Salman Butt: “Babar Azam has set such incredibly high standards that even a few low scores feel like an extended dry spell”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said Babar Azam has “set such incredibly high standards” that when he fails to score runs in a few matches, it feels as if he is going through “an extended dry spell”.
His comments come at a time when Azam has not been able to make big scores over the past few months.
The men in green have felt the sting of the 30-year-old’s poor form, but Salman remains optimistic that the Lahore native will break out of his rough patch soon.
“Babar Azam has set such incredibly high standards that even a few low scores feel like an extended dry spell,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently featured in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia, where made 80 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80.
He then proceeded to make 47 runs in three T20Is at an average of 15.66.
After the Australia tour, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
He is back in action in Pakistan’s ongoing tour of South Africa and began with 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
As for the ODI series, he has shown signs of getting back into form, having posted scores of 23 and 73.
Pakistan hold an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the 3rd ODI, which will be held on December 22 in Johannesburg.
Once the ODI series concludes, Pakistan and South Africa will play two Tests, with the first match getting underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series:Â Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series:Â Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series:Â Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha