Michael Clarke: “I don’t understand why people keep talking about Babar Azam’s strike-rate. I think right now, he is a technically perfect player. He’s a true world-class player”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke cannot understand why people are obsessed with Pakistan batsman Babar Azam’s strike-rate in T20Is.
Azam used to be one of Pakistan’s go-to openers in the shortest format, but despite being a consistent run-scorer, he was removed from the side as many thought he was scoring too slowly.
Even though the 31-year-old returned to the T20I squad during the recent home series against South Africa, Clarke wondered why the men in green would axe someone who is “world-class” and a “technically perfect player.”
“I don’t understand why people keep talking about Babar Azam’s strike-rate. I think right now, he is a technically perfect player. He’s a true world-class player,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During the South Africa series, Azam started off by scoring 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
In his T20I comeback, he made 79 runs in three games, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
As for the three-match ODI series, the Lahore native amassed 45 runs at an average of 15.
Azam is now featuring in Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and began by making 29 runs in the first match.
Once the ODIs conclude, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a T20I tri-series from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem