Sarfaraz Ahmed: “Back in 2017, Babar was still finding his footing, but today, he is Pakistan’s top batsman on the international stage”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed believes Babar Azam is “Pakistan’s top batsman on the international stage” right now.
Sarfaraz recalled how Azam “was still finding his footing” back in 2017, but has now evolved leaps and bounds.
The 31-year-old was recently in action in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and started off with 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
Next up came three T20Is, where he struck 79 runs, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
In the ODIs that followed, he mustered 45 runs in three games at an average of 15.
The Lahore native rebounded brilliantly in the three ODIs against Sri Lanka as he amassed 165 runs, which included his first international century in over two years, at an average of 82.50.
As for the T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, Azam finished with 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.
“Back in 2017, Babar was still finding his footing, but today, he is Pakistan’s top batsman on the international stage,” Sarfaraz told Cricket Pakistan.
Azan did not take part in Pakistan’s T20I tour of Sri Lanka and has instead been playing for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he has scored 154 runs in eight matches, which includes two half-centuries, at an average of 25.66 and a strike-rate of 104.05.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a T20I series against Australia, with all three matches taking place in Lahore from January 29 to February 1.