Tag: Babar Azam

LONDON: Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam credited the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for playing a pivotal role in shaping his cricketing career, stating that it serves as a launchpad for youngsters to develop into professional players.

Speaking during the PSL roadshow at Lord’s, Babar reflected on his journey in the league over the years, admitting that the tournament has played a pivotal role in uplifting his professional career.

“Journey has been really good, and also the experience. As a youngster, when I played [in the PSL], the only thing on my mind was that ‘I should learn from the top players as much as I can’,” he said

And, I shared dressing room with many big players, and it helped me a lot as a person and as a cricketer,” Babar continued.

The right-handed batter also talked about sharing the dressing room with cricketing giants and the learning experience from the game’s greats.

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“I used to try to go and talk to established cricketers at that time like [Kumar] Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, [Andre] Russell, and Mahela Jayawardene.

To share dressing room with them, observe the way they talk and what they teach us, helped me a lot because they have a long journey behind them and plenty of experience,” Babar recalled.

He further said about his cricketing idol AB de Villiers, noting that, due to the PSL, he met him, and that the league now serves as a platform for youngsters.

“The main thing was that I met my idol because of the PSL, as he came to play in it. I asked him [a lot of things], and that was like a fan moment for me,” Babar shared.

“Means a lot. As a youngster, it was a platform for me. Now, as a senior player, having been through a long journey, I advise youngsters to take this as an opportunity, groom themselves as players, and learn as much as they can,” Babar Azam concluded.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi shares ‘vision’ to make PSL world’s No.1 league

LAHORE: The star-studded lineup for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) landmark roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground has been revealed, with ace batter Babar Azam and former captain Wasim Akram headlining the event.

A day earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the PSL is set to host a road show at the Home of Cricket — highlighting the league’s growth over the years.

“The HBL PSL has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s most exciting and commercially robust T20 leagues.

As the league prepares for expansion with the addition of two new teams, it has already received significant interest from potential ownership groups across the United Kingdom – a testament to HBL PSL’s rising global profile and its strong connection with UK-based cricket stakeholders,” the board had said in a press release.

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The lineup for the event was released on the PSL social media handles with an animated poster.

 

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“London Roadshow brings cricket’s biggest names to the Home of Cricket. Join us for an exclusive evening with Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja & Ali Zafar,” the caption of the post read.

Ace batter Babar Azam, former captain Wasim Akram, and opener Sahibzada Farhan will feature in the event, whereas pacer Haris Rauf, commentator Ramiz Raja, and singer Ali Zafar will also add to the lineup of the mega event.

It is pertinent to mention that PSL, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans.

With the addition of two new teams, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

READ: India pacer announces retirement from international cricket

SYDNEY: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is set to make his debut in the popular Cricket 26 video game after the Sydney Sixers unveiled his in-game appearance through a special reveal video shared on social media.

The franchise posted a clip on Instagram showing Babar batting alongside Steve Smith and celebrating a century at the SCG, with the caption: “Babar & Smudge making tons at the SCG. You can give that a go on Cricket 26, out now.”

The game officially launched on November 19.

 

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The reveal comes as excitement builds ahead of the 15th season of the Big Bash League (BBL), with the full fixture list now confirmed.

A total of 44 matches will be played between December 14 and January 25, 2026, with most games scheduled in the evening. The league will only break for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The tournament will open with a high-profile clash between two of the most successful teams in BBL history, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers, at Perth Stadium.

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Other than Babar Azam, several other Pakistani stars will also be part of the upcoming BBL campaign.

Shaheen Afridi has been snapped up by Brisbane Heat as their first overseas and platinum pick, while Mohammad Rizwan will feature for the Melbourne Renegades.

Haris Rauf is set to play for the Melbourne Stars, former Pakistan Under-19 all-rounder Hassan Khan returns to the Renegades, Shadab Khan joins the Sydney Thunder, and pacer Hasan Ali will represent the Adelaide Strikers.

READ: QEAT Final: Fazal’s ton put Karachi Blues on top against Sialkot

Ace batter Babar Azam has set his sights on lifting a World Cup trophy for Pakistan, stating that he is working hard on his fitness and game to achieve the long-awaited feat.

Babar Azam has become a prolific batter for Pakistan over the past decade and has 32 international centuries to his name, the fourth-most by any Pakistani batter.

However, he is yet to lift a trophy for his team despite being on the brink of doing so under his leadership. He captained Pakistan to the ICC T20 World Cup final in 2022 against England, which they eventually lost by five wickets.

The last time Pakistan lifted the World Cup trophy was back in 2009, under the leadership of Younis Khan.

In a candid conversation with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on
‘The Switch’ , Babar shed light on various aspects of his cricketing career.

Asked about his goals in the next five years, he replied that his biggest dream is to win an ICC trophy.

“We want to win an ICC trophy. We reached the finals of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup, but we lost,” he said.

“That’s why I’m working hard — on my fitness and everything,” he said.

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Babar Azam also spoke about the expectations and the pressure he faces as Pakistan’s premier batter.

“I’m [also] a human being. Sometimes you [make] mistakes. “The main thing is the focus. I stop listening to anyone. I talk to myself, to my coaches,” he said on coping with mental challenges while batting.

During the discussion, the right-hander also revealed his favorite batter and his early memories of watching AB De Villiers bat.

“Yes, he is my all-time favorite. AB is your all-time? KP asked, “Am I second or third?”

“No, sixth,” said Babar Azam in a light-hearted manner.

The 31-year-old talked about how the batting maestro inspired him from childhood, and about his early memories of the South Africa tour of Pakistan in 2007.

“He inspired me. When I was younger, I [tried] to copy him. Like his stance — he’s sideways, you know, starting he’s like he’s looking like that, ” said Babar while imitating AB de Villiers.

“In 2007 or maybe 2006, I was a ball picker in the stadium. [It was the] Pakistan–South Africa match. So during the Test match, I saw AB for the first time. I just… I just… You stopped and stared. Oh, my idol is here,” he concluded.

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has equalled the unwanted record of Umar Akmal in T20I cricket during the tri-series match against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Babar was trapped by Dushmanta Chameera’s length delivery, which sharply nipped back after pitching and struck his back knee, sending him back to the pavilion for a second-ball duck.

His duck saw him equal with Umar Akmal and Saim Ayub on Pakistan’s unwanted T20I ducks leaderboard.

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With this, Babar now has 10 ducks in 135 T20I matches and is now placed with Umar Akmal and Saim Ayub in third position.

Most Ducks for Pakistan in T20Is

• Umar Akmal – 10 ducks in 84 matches
• Saim Ayub – 10 ducks in 55* matches
• Babar Azam – 10 ducks in 135* matches
• Shahid Afridi – 8 ducks in 98 matches
• Kamran Akmal – 7 ducks in 58 matches
• Mohammad Hafeez – 7 ducks in 119 matchesAt the time of filing this story, Pakistan were reeling at 44-4 in six overs while chasing a mammoth 185-run target.Earlier, opening batter Kamil Mishara’s 76 off 48 propelled Sri Lanka to a strong total in a must-win T20I tri-series encounter.

Playing XIs

READ: Head admits ‘fear’ after swashbuckling century in Ashes opener

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam equalled India’s Virat Kohli’s record for the most half-centuries in T20I cricket during the tri-series fixture against Zimbabwe.

The right-hander notched up his 38th half-century here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, reaching the landmark in the 14th over off 43 balls with four boundaries.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 195-5 in their 20 overs, courtesy of Sahibzada Farhan’s and Babar Azam’s gutsy knocks.

Most fifties in T20Is

• 38 – Virat Kohli (117 innings)
• 38 – Babar Azam (127 innings)*
• 32 – Rohit Sharma (151 innings)
• 30 – Mohammad Rizwan (93 innings)
• 28 – David Warner (110 innings)
• 28 – Jos Buttler (132 innings)

After losing Saim Ayub in the second over, Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam forged a 103-run stand.

Overall, Farhan, who remained the core aggressor, made 63 from 41 balls, laced with three maximums and four boundaries, while Babar played the second fiddle and hit two sixes and seven fours on his way to 74 from 52 balls.

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Sahibzada departed in the 15th over when Pakistan were cruising at 132 in 15.2 overs.

Nonetheless, it was Fakhar Zaman’s cameo in the last over that took Pakistan near the 200-run mark. The southpaw, who came down the order, hit three sixes in his 27 from just 10 balls.

For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza picked up two wickets in his quota of four overs.

For the unversed, Babar Azam is already leading the run charts in T20I cricket as he has amassed 4392 runs to his name in 134 matches with the help of 38 fifties and three centuries.

READ: Pakistan-Australia ODI series likely to be postponed: reports

RAWALPINDI: Babar Azam’s gutsy half-century, backed by Usman Tariq’s four-wicket haul, propelled Pakistan to a 69-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth fixture of the T20I tri-series.

Set a daunting 196-run target, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 126 in 19 overs.

Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim inflicted a poor start on Zimbabwe as they were reduced to 25-3 in 3.3 overs.

Brian Bennett managed to score nine while Tadiwanashe Marumani went back after scoring four. Veteran batter Brendan Taylor also got out after scoring only eight.

With this, skipper Sikandar Raza arrived at the crease and tried to put the Chevrons’ chase back on track with a 34-run partnership alongside Ryan Burl.

The scorecard read 59 when Raza (23) was caught off Mohammad Nawaz’s bowling, a wicket that sparked a collapse that the visitors could not recover from it.

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Usman Tariq further piled on misery with a hat-trick in the 10th over, which left them reeling at 60-7. However, it was Ryan Burl’s spirited knock off 67* from 49 balls with the aid of eight fours and two sixes that helped them cross 100-run mark.

For Pakistan, Usman Tariq stood out with four wickets to his name, whereas Mohammad Nawaz scalped two in his four overs.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam’s half-centuries and Fakhar Zaman’s cameo powered Pakistan to a strong total.

Batting first here under lights at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan piled up 195-5 in their 20 overs.

Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan added 29 for the opening wicket in 2.3 overs. The former was caught after scoring 13 from 8 with the help of two sixes.

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Following the early wicket, Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam forged a 103-run stand as both players flexed their muscles at the back end of the innings.

Farhan, who remained the core aggressor, made 63 from 41 balls, laced with three maximums and four boundaries, while Babar played the second fiddle and hit two sixes and seven fours on his way to 74 from 52 balls.

Sahibzada departed in the 15th over when Pakistan were cruising at 132 in 15.2 overs.

Nonetheless, it was Fakhar Zaman’s cameo in the last over that took Pakistan near the 200-run mark. The southpaw, who came down the order, hit three sixes in his 27 from just 10 balls.

For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza picked up two wickets in his quota of four overs.

READ: Muthusamy ton, Jansen 93 put South Africa on top in second India Test

DUBAI: Pakistan’s batting duo, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have made significant leaps in the latest ICC ODI rankings following their stellar performances in the 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka.

Rizwan impressed with back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries in the second and third ODIs, jumping five spots to 23rd, while Babar, ending a two-year century drought, climbed to sixth with 722 points.

Fakhar Zaman also enjoyed a boost, moving up five places to 26th after scoring consecutive fifties. On the contrary, young opener Saim Ayub slipped three spots to 39th, while Salman Ali Agha retained his 16th position.

At the top, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell claimed the number one ODI batter spot, dethroning former Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

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Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran, along with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, hold the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively.

Pakistan’s bowlers also made waves in the ICC ODI rankings. Spinner Abrar Ahmed entered the top 10, moving up 11 spots to ninth.

Haris Rauf rose five places to 23rd, and Mohammad Wasim Jr made a huge jump of 20 spots to 64th.

Meanwhile, captain Shaheen Afridi slipped five places to 21st, Naseem Shah dropped three spots, and spinner Mohammad Nawaz fell seven places to 71st.

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to dominate the bowling charts, followed by England’s Jofra Archer and South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj.

READ: Glenn McGrath removed from Ashes commentary team for THIS reason

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has surpassed the former captain Shahid Afridi to achieve an unwanted record in T20I cricket during the tri-series match against Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The right-handed batter, who had recently starred with a match-winning half-century in the T20I series decider against South Africa, was caught off guard by Brad Evans’ length delivery, which sharply nipped back after pitching and struck his back knee, sending him back to the pavilion without scoring.

This recent three-ball duck saw him overtake Shahid Afridi on Pakistan’s unwanted T20I ducks leaderboard.

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With this, Babar now has nine ducks in 132 T20I matches, surpassing Afridi’s eight and placing him third on Pakistan’s list of most T20I ducks, behind Umar Akmal and Saim Ayub, who each have 10.

Most Ducks for Pakistan in T20Is

• Umar Akmal – 10 ducks in 84 matches
• Saim Ayub – 10 ducks in 52* matches
• Babar Azam – 9 ducks in 132* matches
• Shahid Afridi – 8 ducks in 98 matches
• Kamran Akmal – 7 ducks in 58 matches
• Mohammad Hafeez – 7 ducks in 119 matches

Despite Babar’s duck, Pakistan chased down the 148-run target against Zimbabwe in 19.2 overs after losing five wickets.

Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan stitched a vital 61-run stand after the Green Shirts were reduced to 54-4 in 9.3 overs.

Fakhar played a 32-ball 44, which included two sixes and two fours; meanwhile, Usman remained unbeaten after a gutsy 37 off 28 with the help of three boundaries.

READ: “We need to be ruthless in powerplay,” says Agha after Zimbabwe win

DUBAI: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has been fined for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third ODI against Sri Lanka, which was played at Rawalpindi on Sunday.

The star batter was penalized 10 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point on his disciplinary record. This marks his first offence in 24 months.

Babar was found in violation of Article 2.2 of the ICC Code, which addresses the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

The incident occurred in the 21st over when Babar, having been clean bowled by Sri Lankan spinner Jeffrey Vandersay for 34 off 52 balls, struck the stumps with his bat before leaving the crease.

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The charge was confirmed by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi.

Babar accepted the sanction proposed by Ali Naqvi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, up to a maximum of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

The fine comes shortly after Babar ended a two-year century drought in the series, producing a match-winning unbeaten hundred in the second ODI to help Pakistan take a commanding lead in the three-match series.

READ: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali resigns from PCB roles: sources