Kane Williamson: “He is one of the best players in the world… We know he is a big threat”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson acknowledged that Pakistan batsman Babar Azam is “a big threat” as he is “one of the best players in the world.”
Azam has been Pakistan’s most consistent run-scorer in all three formats for the past few years and has repeatedly won games for his country.
However, the 29-year-old hasn’t been in the best of form as he was limited to 126 runs at an average of 21 in the three-match Test series against Australia.
He fared a lot better in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, amassing 213 runs, which included three fifties, at an average of 42.60 and a strike-rate of 142.
Despite underperforming as of late, Williamson knows better than to underestimate Azam as he is fully aware that the Lahore native can get back to his best at any time.
“He is one of the best players in the world… We know he is a big threat,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Azam’s next assignment will be the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he will captain the Peshawar Zalmi.
PSL 9 will take place from February 17 to March 18 in four cities – Lahore, Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Peshawar Zalmi Squad for PSL 9: Babar Azam (captain), Rovman Powell, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad (partially available), Arshad Iqbal, Haseebullah, Gus Atkinson (partially available), Asif Ali, Naveen-ul-Haq (reserved), Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Umair Afridi, Dan Mousley, Mohammad Zeeshan, Waqar Salamkheil, Mehran Mumtaz, Luke Wood, Sufyan Muqeem, Shamar Joseph