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āPakistan donāt have 190 strike-rate battersā: PSL coach backs Babar Azam amid criticism
TL;DR
Azhar Mahmood defends Babar Azam against criticism over his T20 strike rate, stating Pakistan lacks aggressive batters. He argues that Babar's batting position and the overall batting pool contribute to the issue.
Key points
- Azhar Mahmood defends Babar Azam's T20 performance
- Criticism of Babar's strike rate is seen as unfair
- Pakistan lacks ultra-aggressive batters in T20 cricket
- Babar was forced to bat at number four in the World Cup
- Babar's strike rate is comparable to other Pakistani batters
Mentioned in this story
Babar AzamAzhar Mahmood
Peshawar ZalmiPakistan Super League
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has launched a strong defence of Babar Azam, calling it āunfairā to single him out over strike-rate concerns in T20 cricket while insisting the country lacks ultra-aggressive batters.
Speaking after a Pakistan Super League match, Mahmood, assistant and bowling coach for Peshawar Zalmi, questioned the narrative around Babarās approach, pointing to the broader limitations in Pakistanās batting pool.
āThe problem for Babar Azam was what was demanded from him. He was forced to bat at number four in the World Cup for his low strike rate,ā Mahmood said.
He added that comparisons with other batters were misplaced. āIf I look at others, the best batter of Pakistan in the T20 World Cup was Sahibzada Farhan. He has a strike rate of around 135 in T20Is. Babar has 128, so thereās not much difference.ā
āUtilise Babar Azam properlyā
Mahmood, who played in the IPL as a British passport holder from 2012 to 2015, representing Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) and Kolkata Knight Riders, made it clear that expectations need to be realistic, stressing that Pakistan simply do not have players capable of consistently striking at 190-200.
āWe should admit that Pakistan doesnāt have 190-200 strike-rate players. Babar Azam should be utilised properly like we utilised him in this PSL. He sets the platform for the other batters to hit the ball,ā he said.
His remarks come at a time when Babar has answered critics emphatically on the field. Leading Peshawar Zalmi, the star batter smashed a stunning unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls against Quetta Gladiators, powering his side to a massive 255/3.
The knock was remarkable not just for its power but control ā Babar faced over 50 deliveries while playing just a single dot ball, a rare feat in T20 cricket.
It also marked the end of a long wait, as he brought up his first century in 783 days. In the process, Babar crossed 12,000 T20 runs in just 338 innings ā faster than legends like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.
Mahmoodās comments underline a broader debate in Pakistan cricket ā whether the system is demanding a style of play its current talent pool isnāt equipped to deliver.
Q&A
Why is Babar Azam criticized for his T20 strike rate?
Babar Azam faces criticism for his T20 strike rate due to expectations for aggressive batting, but many argue that the lack of ultra-aggressive batters in Pakistan is a larger issue.
What did Azhar Mahmood say about Babar Azam's batting position?
Azhar Mahmood mentioned that Babar was forced to bat at number four during the World Cup, which affected his strike rate and performance.
How does Babar Azam's strike rate compare to other Pakistani batters?
Babar Azam has a strike rate of 128 in T20Is, which is close to Sahibzada Farhan's strike rate of around 135, indicating that the differences are minimal.
