Ottis Gibson: “Babar Azam knows how to score runs in T20s and is a great T20 batter”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Ottis Gibson, who was head coach of the Peshawar Zalmi for the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), believes Pakistan’s Babar Azam is a “great T20 batter” as he knows how to score runs.
Azam used to be Pakistan’s go-to opener in the shortest format, where he consistently delivered solid performances.
However, his strike-rate was frequently came under criticism, and he eventually lost his place as an opener before being dropped from the team completely for a brief period during a rough patch.
While it remains to be seen whether the 32-year-old will become a regular member of Pakistan’s T20I side again, Gibson has no doubts about his value, having seen Azam play a key role in guiding the Zalmi to the PSL title.
“Babar Azam knows how to score runs in T20s and is a great T20 batter,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their three-Test series against England and amassed 97 runs in two matches, which included a top score of 76, at an average of 24.25.
He then made his return to first-class cricket after seven years and struck 58 runs in two President’s Trophy Grade-I matches for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited at an average of 14.50.
The Lahore-born batsman did not feature in Pakistan’s recent three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which the men in green won 2-1.
However, he was selected for the upcoming ODI tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, which will take place from October 18 to 31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
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