Tabraiz Shamsi on Babar Azam: “Having faced him before, I have an idea of what to do. He’s a great player”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi said he has “an idea of what to do” when it comes to dismissing Pakistan batsman Babar Azam.
Calling the 30-year-old a “great player”, Shamsi revealed that he puts some plans in motion whenever he comes up against the Lahore native.
He also knows the importance of getting Azam out early as the Pakistan star can catch fire at any time and hurt opposition teams.
“Having faced him before, I have an idea of what to do. He’s a great player,” Shamsi told Cricket Pakistan.
Azam recently toured Australia with the Pakistan team and scored 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 series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
In the ongoing tour of South Africa, Azam began by scoring 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
He showed signs of getting back into form in the ODI series as he finished with 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
Pakistan and South Africa will now play two Tests, with the first match getting underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: 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: 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: 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
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