DistantNews
Support us
Ahead of Australia series, Shaheen hopeful Babar's form from PSL will continue
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Sports

Ahead of Australia series, Shaheen hopeful Babar's form from PSL will continue

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Pakistan's ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed hope that Babar Azam will maintain his Pakistan Super League form in the upcoming series against Australia.
  • Afridi addressed player form, team preparedness, and the need for rest for fast bowlers during a press conference.
  • He urged media to promote unity and support the team, emphasizing that senior players' commitment comes at a personal sacrifice.

Pakistan's One Day International captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, voiced his optimism on Friday regarding Babar Azam's batting form. Azam, recalled for the three-match series against Australia, concluded the recent HBL Pakistan Super League as the season's top run-scorer and led Peshawar Zalmi to victory. Afridi hopes Azam's success in the PSL, where he hit two centuries, will translate to match-winning performances for Pakistan.

We hope that his form from PSL continues and he wins matches for Pakistan.

— Shaheen Shah AfridiSpeaking about Babar Azam's return to form and his expected contribution to the team.

The captain's remarks came during a press conference where he also discussed broader team dynamics. Responding to a question about coach Mike Hesson's comments on player form, Afridi stated he focuses on the team as a whole, while acknowledging coaches' need to assess individuals. He highlighted the seven-day training camp in Lahore, overseen by Hesson, as crucial preparation for the Australia series.

I don’t individually focus on singular players. I think of us as a team, but coaches have to examine that way.

— Shaheen Shah AfridiResponding to a question about individual player form as assessed by the coach.

Afridi also addressed concerns about Pakistani fast bowlers' pace, comparing their performance to a machine that requires maintenance. He stressed the importance of rest for players to regain peak condition and assured that bowlers are actively working to improve their speed. The skipper also defended senior players against criticism regarding their commitment, noting the personal sacrifices they make, including time away from families.

We are always doing our best for Pakistan.

— Shaheen Shah AfridiReassuring about the team's commitment and effort.

Addressing speculation about Muhammad Rizwan's potential absence from the team, Afridi drew parallels to his own and Azam's past experiences, stating that a player's exclusion from one series does not signify a permanent departure. He also spoke about emerging talent, mentioning his past association with Rohail Nazir and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori.

I would request you to promote unity. We will try our best and that’s what the country needs from us as well.

— Shaheen Shah AfridiAppealing to the media for positive coverage and national unity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog