Salman Butt: “We often say that Babar Azam can’t hit sixes. But my question for all those people is – is hitting sixes an achievement or a qualifying thing? Doesn’t a boundary also count as four runs?”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come to Babar Azam’s defence, questioning the heavy focus on his inability to hit sixes.
Ravi Shastri: “People expect you to deliver. In your first few balls, I don’t even mind if you get out, but you have to show intent”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri wants to see more intent from Pakistan batsman Babar Azam in T20Is.
Ricky Ponting: “Babar needs to get going early. He needs boundaries in his first few balls, otherwise the momentum of the game shifts every time he comes in. To me, it looks like he’s lost a bit of his power and ball-striking ability”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted it appears as if Pakistan batsman Babar Azam has “lost a bit of his power and ball-striking ability” in T20Is.
Shoaib Akhtar: “He’s a good talent and an impact player, but only if he understands when to hit, when not to hit, and how to rotate strike”
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Pakistan fast bowling great Shoaib Akhtar knows power-hitter Mohammad Haris can be an “impact player”, but urged him to be smarter with his shot selection.
Mohammad Asif: “Shaheen has become too predictable, especially in his first over. He did have success on the new ball with his full in-swinging ball but now batsmen are ready to hit him [for] boundaries on the same ball”
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Former Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif believes pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has “become too predictable” when bowling with the new ball.
Fakhar Zaman: “I have played Tests, ODIs, and T20s, and I have also batted with about 11 or 12 partners. The experience has been different in each format, but honestly, I enjoy batting the most with Babar Azam”
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Pakistan top order batsman Fakhar Zaman said he enjoys batting with Babar Azam the most as the limited overs captain “minimises dot balls”, which puts him under less pressure.
Saud Shakeel: “He can hit boundaries on good deliveries which is why he is the best”
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Saud Shakeel, the middle order batsman, said Pakistan batsman Babar Azam “is the best” as he is able to hit good deliveries to the boundary.
Mickey Arthur: “Saud cashed in on any loose ball, played with precision and intent, it’s what we wanted”
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Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur is glad that middle order batsman Saud Shakeel showed a lot of intent during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup and cashed in on any loose deliveries that were bowled to him.
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman: “I try to go for boundaries from the very first ball and make the most of the good balls by rotating the strike”
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Fakhar Zaman, the aggressive Pakistan left-handed opener, said he likes to go big right away by hitting boundaries from the first ball of a match.
Brad Hogg: “It’s very hard to find players that can come in and find boundaries from ball one. But that was his job for the Pakistan team and it came off most of the time”
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Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg said Pakistan power-hitter Asif Ali is one of the few batsmen in the world that can hit boundaries from ball one.
