Mohammad Rizwan: “Babar has scored so many runs for Pakistan that we expect him to score a hundred in each game. If we don’t judge him by those extreme expectations, you’ll find he’s still chipping in and contributing valuably for us”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan said people expect Babar Azam to “score a hundred in each game”, which is highly unrealistic.
Azam’s batting has been under the spotlight for months since he has not been posting big scores regularly.
However, Rizwan defended the 30-year-old, saying if the “extreme expectations” are put aside, “you’ll find he’s still chipping in and contributing valuably for us”.
“Babar has scored so many runs for Pakistan that we expect him to score a hundred in each game. If we don’t judge him by those extreme expectations, you’ll find he’s still chipping in and contributing valuably for us,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
During the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, Azam amassed 62 runs in three games at an average of 20.66.
He then featured in the 2025 Champions Trophy and scored 87 runs in two matches, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage of the competition after losing to New Zealand and India, while their final game against Bangladesh was washed out.
The men in green will now embark on a limited overs tour of New Zealand, which will consist of five T20Is and three ODIs that will be played from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir