Naseem Shah: “You have to be very deceptive against him because he can play such shots on your good deliveries which simply baffle you”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah said he has to try and deceive masterful batsman Babar Azam whenever bowling to him.
He noted that trying to get the better of Azam is much easier said than done as he possesses an incredible range of shots.
In addition to this, the limited overs captain can also score runs against good balls, which ends up leaving bowlers absolutely stunned.
“You have to be very deceptive against him because he can play such shots on your good deliveries which simply baffle you. Good [deliveries] must be respected,” Naseem told Cricwick.
Azam recently captained the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and finished as the top run-scorer with 569 runs in 11 games, which included a century and five fifties, at an average of 56.90 and a strike-rate of 142.60.
As for Naseem, he represented Islamabad United and claimed 15 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 22.20 and an economy rate of 7.56.
Islamabad were crowned champions after beating the Multan Sultans in the final.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which will be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.
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
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