Ramiz Raja: “Babar Azam should stick to his natural game, don’t be a typical T20 slogger. That’s not his game, he should take time to hit the ball long, not from the first or second ball”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has advised Babar Azam not to “be a typical T20 slogger” and play the long game instead.
Ramiz feels it is better for the 31-year-old to “stick to his natural game”, which should be to bat through the innings.
Azam recently made his T20I comeback during the three-match series against South Africa and scored 79 runs, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
He then proceeded to make 127 runs in five games in a T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, which included a top score of 74, at an average of 31.75 and a strike-rate of 112.38.
“Babar Azam should stick to his natural game, don’t be a typical T20 slogger. That’s not his game, he should take time to hit the ball long, not from the first or second ball,” Ramiz was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan just concluded a tour of Sri Lanka, which consisted of three T20Is, but Azam was not selected for it.
Instead, he has been taking part in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he has amassed 154 runs in eight matches for the Sydney Sixers, which includes two half-centuries, at an average of 25.66 and a strike-rate of 104.05.
Pakistan Squad for Sri Lanka T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq