Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail has defended Babar Azam after the star batter faced criticism for his strike rate ahead of the third T20 against South Africa.
Babar silenced his critics with a calm 68 off 47 balls, guiding Pakistan to a four-wicket win in Lahore on Saturday and clinching the series 2-1. It was his 37th T20I fifty and marked a strong return after almost a year away from the format.
Speaking on a talk show after the game, Sohail said strike rate should not be treated as the only measure of success.
“Yes, the strike rate is important, but we’ve made it too important. I think the average matters,” he said. “When a big match comes, the player with controlled aggression is the one who’ll win it for you. Otherwise, you see, the South Africans have the higher strike rate. Where is their strike rate?”
Sohail added that balance is key for a top-order batter. “At the end of the day, there should be a balance in your game,” he said.
Babar’s innings proved that point. After starting cautiously on a damp surface, he built a steady stand of 76 runs with Salman Ali Agha to keep Pakistan in control of the chase. He reached his fifty with three boundaries in a row, lifting the home crowd of over 32,000 at Gaddafi Stadium.
