Michael Bracewell: “Babar Azam is a quality player, anytime you take his wicket you feel pretty happy”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
New Zealand spinner Michael Bracewell has admitted that he feels “pretty happy” whenever he gets Pakistan batsman Babar Azam out.
Bracewell’s comments come after he dismissed Azam in the opening game of the ODI tri-series in February 2025.
Fully aware that Azam is a “quality player”, he acknowledged the importance of getting the 30-year-old out as early as possible.
“Babar Azam is a quality player, anytime you take his wicket you feel pretty happy,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In the ODI tri-series, Azam scored 62 runs in three games at an average of 20.66.
He followed that up with 87 runs in two matches in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the tournament, which led to them getting knocked out in the group stage.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Pakistan will now embark on a tour of New Zealand, which will comprise five T20Is and three ODIs that will be held 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