Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood A strong defense has been launched. Babur AzamHe termed it “unfair” to single him out over strike-rate concerns in T20 cricket, saying the country lacked highly aggressive batsmen.Addressing one after the other Pakistan Super League Match, Mehmood, Peshawar Zalmi’s assistant and bowling coach, questioned the narrative surrounding Babar’s approach, pointing to wider limitations in Pakistan’s batting pool.Mehmood said that the problem for Babur Azam was what was demanded of him.He added that the comparison with other batsmen was wrong. “If I look at others, Sahibzada Farhan was Pakistan’s best batsman in T20 World Cup. His strike rate is around 135 in T20Is. Babar has 128 so not much difference.Use Babar Azam correctlyMahmood, who played in the IPL as a British passport holder from 2012 to 2015, representing Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) and Kolkata Knight Riders, made it clear that expectations need to be realistic, stressing that Pakistan do not have players who can consistently strike 190-200.“We have to admit that Pakistan don’t have players with 190-200 strike rate, Babar Azam should be used the way we used him. PSL. He creates a platform for other batsmen to hit the ball,” he said.His comment comes at a time when Babar has responded strongly to critics on the field. Leading Peshawar Zalmi, the star batsman scored a stunning unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls against Quetta Gladiators, helping his team to a massive 255/3.The knock was notable not only for its power but also for its control — Babar faced more than 50 balls while playing just one dot ball, a rare feat in T20 cricket.He also ended a long wait, as he completed his maiden century in 783 days. In the process, Babar crossed 12,000 T20 runs in just 338 innings – faster than legends like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.Mahmood’s comments are indicative of a wider debate in Pakistan cricket – whether the system is demanding a style of play its current talent pool is not equipped to deliver.
