Azhar Mahmood: “Babar Azam is taking too much pressure. He’s one of the best players in the world”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood believes batsman Babar Azam is putting too much pressure on himself.
Azam has been struggling for consistency for numerous months, but is slowly starting to regain his form.
Even though the 31-year-old has not been at his best for quite some time, is hasn’t changed Mahmood’s perception of him being “one of the best players in the world.”
“Babar Azam is taking too much pressure. He’s one of the best players in the world,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently took part in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and made 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
He then struck 79 runs in three T20Is, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
As for the ODIs that followed, he mustered 45 runs in three games at an average of 15.
After the South Africa series, Pakistan took on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, where Azam accumulated 165 runs, which included his first international century in over two years, at an average of 82.50.
The Lahore native was then involved in Pakistan’s T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and scored 127 runs in five matches, which included a top score of 74, at an average of 31.75 and a strike-rate of 112.38.