Imad Wasim: “Babar has adapted very well after batting at one down position. He scored three consecutive fifties”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim has praised batsman Babar Azam for adapting “very well” after being moved down to number three in T20Is.
Azam used to open the batting with Mohammad Rizwan in the shortest format, but both of them were criticised for batting too slow and putting immense pressure on the middle order.
As a result, a major change was made during the recent five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where Azam batted at one down, while Rizwan retained his spot at the top of the order and formed a new opening partnership with big-hitting youngster Saim Ayub.
Despite batting in a different position, it was business as usual for Azam as he scored 213 runs, which included three fifties, at an average of 42.60 and a strike-rate of 142.
“Babar has adapted very well after batting at one down position. He scored three consecutive fifties,” Imad told Cricket Pakistan.
Azam is now captaining the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has made 330 runs in five matches, which includes a century and two fifties, at an average of 82.50 and a strike-rate of 151.37.
As for Imad, who is playing for Islamabad United, he has taken one wicket in four games at an average of 95 and an economy rate of 8.63.
Peshawar Zalmi Squad for PSL 9: Babar Azam (captain), Rovman Powell, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Asif Ali, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal, Naveen-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Umair Afridi, Dan Mousley, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan, Mehran Mumtaz, Luke Wood, Sufiyan Muqeem, Waqar Salamkheil, Arshad Iqbal, Gus Atkinson, Shamar Joseph
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 9: Shadab Khan (captain), Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Tymal Mills, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Obed McCoy, Haider Ali, Muhammad Waseem