Shaheen Shah Afridi: “Babar’s class is never in doubt. Just because he doesn’t perform in a couple of matches doesn’t make him a bad player. For the last four or five years, he’s been our most consistent performer”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said he never questioned Babar Azam’s class, even during the extended lean patch the batsman endured in recent months.
Afridi pointed out that Azam has been Pakistan’s “most consistent performer” over the past four to five years and was a formidable presence in both ODIs and T20Is in particular.
The 31-year-old is constantly expected to score big runs whenever he plays for the men in green, but Afridi noted that such expectations are unrealistic.
He further defended Azam, saying a few low scores don’t suddenly make the Lahore native a “bad player.”
“Every player goes through ups and downs. Babar’s class is never in doubt. Just because he doesn’t perform in a couple of matches doesn’t make him a bad player. For the last four or five years, he’s been our most consistent performer and the highest run-scorer in both T20Is and ODIs,” the 25-year-old was quoted as saying by A Sports.
“Whenever our senior players contribute, the team ends up winning. Babar’s return to form is a huge boost for us.”
Azam was recently involved in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and started off by scoring 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
He then proceeded to make 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.
In the three ODIs that followed, he finished with 45 runs at an average of 15.
Even though he fell short of expectations in the ODIs against the Proteas, Azam made up for it in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka as he accumulated 165 runs, which included his first international century since August 2023, at an average of 82.50.
Afterwards, Azam took part in a T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and ended up making 127 runs in five games, which included a top score of 74, at an average of 31.75 and a strike-rate of 112.38.
He is now representing the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he has amassed 129 runs in five matches, which includes two half-centuries, at an average of 32.25 and a strike-rate of 117.27.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
However, Azam was not among the players picked for the upcoming tour, which will take place from January 7 to 11.
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