"Didn't Help Team...": Babar Azam's Admission On His Form After Peshawar Zalmi's PSL Exit

18.03.2023 - 10:15 sports.ndtv.com

Star batter Babar Azam expressed disappointment after Peshawar Zalmi failed to reach the final of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Lahore Qalandars made it to the final of the PSL for the third time in the last four years, after beating the Babar-led Zalmi by four wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Despite enjoying a good season with the bat, Babar, who scored 42 off 36 balls, was criticial of his performance, saying that his form wasn't enough to take his team to the final. "It was a good journey, but unfortunately, we couldn't finish.

We didn't perform as well as we should have but made a comeback in the second half, and everyone tried to learn and gave their 100 percent.

cricket on Babar Azam Pakistan Lahore

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the upcoming ODI World Cup in India after rupturing a knee ligament during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 game betweem Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. Williamson, who was roped in by GT during the mini auction last year, needs surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while fielding during the IPL 2023 opener. Reacting to the news of Williamson's injury, Pakistan captain Babar Azam put out a heartwarming post for his Kiwi counterpart.

Shubman Gill Attains Career-Best ODI Ranking, 2 Other Indian Greats In Top 10

India opener Shubman Gill has climbed a spot to career-best fourth position among batters in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings released on Wednesday. Apart from Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma too features in the top 10. While Kohli also moved a spot to seventh, Rohit remained static at eighth in the list led by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. Pacer Mohammed Siraj continues to be the only Indian bowler in the top 10 as he held on to his number three spot, behind Australian quick Josh Hazlewood and New Zealand's Trent Boult.

After Babar Azam Goes Unsold In The Hundred Draft, James Anderson's Outrageous Claim

England pacer James Anderson expressed his disappointment after Pakistan captain Babar Azam was overlooked during the Hundred draft last week. During the Hundred draft last week, 30 men's cricketers were picked across the eight teams and overall 64 players were picked up across the men's and women's categories. While Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were picked by Welsh Fire, Babar went unsold, having entered the draft with a reserve price of 100,000 british pounds (approx. Rs 8.2 lakh).

In Viral Video, Simon Doull, Aamer Sohail Clash Over Babar Azam's Strike-Rate On-Air

Pakistan captain Babr Azam isn't a part of the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan, yet he has been the subject of raging topics in the commentary box. During the second T20I between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Sunday, Babar's 'strike-rate' was brought up in the commentary box again, leading to an intense discussion between Simon Doull and Aamer Sohail. The two former cricketers didn't budge from voicing their opinions while commentating on the match. While Doull said he preferred strike-rates, Sohail went for averages.

On Babar Comparisons, Abdul Razzaq Underlines Area Where Kohli Is 'Way Better'

Two of the finest batters of this generation, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam have often been compared to each other. While Kohli has been at the top of his game for a long time, Babar has shown in the early phases of his career, that he is destined to be considered among the greats. While both batters have done wonders for their team over the years, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has explained the area where Babar isn't as good as Kohli.

"People Criticise Babar...": Shadab Khan's Explosive Take On Afghanistan Loss

Pakistan stand-in skipper and all-rounder Shadab Khan believes plenty of positives will come from his side's series loss to Afghanistan and the consistent efforts of experienced absentees Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will be further appreciated when the star duo return to the national setup and said that there is always a "sword hanging over them of strike rate". Afghanistan stunned Pakistan by claiming their second victory and securing the three-match T20I series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Babar and Rizwan were rested for the ongoing three-game series against Afghanistan in Sharjah as a host of players with less experience and fewer credentials were given a chance to shine in the absence of the ultra-reliable top-order pair.