Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan backs Babar Azam amid form slump
What's the story
The Pakistan cricket team's skipper and wicket-keeper, Mohammad Rizwan, has come out in support of Babar Azam, as the team gears up for the tri-series final against New Zealand in Karachi. Despite Babar's recent struggles across formats, Rizwan is confident that his teammate will bounce back. Meanwhile, he stressed that Babar is still a valuable contributor to the team. "If we don't judge him by those extreme expectations, you'll find he's still chipping in, Rizwan stated in a press conference.
Performance analysis
Babar's performance in the ongoing series
Babar's performance in the ongoing series has been underwhelming. He scored a paltry 10 runs in the first match against New Zealand. Meanwhile, he started strong but was dismissed for 23 runs in Pakistan's record 353-run chase against South Africa. "As a captain, I expect a lot more of him too because of all he has done in the past. There is obviously an additional pressure because of it and I'm sure he feels that too," Rizwan further added.
Captain's faith
Rizwan's confidence in Babar's ability to bounce back
Rizwan also expressed faith in Babar's ability to overcome his current challenges. He said, "It's not as if he has clear technical deficiencies, but he is still being tested. I am confident he'll come out of it." The statement highlights Rizwan's belief in Babar's skills and resilience despite recent performances.
New role
Babar's role as opener in the series
Notably, Babar has been given the responsibility of an opener in this series, a position he hasn't played in ODIs for a decade. The decision was taken considering injuries and form issues in the team. Talking about handing Babar the role of an opener, Rizwan said "His absence created a huge disturbance, and we went for the safety of Babar Azam, who's our best batter. So, we thought why not go for our most technically solid player to open."
Team strategy
Rizwan's willingness to step up as opener
Rizwan also hinted that he would be ready to open if required, a position he already occupies in T20s. "We have other players who can open if we need them to," he said. The statement emphasizes the team's flexibility and readiness to change their strategy.
Numbers
Babar's ODI numbers at a glance
The batter has racked up 5,990 runs across 125 ODIs. In 122 innings he has managed an average of 55.98 including a strike rate of 88.15. Additionally, he also boasts 19 tons and 34 fifties with a high score of 158, (vs England in 2021). Meanwhile, 1,504 of his ODI runs have come at home, (AVG: 68.36). According to ESPNcricinfo, he has scored 59 runs as an opener in ODIs (four innings), while averaging 14.75.