‘He knows how to…’ – Former Pakistan pacer reveals ideal batting number for Babar Azam in Champions Trophy

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has urged Babar Azam to bat number three during the upcoming Champions Trophy campaign. Pakistan’s former skipper has been opening the batting with Fakhar Zaman during the recently concluded tri-series. The 30-year-old has managed to score just 62 runs from three innings with an average of 20. 

Mohammad Amir was quoted by A Sports as saying, “Let me tell you this: when it comes to me, my strength is bowling with the new ball and if you don’t do that with me, then I have no usage. I have to play to my strengths. When it comes to Babar Azam, his strength is the number three spot. He knows how to build the innings from this position.”

The 33-year-old also said, “In T20 cricket, it may work but an opener’s role is different in ODI and Test cricket. It has to be played in stages where you decide to take chances in one set of 10 overs, build a partnership in the next 10 and so on. The role is so different. Babar is a big player but I think he should be played at 3.”

With the tournament set to begin in a few days, there are concerns over Babar’s form. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan has rallied behind his teammates and voiced his support. Rizwan said, “Babar has scored so many runs for Pakistan that we expect him to score a hundred in each game, If we don’t judge him by those extreme expectations, you’ll find he’s still chipping in and contributing valuably for us.”

Pakistan coach backs Babar Azam to continue as opener

Saim Ayub’s absence from the team due to injury has meant that Pakistan have recalled Fakhar Zaman. The left-handed batter has been slotted alongside Babar Azam as the opening batting option. Coach Aaqib Javed, while speaking to the media, has backed Babar to continue as the opener of the side. 

Pakistan’s coach said, “Our rationale behind the change was that if you look at the series against South Africa, Babar had to bat in the first over in all games. Then Saim Ayub got injured, and Babar had to open in tests too. These pitches aren’t troubling the batters at the start, so we wanted our best batter to make good use of the powerplay; that suits us more.”

When asked about his team’s chances in the Champions Trophy, Aaqib Javed said, “This team will do great in the tournament. If the team bats normally and down till number eight, you can score 350. If Haris Rauf gets fit and gets in form with Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi as well as our spinners, this line-up has everything it needs to defeat any team.”