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On the cricketing front, Babar Azam reclaimed his role as team captain following his dismissal post the ICC World Cup 2023. However, since resuming leadership, things haven’t gone smoothly for him. He failed to lead the team to victory in the T20I series against a weakened New Zealand side and suffered a defeat against Ireland as well. The start of the England series didn’t bode well either, putting him under considerable pressure.
In the second game against England, Babar Azam showed some promise with the bat. Batting at No.3, he scored a respectable 32 runs off 26 balls, anchoring the innings while chasing a target of 184 runs. However, after his dismissal, Pakistan’s fortunes took a turn for the worse. They were eventually bowled out for 160, falling short by 23 runs and conceding the game.
Babar Azam says We have decided each player’s role, after Pakistan’s loss
Following Pakistan’s defeat against England in the second T20I, skipper Babar Azam expressed that had he and Fakhar Zaman (45) stayed at the crease longer, they might have clinched victory. He delved into the team’s dynamics, emphasizing player roles, and offered support to teammates facing a form slump. Reflecting on the match, he remarked:
“It was a par score, we bowled well. Small partnership and later on, there was no big partnership. We are flexible, everyone knows their role. We have decided on each player’s role. If you are not in good form, we are flexible.
“The way Fakhar dominated. If me and Fakhar had batted for three more overs, things could have been different. (On Imad) He is experienced, he knows how to bowl at different stages, and he has improved a lot with the bat. Shadab is one of the best players, he’ll come back. We announced the team (for WC), and we are giving confidence,” he concluded.
