Prime Minister Imran Khan wants cricketer Babar Azam to play at number 4 in the longest-format of the cricket. Khan disapproved of sending Azam at the fifth spot in the previous Test match against Australia.
Imran Khan believes Babar Azam is a talented batsman who should be sent at number 4, former cricketer Wasim Akram quoted Imran Khan as saying.
“PM Imran Khan messaged me to wish all the best to Babar Azam for the way he batted. He also mentioned that in his cricketing opinion Babar is such a good batsman, with a great technique that he should bat at number four eventually,” said Wasim Akram.
Two Test 💯s, filled with two of the world's most glorious cover drives 😍
Babar Azam 🤝 Virat Kohli. Which one do you prefer?#AUSvPAK #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/GgvHWDqQFD
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 24, 2019
Clip of Babar Azam’s century highlights what a wonderful batsman he is. Great sense of timing, wide range of strokes. I’m surprised this was only his 2nd century in 20+ Tests. This innings should give his self-belief and ambition fillip https://t.co/92SFXvGYH9
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 24, 2019
Imran Khan was all praises for Babar Azam after he scored a century in the second innings of the test match, enabling Pakistan to fight back the host team, Australia.
Earlier, former Australian cricketer, Ian Chappel had slammed the team management for making Babar play at the fifth spot. Though Babar Azam lost his wicket at just 1-run after playing a poor shot.
“I think he’s a very good player. But Pakistan has got to make much better use of him by getting him further up the order,” said Chappell. “Four is the minimum. He should have batted at four in the match and I’d like to see him put in at three, but certainly no lower than four.”
Read more: Pakistan’s Finest: Babar Azam Outperforming ‘The Best’ in the Game
Babar, however, expressed his calm on playing at number fifth. In the post-match conference, he said that he is not bothered to play at any specific. He goes according to the team plan. Adding that, “When I started playing Test cricket, I didn’t have a set number, I was up and down the order because Younis Bhai and Misbah bhai were there, sometimes I was at 5 or 6 then when we came to Australia, I was at 3, then later I went to 4.”
He said he would never force to play at the specific number because his priority is to play for the team.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team has continued its dismal performance despite the change of the head coach and the captain. The overhaul reforms in the management were done after Pakistan’s depressing performance in the Cricket World Cup and the loss in the T20 series against Sri Lank during their tour to Pakistan.
What a superb 100 it was from Babar Azam 👏@Domaincomau | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/0itrld7IcD
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 24, 2019
99 against Australia at Abu Dhabi last year and now a century against them at Brisbane. Babar Azam, take a bow! 💯#AUSvPAK #CricketForAll pic.twitter.com/Yr09gaWhre
— Cricingif (@_cricingif) November 24, 2019
Do you agree with Ian Chappell? #AUSvPAK #babarazamhttps://t.co/Q7SR8REJZw
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) November 24, 2019
Babar Azam is bagging appreciation for his spectacular century against Australia. Cricket experts believe a smart strategy is needed to fully harness the potential in skilled cricketer Babar Azam. They believe he should be given maximum opportunities to expand his abilities.
Read more: Imran expresses confidence in 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup squad, shares 1992 World Cup experience
“After the World Cup, I have decided that I am going to reform cricket. It was very disappointing. Remember my words, Insha Allah (God willing), in the next World Cup, we will bring a professional and the best team,” he said to a mammoth of Pakistani diaspora in Capital One Arena, on his first visit to the USA.
He assured fans that they will see a professional team in the next world cup. However, Pakistan’s persistent streak of defeats has dashed the hopes of a revival of Pakistan’s cricket team.