Rizwan Supports Babar Amid Struggles as Pakistan Aims for Tri-Series Final

New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) As Pakistan gears up for the final of the Tri-Nation ODI Series against New Zealand in Karachi, captain Mohammad Rizwan has expressed his support for former captain Babar Azam, believing that the prolific batsman can regain his top form. While runs in Friday’s match would be significant, the more pressing issue is Babar’s ongoing decline in performance, which has led to a drop in his statistics across all formats.

Babar’s performance has noticeably faltered over the past year. His ODI form, typically his strongest, has seen a considerable decline. Since the beginning of the 2023 Asia Cup, he has averaged 42.90 in 25 matches, which has lowered his career average from nearly 59 to the mid-50s. Notably, if his score of 151 against Nepal is excluded, that average falls even further below 38.

This series has not altered the trend. He only managed to score 10 runs in the first match against New Zealand, with his innings struggling during the Powerplay while Fakhar Zaman excelled at the opposite end. Even during Pakistan’s record chase of 353 against South Africa, Babar started positively but was dismissed leg-before-wicket for 23 by Wiaan Mulder. Rizwan, however, contends that Babar is simply facing the consequences of his own past success.

“Babar has accumulated so many runs for Pakistan that we anticipate him to score a century in every match,” Rizwan stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. “If we do not judge him by these extreme expectations, you will find he is still contributing significantly to our team.”

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter acknowledged that Babar is under extra pressure due to his previous achievements. Although there are no glaring technical issues, the scrutiny on his performance has increased. “As a captain, I expect more from him due to all he has accomplished in the past,” Rizwan added. “There is undoubtedly extra pressure as a result, and I’m sure he feels it too. However, if you examine his innings in South Africa, he is still scoring runs. It’s not that he has significant technical flaws, but he is still being challenged. I am confident he will overcome this situation.”

Babar’s form issues have been further complicated by his recent elevation to opener in ODIs—a position he had not occupied for a decade. This adjustment was necessitated by Saim Ayub’s injury and Abdullah Shafique’s severe slump in performance. With the Champions Trophy approaching, it remains uncertain whether Babar will persist in this role.

Rizwan clarified the reasoning behind the decision: “When Abdullah Shafique was dismissed early in South Africa, Babar had to manage the new ball regardless. He was handling the seam and swing effectively, allowing us to be aggressive at the end. Therefore, we thought it best to utilize our most technically proficient player as an opener instead of risking someone else.”

If Babar’s stint as an opener fails to produce results, Rizwan is willing to take on the role himself. “We have other players who can open if required,” he stated. “Losing Saim Ayub was a significant setback for us, both in the field and at the batting order, as he was one of our finest fielders, opened the batting, and could bowl eight overs. His absence caused considerable disruption, and we opted for the security of Babar Azam, who is our premier batsman.”