Kusal Mendis: “Babar Azam is a world-class batter across three formats who never panics on the crease while batting”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Sri Lanka cricketer Kusal Mendis said Pakistan batsman Babar Azam is a “world-class batter” who never panics while he is at the crease.
He and Azam played a crucial role in leading the Peshawar Zalmi to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title earlier this year.
Azam, who captained the franchise, was the top run-scorer with 580 runs at an average of 73.50, while Mendis was right behind him with 550 runs at an average of 55.
“Babar Azam is a world-class batter across three formats who never panics on the crease while batting,” Mendis was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their three-Test series against England and accumulated 97 runs in two games, which included a top score of 76, at an average of 24.25.
The 31-year-old has returned to first-class cricket for the first time in seven years, representing Oil & Gas Development Company Limited in the President’s Trophy Grade-I tournament.
However, he has struggled in his first two matches, registering scores of 12, 4, 21 and 21.
Azam will be back in action for Pakistan soon as the men in green prepare to take on Sri Lanka and England.
Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series from October 9 to 13 in Rawalpindi.
After that, they will play an ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England from October 18 to 31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Pakistan’s Squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Moqim
Pakistan’s Squad for the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Moqim