Ramiz Raja: “Either he has to play reverse sweep, sweep shot or switch hit against spin or he has to use his footwork and dominate the spinners because that domination factor ends as soon as a spinner comes [on to bowl]. So, Babar needs to work a lot on this area”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said limited overs captain Babar Azam “needs to work a lot” on his batting against spin as he has a noticeable weakness against such bowling.
Ramiz noted that the 29-year-old needs to utilise the sweep, reverse sweep or switch hit when facing spinners. Alternatively, he can also “use his footwork and dominate the spinners”.
Since Azam has a tendency to get dismissed by spinners, Ramiz urged him to make significant improvements as he is Pakistan’s premier batsman.
“Either he has to play reverse sweep, sweep shot or switch hit against spin or he has to use his footwork and dominate the spinners because that domination factor ends as soon as a spinner comes [on to bowl]. So, Babar needs to work a lot on this area,” he said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Geo Super.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand and amassed 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then struck 132 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31 in three T20Is against Ireland.
Following this, the men in green played a four-match T20I series against England and Azam accumulated 68 runs in two games at an average of 34 and a strike-rate of 141.66.
Currently, the Lahore native is in action in the 2024 T20 World Cup and scored 44, 13 and 33 against the United States of America, India and Canada respectively.
Pakistan lost their first two games before rebounding to defeat Canada by seven wickets.
Next up for them will be a clash against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.
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
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