“Rizwan Shows Support for Babar Azam”
As Pakistan gears up for the Tri-Nation ODI Series final against New Zealand in Karachi, skipper Mohammad Rizwan has expressed full support for former captain Babar Azam. Despite Babar’s recent dip in form, Rizwan believes the star batter will regain his best form soon.
Babar Azam’s Form Under Scrutiny
Babar Azam’s performance has been under the spotlight due to a noticeable decline in his batting statistics across all formats. In his strongest format, ODIs, his average has dropped to 42.90 in 25 games since the 2023 Asia Cup, bringing his career average down from nearly 59 to the mid-50s. Excluding his 151 against Nepal, his average dips below 38.
This series hasn’t provided much relief either. Babar scored only 10 runs against New Zealand and was dismissed for 23 against South Africa, raising concerns about his consistency.
Rizwan Defends Babar’s Contributions
Despite the numbers, Rizwan believes Babar is a victim of his own high standards. “Babar has scored so many runs for Pakistan that we expect him to score a hundred in each game,” Rizwan told ESPNcricinfo. He urged fans to look beyond extreme expectations, emphasizing that Babar is still contributing valuable runs.
Rizwan acknowledged the pressure Babar faces due to his past achievements. “There is obviously additional pressure because of his past performances, but it’s not like he has clear technical flaws. He is being tested, and I am confident he’ll come out of it,” he added.
New Role as an Opener
Babar’s struggles have been further complicated by his promotion to opener in ODIs, a role he hasn’t played in a decade. The move was influenced by Saim Ayub’s injury and Abdullah Shafique’s poor form. With the Champions Trophy approaching, it remains to be seen if Babar will continue as an opener.
Rizwan explained the decision: “When Abdullah Shafique got out early in South Africa, Babar handled the new ball well. We thought our most technically solid player should open rather than putting someone inexperienced under pressure.”
If the experiment doesn’t work, Rizwan is open to exploring other options, including taking up the opener’s role himself.
Looking Ahead to the Final
With the Tri-Series final against New Zealand approaching, all eyes are on Babar Azam to see if he can regain his form and lead Pakistan to victory. Rizwan’s faith in his teammate’s abilities reflects the strong bond within the team, which they hope will translate into on-field success.
