Babar Azam, a right-hand batsman, made his debut in Pakistan’s national team in 2015, and since then has laid claim to Pakistan’s batting line-up.
In the recent ODI series against England, Babar was the second highest run scorer, where he averaged about 55 runs. Former Australian Captain, Michael Clarke has even called him the Virat Kohli of Pakistan’s batting line-up.
Pakistan recently played a warm-up match with Afghanistan and ended up losing by 3 wickets.
Azam made 112 off of 108 balls in the match, which was the highest number of runs by the Pakistani batsmen, and the second highest was by Malik who made 44.
The entire scorecard of Pakistan, from the match, can be seen here:
During a post-match presentation, a journalist, however, called out Babar Azam for apparently playing selfishly by batting very slowly, and critics say he should have picked up the pace.
Babar Azam: 112 off 108 balls, SR 103
10 other Pakistani batsmen: 147/9 off 179 balls, SR 82Journalist to Babar Azam: You made the laziest century in the history of cricket on a dead pitch 🤦🏽♂️pic.twitter.com/jjl1RE3BUL
— Abdullah Ansari (@Abdullah719_) May 24, 2019
“I play according to the team’s plan, and the fact is that I do not play for myself, this is not my team but the team of Pakistan,” Azam replied to the journalist.
Many cricket fans aren’t at all satisfied with Babar’s performances. Many believe after Azam reached the 50 in the Pak-Afg match, he should have increased his batting pace.
Some criticism cameAzam’s way
Babar Azam's 100 off 104 balls today
The slowest of the 7 centuries scored in ODIs in Nottingham since the last world cup. Previous: 94 balls Joe Root vs NZ.
And the second slowest of 21 centuries scored in 50 overs cricket in Nottingham since the last World Cup.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) May 17, 2019
Below are Babar Azam's 25 consecutive balls before reaching hundred. The maximum scoring shot was single. It won't be wrong to suggest that his go-slow approach on the world's best batting pitch has hurt Pakistan.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) May 17, 2019
Babar Azam hasn't hit a boundary against a fast bowler since the end of Powerplay.. This is where he falls behind from the top players. This will also stop him from becoming a truly great player.. Unless he develops a power game against the quicks. #ENGvPAK
— Mubeen Iftikhar (@Rafa_United) May 17, 2019
Babar Azam played a very selfish innings and when ever he reaches 70-75, he becomes ultra selfish to score his 100. It was a old fashioned hundred. Pakistan are not 20-30 runs short, they are at least 60 runs short here.
– Ramiz Raja
— Mujahid Malik 🇵🇰 (@iMMujahidMalik) May 18, 2019
However, many others are cutting him some slack, and are still rooting for him
We're really ungrateful nation if we don't value Babar Azam. Man is pure class.
— Haroon. (@ThisHaroon) May 24, 2019
Mickey Arthur "We have some serious batsmen in our team but Babar Azam has the ability to be as good as anyone in the world. If he’s getting us a 100, we’re comfortable we have the batsmen around him to get 300-320" #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) May 24, 2019
I can't understand the criticism on Babar Azam's century. Ok he played slow but what was the job of other 10 players around him?Who stopped them from going out there and unleash? Babar is Joe Root not Jos Buttler
— Salman (@SalmanNotes) May 17, 2019
Babar Azam is the only ray of light in this sad, dark world.
— Ahmed (@azkhawaja1) May 19, 2019
In fact, many people are pretty mad that the journalist asked such an “incompetent” question.
What a stupid and incompetent remark from the journalist. Babar has been the most consistent player of this team – people label him as the Virat Kohli of the Pakistan. And then some of our journalist comes up with such terrible questions / remarks.
— Fahad Ali (@fahadmehtabali) May 25, 2019
What a pathetic question
— Arham (@legsidehack) May 24, 2019
People even considered the question disrespectful.
Babar Azam is the best batsman we have. This was such a disrespectful question.
The press constantly treats our team like shit then expects them to wonders on the ground.
What a shit question to get right before the world cup https://t.co/6YEFxIDDVx
— Shehzad Ghias Shaikh (@Shehzad89) May 25, 2019
And some people pointed out how this is a habit with us.
Instead of criticizing those who is not scoring people start moaning about his century. They have done same to Misbah and look what we got Sarfraz Ahmed, worst ever Odi captain in Pakistan history🤬
— kazim shah (@ShahKazim) May 25, 2019
Babar Azam was appreciated through it all.
Not selfish – but a match saving potential match winning innings … you cant smash the bowl around the pitch when the rest of your team is falling for low scores … well played @babarazam258
— Saqib N Kayani (@SaqibNKayani1) May 24, 2019
Pakistan’s next warm-up match will be against Bangladesh on May 26th, but the cricket hype is more about the upcoming World Cup. How do you think Babar Azam (and the team) will perform? Let us know in the comments below.
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