Misbah-ul-Haq: “Babar Azam’s scoring rate has increased, he has introduced new shots. He plays paddle sweep too, he is now more innovative. It feels so good to see his shot range now”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has applauded limited overs captain Babar Azam for adding the paddle sweep to his arsenal, saying “it feels so good to see” his range of shots expanding.
Misbah also praised the 29-year-old for boosting his scoring rate during the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he captained the Peshawar Zalmi.
Azam has previously been criticised for his low strike-rate when batting in T20 cricket, with his critics saying it put unnecessary pressure on the middle order.
During PSL 9, Azam was a force to be reckoned with and finished as the highest 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.
“Babar Azam’s scoring rate has increased, he has introduced new shots. He plays paddle sweep too, he is now more innovative. It feels so good to see his shot range now,” Misbah was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Zalmi managed to make it to the playoffs, but were eliminated after losing to the Multan Sultans in the Qualifier and eventual champions Islamabad United in Eliminator 2.
Azam is now captaining Pakistan in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand and made 14 runs in the second T20I, which the men in green won by seven wickets.
Pakistan hold a 1-0 series lead going into the third T20I, which will take place on April 21 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha
[TS_Poll id=”124″]