Babar Azam: “That is why I rate him highly because he has the ability to take a wicket. He never bowls with a consistent pace, he would normally bowl at 130-135 [kph] and then suddenly bowl you out at 145”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has admitted that it is very difficult to face Australia pace bowler Pat Cummins as he usually bowls between 130 and 135 kph before unleashing a quicker delivery at 145 kph to get a wicket.
The 29-year-old noted that Cummins’ inconsistent pace makes him an elite fast bowler as he keeps a batsman guessing all the time.
Since Cummins consistently takes wickets for Australia and captains them as well, Azam conceded that he rates the 31-year-old very highly.
“That is why I rate him highly because he has the ability to take a wicket. He never bowls with a consistent pace, he would normally bowl at 130-135 [kph] and then suddenly bowl you out at 145. So he has that ability to vary his pace,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand and made 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then went on to score 132 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31 in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
Pakistan are now facing England in a four-match T20I series and are 1-0 down after losing the second game by 23 runs.
Following this, they will take part in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be played in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
[TS_Poll id=”112″]