Pakistan batsman Babar Azam: “ODI cricket tests your patience. Even though teams are scoring over 350 runs, the format has its own pace and importance. I have always cherished ODI cricket and have had some of my best performances in it”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam said he enjoys playing ODI cricket as is “tests your patience”.
Azam has had the most success in the 50-over format as he has scored 6,467 runs in 139 matches, which includes 20 centuries and 37 fifties, at an average of 53.89.
Even though the 31-year-old has fought through some tough times lately, he noted that some of his best performances have come in that particular format, which is why it has a special place in his heart.
“ODI cricket tests your patience. Even though teams are scoring over 350 runs, the format has its own pace and importance. I have always cherished ODI cricket and have had some of my best performances in it,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Azam was recently involved in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa, which started off with him making 131 runs in two Tests at an average of 32.75.
He then made his T20I return and had a solid showing, making 79 runs in three matches, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
As for the ODI series, Azam could only muster 45 runs in three games at an average of 15.
However, he has done significantly better in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, accumulating 131 runs in two games, which includes his first hundred since August 2023, at an average of 131.
Following the ODIs, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a T20I tri-series from November 18 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
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