babar, the country’s best batter, praised him for outstanding shots while criticising him for attempting to slog the ball.

Safeer took to Twitter and shared the video of himself practising in the nets alongside Dahani and Babar.

pic.twitter.com/u4eZFklQLl

— Safeer Azam (@safeerazam10) May 14, 2022

 

The video of Safeer went viral and the fans seemed to be very impressed by the right-handed batter’s technique and style.

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam and the head coach Saqlain Mushtaq suggested 20 percent raise in the salary of the players under the upcoming Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Central Contract 2022-23, sources claimed.

According to the details, the consultation regarding the new central contracts for the players has commenced and the selected players will soon be announced by the PCB in different categories.

The Pakistani skipper Babar and head coach Saqlain, on the other hand, have called for 20 percent raise in the salary of the selected players in the new central contract.

In the initial consultation, budget, categories, monthly raises and number of players were discussed for the Central Contract 2022-23.

Domestic central contracts, on the other hand, are also being considered for renewal. Budgets, classifications, monthly raises, and the number of players on domestic contracts will all be evaluated.

It is pertinent to mention here that the initial reports regarding the Central Contracts 2022-23 suggested that the cricket board is considering reshuffling, promoting, and demoting players through different categories. The central contracts are due to be issued by the PCB on July 1.

READ: PCB considers various changes in Central Contract 2022-23: Sources

KARACHI: The former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori praised the Pakistani skipper and the top-ranked white-ball batter Babar Azam, saying he is the most in-form batter currently.

When asked to choose the best batter at the present, Vettori chose Pakistani skipper Babar in an ESPNCricinfo Q&A session.

“The different formats of the game make it tough to say overall, but right now, Babar Azam is the most in-form batter on the back of his series against Australia,” Vettori said.

Best batter in the world right now?

🇵🇰 fans will love Dan Vettori’s answer! pic.twitter.com/4VVHdZMcua

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 9, 2022

 

The 27-years-old Pakistani skipper enjoyed a delightful Australia’s tour to the country and led the way with his staggering performance with the bat.

Babar also played an exceptional match-saving knock against Australia in Karachi Test; scoring 194 runs in the fourth innings. He scored 390 runs at an average of 78 including two half-centuries and a century in the historic Test series against the Aussies.

The right-handed batter showed no sign of hesitation in switching from red-ball to white as he piled 276 runs in three matches at an astonishing average of 138 including two centuries and a fifty.

In the one-off T20I, Babar scored an important 66, which, however, could not steer his side to the victory.

It’s worth noting that Babar is currently the only batter listed among the top five batters in all formats. In ODIs and T20Is, he is the number one batter, while in Tests, he is placed fifth after Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root.

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KARACHI: Former Pakistani fast-bowler and 1992 World Cup winner Aqib Javed claimed that the former Indian batter Virat Kohli has lost his peak and the top-ranked white-ball batter Babar Azam is now ahead of him.

Aqib, while responding to the rapid-fire questions in ARY News’ show Sports Room (Eid Special), claimed that India’s top batter Kohli, who has been struggling to find his form for the last two years, has lost his peak and the Pakistan captain Babar has surpassed him.

“Now I think Babar is ahead. He [Kohli] had his peak but now going down. But Babar, on the other hand, is going up,” Aqib said.

Aqib, on asked, also drew the comparison between the Indian and Pakistani pacers – Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi – and the wicket-keeper batters – Mohammad Rizwan and Rishabh Pant, claiming that both Pakistanis are also ahead of their Indian counterparts.

“I now think that Shaheen is better than Bumrah because when Shaheen came into the international circuit Bumrah had already established himself and the critics used to say that Bumrah is doing well in Tests, T20Is, and so but now Shaheen has proved he is even better and has more capacity than Bumrah,” he said.

“Rizwan is better than Pant these days. There is no doubt that Pant is an extremely skilful player but the way Rizwan takes the responsibility, Pant is well behind him. It is often said that Pant is an aggressive player, but the aggressiveness doesn’t mean to hit a couple of big shots and got out but to stay at the crease, fight, and finish the game,” Aqib added.

A piece of advice for young cricketers

The former pacer then responded to a question regarding Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad, saying they should play club cricket only.

“Umar Akmal should now play club cricket only because his attitude is like that and the same goes for Ahmed Shehzad,” he said.

The 1992 world cup winner, again in response to a question advised the young explosive batter, Azam Khan, to work on his fitness or quit cricket.

“I think Azam Khan should either quit cricket or become like a cricketer. He should work on his fitness,” Aqib said.

Suspension of departmental cricket

Aqib also backed the resurrection of departmental cricket and the former domestic cricket structure, claiming that the six-team domestic format did not serve Pakistan cricket.

“There is nothing as the roots and club cricket are also suspended due to this new six-team domestic setup. I can design the structure they’ve created in less than half an hour “Aqib remarked.

Ramiz Raja as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board

In answer to a question from the host on whether his old teammate Ramiz Raja should quit as Chairman of the PCB? Aqib was quick to react, saying, “Yes,” before clarifying that his policies were the same as his predecessors.

“The reason behind sacking Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani was that they were not performing up to the mark or their policies were inadequate but since Ramiz took over, neither a board official has been dismissed nor has he made any policy changes,” Aqib explained.

“It signifies that the same momentum is still in effect, with only the face changed and nothing new done,” he concluded.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has picked the top match-saving knocks in the ICC World Test Championship 2023 (WTC23) cycle thus far, Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam and the wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan also featured in the list.

Pakistan’s top-ranked batter Babar, who played a crucial and match-saving knock against Australia in the Karachi Test and forced the match to end as a draw, has got his name in the top match-saving knocks of the ICC WTC23 so far.

Coming out to bat at 21/2 just after the Lunch on day four, the right-handed batter showed his class and scored 196 off 425 balls, that is also the seventh-highest individual scored in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Set a target of 506 for a win, Pakistan endured the second-longest fourth innings stay in history to salvage a draw, thanks to the gritty knock of Babar.

Another Pakistani batter Rizwan, who also played a crucial knock in the hard-fought draw in Karachi Test, also featured in the list. The right-handed batter scored a gritty 104 not-out on 177 balls.

The wicket-keeper batter put on an important 115-runs partnership with Babat before the latter perished after missing on his maiden double century by a mere four runs. Babar’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse but Rizwan remained calm and batted with the tailenders to endure a hard-fought draw.

From Babar Azam's defiant knock against Australia to Kraigg Brathwaite's gutsy display against England – we list the top match-saving knocks in the current #WTC23 cycle 📝https://t.co/rFNrx8OzDT

— ICC (@ICC) April 19, 2022

 

The West Indian captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s marathon knock of 160 and 56* runs against England in Barbados, was also added to one of the top match-saving knocks.

Kraigg Brathwaite played the knock of his career when he scored 160 against England in the second Test in Barbados. West Indies scored 411 runs in response to England’s first innings declaration of 507/9, thanks to Brathwaite’s marathon knock facing a mammoth 489 deliveries.

In their second innings, the visitors declared at 185/6, setting a target of 281 runs for the West Indies. The home side was then unable to counter well, and victory appeared to be in England’s grasp. But, with another determined batting display, the skipper Brathwaite halted England’s push for a win, with a valiant 56* in 184 balls, forcing the second Test to end as a draw.

New Zealand’s debutant spinner Rachin Ravindra’s gritty unbeaten knock of 18 against India in the Kanpur Test, has also been added among the top match-saving knocks. Despite the knock not a big score by any means but had vital importance in terms of the touring side’s perspective.

Indian spinners, defending a target of 284, wreaked havoc over New Zealand’s batting line-up but the debutant Ravindra stood firm and played a determined knock to defy India the victory. He batted for 91 deliveries and remained unbeaten for the last wicket with Ajaz Patel, enabling New Zealand pull off a remarkable comeback.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has picked the five best batting performances in the ICC World Test Championship 2023 (WTC23) cycle so far, Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam, is featured in the list.

Pakistan’s top-ranked batter Babar, who played a crucial and match-saving knock against Australia in the Karachi Test and forced the match to end as a draw, has got his name in the five best performances of the ICC WTC23 so far.

Coming out to bat at 21/2 just after the Lunch on day four, the right-handed batter showed his class and scored 196 off 425 balls, that is also the seventh-highest individual scored in the fourth innings of a Test match.

Set a target of 506 for a win, Pakistan endured the second-longest fourth innings stay in history to salvage a draw, thanks to the gritty knock of Babar.

ICC picked another Pakistani batter in the list as Azhar Ali’s 185 against Australia at Rawalpindi has been rated among the top five performances.

Prior to Babar’s heroics, Azhar Ali in Rawalpindi stretched Australia’s bowling attack to its limits, eliminating the possibility of a rare away triumph first up.

In Pakistan’s first innings, Azhar Ali batted for 535 minutes, primarily with Imam-ul-Haq, who put 157 next to his name on the scoreboard. Together, they scored 208 runs.

From Tom Latham's imperious 252, to Babar Azam's match-saving knock in Karachi, skippers have led the way with bat in hand so far in #WTC23 action 👏https://t.co/Vrjkw8hko0

— ICC (@ICC) April 16, 2022

New Zealand’s stand-in captain Tom Latham’s magnificent 252-runs knock against Bangladesh in Christchurch, was also added to one of the best five batting performances.

The 373-ball stay continued into the second session of day two, breaking Bangladesh’s fielding back. In the end, New Zealand won by an innings and 117 runs.

Despite additional duties, Joe Root had a good 2021 with the bat, highlighted by a magnificent 180* against India at Lord’s.

Root, who came in at 23/2 after the early wickets of Dom Sibley and Haseeb Hameed, navigated a difficult end to day two and batted the entire third day while his teammates perished at the other end.

The home team, on the other hand, fell short after a second-innings batting collapse, but Root’s valiant effort remained highlighted.

The number 1 all-rounder in the ICC Test Rankings, India’s Ravindra Jadeja also featured in the list following his astonishing and an unbeaten 175 off 228 vs Sri Lanka at Mohali. The all-rounder also picked a five-for; becoming just the sixth man to score 150+ and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test.

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KARACHI: South Africa’s legendary pacer Dale Steyn has termed Pakistan’s all-format captain, Babar Azam, as the best batter across all formats.

In a question/answer session, hosted by Steyn on his official Twitter handle. The legendary South African pacer responded to a follower’s question, “Who’s the best batsman across all formats currently in your opinion?”

Who's the best batsman across all formats currently in your opinion?

— ~☆ (@RABobsessed) April 14, 2022

Steyn was quick to respond as the right-arm pacer named Babar as the ‘best batter’.

“Maybe Babar? He’s pretty darn good,” he responded.

Maybe Babar? He’s pretty darn good

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) April 14, 2022

It is pertinent to mention here that several cricketers have lauded the Pakistani batter including the likes of the legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, and some other prominent names as well.

Furthermore, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson recently called Babar the second-best batter in Test cricket at the moment.

READ: Shane Watson rates Babar as the second-best batter in Test cricket