Babar Azzam (Pic Credit: X)
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has launched a staunch defense of Babar Azam, calling it “unfair” to target him over concerns over strike rate in T20 cricket while insisting that the country lacks ultra-aggressive batsmen.Speaking after a Pakistan Super League match, Mahmood, Peshawar Zalmi’s assistant and bowling coach, questioned the narrative around Babar’s approach, pointing to the wider limitations in Pakistan’s batting line-up.“Babar Azam’s problem was what was required of him. He was forced to take fourth place in the World Cup because of his low strike rate,” Mahmood said.
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He added that comparisons with other batsmen were misplaced. “If you look at others, the best Pakistani player in the T20 World Cup was Sahibzada Farhan.
He has a strike rate of around 135 in T20Is. Babar has 128, so there’s not much difference.“Use Babar Azam correctly”Mahmood, who played in the Indian Premier League as a British passport holder from 2012 to 2015, representing Kings XI Punjab (then Kings XI Punjab) and Kolkata Knight Riders, explained that expectations have to be realistic, stressing that Pakistan simply do not have players capable of batting 190-200 consistently.
“We have to admit that Pakistan does not have 190-200 players with a good batting average. Babar Azam should be utilized properly as we used him in this
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. “It sets the platform for other players to hit the ball,” he said.His statements come at a time when Babar responded categorically to critics in the field. The star captain led Peshawar Zalmi, scoring a stunning unbeaten hundred off just 52 balls against Quetta Gladiators, giving his side a massive tally of 255/3.The knock was notable not only for its power but also for its control, with Babar facing over 50 deliveries while playing just one dot ball, a rare feat in T20 cricket.It also marked the end of a long wait, as he made his maiden century in 783 days. In the process, Babar crossed 12,000 T20 runs in just 338 innings – faster than legends like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.Mahmood’s comments underscore a broader debate in Pakistani cricket – whether the system is demanding a style of play that its current talent is not equipped to deliver.