(Credit PCB)
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam addressed the criticism regarding his T20I strike rate. He acknowledged the need for improvement but emphasized that it can’t happen overnight and he can’t suddenly play like Saim Ayub or Fakhar Zaman.
Babar Azam has been a standout performer for Pakistan, consistently scoring runs across all formats and solidifying his place among cricket’s greats.
Over the past few years, Babar’s batting has been exceptional. However, his strike rate in T20Is has been a frequent topic of discussion, with critics arguing that he takes time to get going.
With a T20I strike rate of 130, Babar has faced significant criticism despite his consistent run-scoring. Some have even suggested he be dropped from the T20 squad.
Nonetheless, Babar believes he can improve his strike rate and understands where he needs to enhance his game. The Pakistan captain highlighted that he plays according to the situation and takes some time to settle in. Speaking on the PCB podcast, he remarked:
“I believe it can be improved. I know where I am struggling. You can’t be satisfied with any figure, It’s a constant effort of honing and polishing your skills. There’s usually a lot of debate over my strike rate but one has to see what the situation demands. You can’t keep on playing with the same strike rate too as you might struggle.
“If you’ve played with a strike-rate of 150, you might not be able to replicate that in the next match. You might start slowly but then take off suddenly and accelerate. It depends on your form, how you’re feeling that day, and on the conditions. The general opinion is that whatever the wicket is like, the strike rate must be high. I play a bit differently, I take a little time to get the game, going.”
I can’t start hitting sixes from the get-go, I can’t be a Saim Ayub or a Fakhar Zaman – Babar Azam
Babar Azam also mentioned that he plays his own style and can’t start hitting sixes from the very first ball like some of his teammates. He stated that even with his current approach, he maintains a strike rate of 150 and is working on gradually improving his hitting ability. He added:
“I can’t start hitting sixes from the get-go, I can’t be a Saim Ayub or a Fakhar Zaman for that matter. As far as my performance is concerned, I am aware of how I can improve and enhance my game about what shots to develop, and what my target is in the first six overs. When I play, I also manage to touch the strike rate of 150 without hitting a lot of sixes or going over the top.
“I stick to my cricketing shots, and apply the basics, the batting strengths rely on. I can’t say that I’ll start hitting sixes from tomorrow. But I know how I can bring improvement to my game. For instance, my strike rate was 130 but then I steadily increased it to 135-140. From here, I will figure out how to take it higher, and these things depend on several factors.”
Babar Azam will be captaining the Pakistan team in the T20 World Cup 2024. They will open their campaign against the USA on June 6.
