Mohammad Rizwan: “He can bat against [the] new ball and swing [bowling]”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has lauded Babar Azam, saying he is more than capable of batting against the new ball and swing bowling.
Azam, who has struggled to score runs consistently for quite some time, has been playing as an opener lately since Saim Ayub is sidelined with a fractured ankle.
The 30-year-old made 62 runs in three matches in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa at an average of 20.66.
He enjoyed more success in the 2025 Champions Trophy, amassing 87 runs in two games, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
“He can bat against [the] new ball and swing [bowling],” Rizwan was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the Champions Trophy, which resulted in them getting knocked out in the group stage.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Pakistan are now taking on New Zealand in a white-ball series, which comprises five T20Is and three ODIs.
The men in green are 2-0 down in the T20I series and will be looking to avoid another defeat in the 3rd T20I on March 21 in Auckland.
Azam was not selected for the T20I series, but is part of Pakistan’s squad for the ODIs.
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
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