Usman Tariq: “Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have won many matches for us”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has defended batsman Babar Azam and left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi from their critics, saying they have won the men in green so many matches over the years.
Azam has long been the backbone of Pakistan’s batting line-up, while Afridi has spearheaded the bowling attack, frequently providing early breakthroughs.
Considering how much both have done for Pakistan cricket, Tariq feels it is unfair that they are constantly in people’s crosshairs.
“Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have won many matches for us,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Azam and Afridi recently featured in Pakistan’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, with both of them playing one match.
Azam scored 115 runs, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 57.50, while Afridi took five wickets in total at an average of 33.40.
Next up was a three-match ODI series, where Afridi captained the team and picked up seven wickets at an average of 12.14.
Azam, meanwhile, accumulated 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 41.66.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a two-Test tour of the West Indies, which will see Azam return as captain after replacing Shan Masood. The two matches will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
After that, Pakistan will head to England for three Tests from August 19 to September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah