Ramiz Raja: “Babar is an artist”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja is in awe of Babar Azam’s batting and has described him as “an artist.”
Azam is considered to be the backbone of the batting line-up, but his form has been highly turbulent for many months.
The 31-year-old has shown signs of rediscovering the consistency that once defined his game – momentum he will aim to sustain in the national team’s upcoming fixtures.
“Babar is an artist,” Ramiz was quoted as saying on Facebook.
Azam has played plenty of international cricket as of late, starting with Pakistan’s home series against South Africa, where he began with 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
In the three-match T20I series, he struck 79 runs, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
His returns weren’t as strong in the ODI series as he only managed to make 45 runs in three games at an average of 15.
However, the Lahore native turned his fortunes around in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, amassing 165 runs in three matches, which included his first international hundred in more than two years, at an average of 82.50.
Azam then took part in Pakistan’s T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and finished with 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.
Currently, he is in action in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he has accumulated 71 runs in four games for the Sydney Sixers, which includes a top score of 58, at an average of 17.75 and a strike-rate of 110.93.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which will be held in Dambulla from January 7 to 11.
However, Azam failed to make the cut when the squad was announced.
Pakistan Squad for Sri Lanka T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq