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Tag: Babar Azam

  • Top 7 Run Scorers in Pakistan Super League (PSL) History

    Top 7 Run Scorers in Pakistan Super League (PSL) History

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) is one of the most prestigious T20 cricket leagues in the world. The league was first introduced in 2015, and since then, it has become a major attraction for cricket fans worldwide. PSL comprises six teams representing different cities in Pakistan, and it provides a platform for local and international players to showcase their talent. One of the main features of PSL is its batting firepower, with some of the world’s top batsmen showcasing their skills in the tournament. In this article, we will discuss the top seven run-scorers in Pakistan Super League history.

    1. Babar Azam

    Babar Azam is a Pakistani top-order batsman who has been a sensation in international cricket in recent years. He has played for Karachi Kings in PSL since 2016 and has been a consistent performer for the team. Now Babar Azam is the highest run-scorer in PSL history. He became the first batter to surpass 2,000 runs and has a healthy lead at the top of this table. He has also scored 13 half-centuries in the tournament. After representing Islamabad United in 2016, Babar Azam was with Karachi Kings from 2017 to 2022. He was the leading run-scorer (473 runs) and Player of the Tournament in the 2020 PSL edition when the Kings won their first title. They finished 2021 as the top run-scorer as well with 554 runs and the Lahore-born batter will be joining Peshawar Zalmi in 2023.

    Also read: Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli: Why Babar is Not Yet in the Same League as Kohli and De Villiers

    Babar Azam
    Babar Azam

    2. Fakhar Zaman

    Fakhar Zaman is a Pakistani opening batsman who has played for Lahore Qalandars in PSL since 2016. He is known for his aggressive batting style and has been a match-winner for his team on several occasions. Fakhar Zaman is the second-highest run-scorer in PSL history, with 2,178 runs from 70 innings at an average of 31.24. He has also scored eight half-centuries and a century in the tournament. His outstanding batting season put an end to Lahore Qalandars’ 2022 PSL title hopes. With a staggering strike rate of 152.72 and a total of 588 runs scored in 13 games, including seven half-centuries and one century, he set a record-breaking 588 runs. He has been the Qalandars’ leading run scorer in most of their seasons since the 2017 season when he scored 177 runs.

    Fakhar zaman
    Fakhar zaman

    3. Kamran Akmal

    Kamran Akmal is a Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman who has been a regular feature in PSL since its inception. He has played for Peshawar Zalmi throughout the league’s history and has been a vital player for the team. Kamran Akmal is the top run-scorer in PSL history, with 1,972 runs from 75 innings at an average of 27.52. He has also scored seven half-centuries in the tournament. e aggressive keeper-batter scored 353 runs during that edition of the tournament, finishing as the leading run-scorer and also winning the Player of the Tournament award for his heroics with the bat. Starting in 2023, he will be taking over as the head coach of Peshawar Zalmi. Kamran Akmal’s best performance in PSL came in 2018 when he scored 425 runs in 13 matches at an average of 32.69.

    Kamran Akmal
    Kamran Akmal

    4. Shoaib Malik

    Shoaib Malik is a former Pakistani captain and one of the most experienced players in PSL history. He has played for different teams in PSL, including Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi. Shoaib Malik is the third-highest run-scorer in PSL history, with 1,447 runs from 54 innings at an average of 31.28. He has also scored six half-centuries in the tournament. Shoaib Malik’s best performance in PSL came in 2019 when he scored 282 runs in 11 matches at an average of 47.00

    Shoaib malik
    Shoaib Malik

    5. Mohammad Rizwan

    Mohammad Rizwan is a Pakistani cricketer who has played for different teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), including Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans. He is a top-order batsman and a wicket-keeper who has been a consistent performer in the tournament. Rizwan has scored 1,836 runs in 56 innings in PSL at an average of 44.78. He has also been exceptional behind the stumps. Rizwan’s best performance in PSL came in 2021, where he scored 197 runs in 6 matches at an average of 39.40.

    Mohammad Rizwan
    Mohammad Rizwan

    6. Mohammad Hafeez

    Mohammad Hafeez is a Pakistani all-rounder who has played for different teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), including Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi. He is known for his batting and bowling skills and has been a vital player for his teams in the tournament. Hafeez has scored 1,689 runs in 72 innings in PSL at an average of 27.24. He has also taken 39 wickets with his off-spin bowling. Hafeez’s best performance in PSL came in 2020, where he scored 312 runs in 10 matches at an average of 34.67 and took 10 wickets with the ball.

    Mohammad Hafeez
    Mohammad Hafeez

    7. Rilee Rossouw

    Rilee Rossouw is a South African cricketer who has played for different teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), including Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans. He is a left-handed top-order batsman who has been a consistent performer in the tournament. Rossouw has scored 1,651 runs in 65 innings in PSL at an average of 33.69. He has also scored 12 half-centuries and a century in the tournament. Rossouw’s best performance in PSL came in 2019, where he scored 383 runs in 8 matches at an average of 54.71.

    Rilee Rossouw
    Rilee Rossouw

    The Pakistan Super League has provided a platform for local and international players to showcase their talent, and the league has seen some incredible batting performances over the years. Kamran Akmal, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Fakhar Zaman, and Ahmed Shehzad are the top seven run-scorers in PSL history, and their performances have been instrumental in their team’s success. These batsmen have shown that they have the ability to score runs consistently in the high-pressure environment of T20 cricket. As the league continues to grow, it will be interesting to see which batsmen will make their way into the list of top run-scorers in PSL history.

  • Watch: ‘Isko brand banaane aate hain, ye brand banaayega’ – Shahid Afridi trolls Shoaib Akhtar for his comments on Babar Azam

    Watch: ‘Isko brand banaane aate hain, ye brand banaayega’ – Shahid Afridi trolls Shoaib Akhtar for his comments on Babar Azam

    Former Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shoaib Akhtar are currently taking part in Legends League Cricket Masters in Qatar, representing the Asia Lions in the tournament.

    At the start of one of Shoaib Akhtar’s recently posted YouTube video, that featured Afridi, Misbah, and Sohail Tanvir enjoying quality time in a restaurant in Doha, Afridi took a savage dig at Akhtar, over a comment that Akhtar made about Babar Azam just a few weeks back.

    Also read: Shoaib Akhtar reveals what he would have done differently in Shaheen Afridi’s place in the T20 World Cup Final

    Akhtar said that Babar is not a “brand” in Pakistan because he cannot communicate in English. The speedster was criticized heavily by fans and former cricketers alike and Afridi, in the video, hilariously trolled Akhtar for the same. 

    This wasn’t the first time when Afridi took a dig at Akhtar. Earlier, Afridi trolled Akhtar for one of his comments on Shaheen Afridi, stating that had he been in Shaheen’s place in the 2022 T20 World Cup final, he would’ve completed his four overs.

    Shaheen Afridi could only bowl 2.1 overs in the final match of T20 World Cup 2022 against England due to a knee injury relapsed. 

    “Shoaib Akhtar said in an interview that if he were in Shaheen’s place, he would’ve bowled all four overs. No doubt, Shoaib bore a lot of pain for Pakistan. But my brother has taken so many injections that now, he can’t even walk. He can’t even remove his plaster,” Afridi said in a team bus, and Akhtar himself couldn’t resist breaking into a laugh. 

  • PSL 2023: Simon Doull questions Babar Azam’s tactics during PSL 2023 match as Jason Roy steals the show with a blazing knock

    PSL 2023: Simon Doull questions Babar Azam’s tactics during PSL 2023 match as Jason Roy steals the show with a blazing knock

    Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has stirred up controversy by questioning Babar Azam’s approach towards his hundred during a PSL 2023 match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday. As the opening batter approached his century, Doull criticized Azam’s deceleration, hinting that he was being selfish.

    Babar Azam

    Despite Azam’s sensational knock of 115 runs off 65 balls, Peshawar Zalmi ended up losing the match. Opener Jason Roy’s unbeaten 145 off 63 balls helped Quetta Gladiators chase down the target of 241 in just 18.2 overs, with eight wickets in hand.

    Also Read: What Simon Doull said about Hasan Ali's wife

    Azam’s hundred was his first in the PSL and his eighth in T20 cricket, joining the elite company of Aaron Finch, David Warner, and Michael Klinger. However, only Chris Gayle, with 22 T20 tons, stands above these batters on the all-time list.

    The match witnessed a nail-biting finish with Roy and Mohammad Hafeez leading the charge for Quetta Gladiators. Hafeez smashed 41* off only 18 balls, while Roy’s blazing knock featured 20 fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 230.16. The duo’s unbeaten partnership of 93 for the third wicket sealed a remarkable win for the Gladiators.

    Jason Roy

    Doull’s comments have sparked a debate about the balance between individual milestones and team goals, adding an intriguing sub-plot to the high-scoring encounter.

  • “When I was playing 20 years ago, I didn’t care how I spoke…”: Shoaib Akhtar Takes An Indirect Dig At Babar Azam

    “When I was playing 20 years ago, I didn’t care how I spoke…”: Shoaib Akhtar Takes An Indirect Dig At Babar Azam

    Just a few days back Shoaib Akhtar criticized Babar Azam for his lack of communication skills. Shoaib then received a lot of backlash from the fans and some former cricketers for his statement.

    However, Akhtar now has once again taken an indirect dig at Babar after wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan played a match-winning knock in a match against Karachi Kings in the ongoing PSL.Chasing 202 against Karachi, Azam Khan played an unbeaten knock of 72 off 41 balls.

    "When I was playing 20 years ago, I didn't care how I spoke…": Shoaib Akhtar Takes An Indirect Dig At Babar Azam

    After the match, Shoaib praised Azam on Suno News for his knock and said, “I found Azam Khan as a responsible guy who can build the innings, not just slog. He spoke smartly in the interview as well, and it felt nice to hear him speak like that as he talked about his performance. When I was playing 20 years ago, I didn’t care how I spoke. But in today’s era, being in media is a part of your job. I can only indicate and pin-point for you, ‘this is a problem, please go and correct it. It’s for your own benefit’. He (Azam) looked like a captaincy material with the way he spoke.

    Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli: Why Babar is Not Yet in the Same League as Kohli and De Villiers

    Earlier, Akhtar had also backed spinner Shahab Khan to replace Babar Azam as the captain of the national side in the future.

    “Shadab is a very smart kid when it comes to cricket skills. He wants to improve, which is a very good thing. He is ready to accept his mistakes and rectify them. In past two years, he has worked very hard on his bowling and his fitness has improved as well. He wants to look good and speak well. In times to come, he is not a bad option for captaincy for Pakistan in white-ball cricket,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

  • Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli: Why Babar is Not Yet in the Same League as Kohli and De Villiers

    Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli: Why Babar is Not Yet in the Same League as Kohli and De Villiers

    The never-ending debate over who is the better cricketer between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli has taken an interesting turn. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and batter Imam-ul-Haq recently joined the discussion and admitted that Babar Azam needs to do more to be considered in the same league as Kohli and AB de Villiers.

    Babar Azam in PSL

    Despite having a stellar record in international cricket, Babar, 28, is often criticized for not being a match-winner like Kohli and De Villiers. Babar’s teammate Imam disclosed that the Pakistan skipper himself is aware of his strike rate issues and needs to bring more dominance and command in his game to finish matches.

    VK

    Shahid Afridi also weighed in on the debate, stating that Babar Azam has not yet proved himself as a match-winner and is not in the same class as Kohli and De Villiers. Afridi believes that Babar needs to work on finishing games to reach the AB de Villiers/Virat Kohli rank.

    BA

    In 272 matches across the three formats of the game, Babar has amassed 11864 runs at an average of 49.84, with 28 hundreds and 80 half-centuries. Despite these impressive numbers, his strike rate of 89.03 in ODIs and 127.80 in T20Is is a cause for concern. If he can work on his finishing touches and increase his strike rate, it will benefit both Pakistan and himself.

    Virat Kohli in IPL

    As Babar Azam leads Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2023, cricket fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see whether he can rise to the challenge and prove himself as a match-winner. Will he be able to silence the critics and cement his place in the same league as Kohli and De Villiers? Only time will tell.

  • “Babar Azam is Still Miles Away from Virat Kohli…” Shahid Afridi Criticises the Pakistani Skipper

    “Babar Azam is Still Miles Away from Virat Kohli…” Shahid Afridi Criticises the Pakistani Skipper

    Babar Azam, the Pakistani skipper is receiving a lot of criticism due to his lackluster run in the ongoing PSL. He is the captain of Peshawar Zalmi which recently lost a high scoring match against Lahore Qalandars in which Babar could only 6 runs off 7 balls. Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistani skipper has said on Live TV that Babar Azam is still miles behind the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

    Also read: PSL 2023: Watch – Babar Azam’s funny banter with Hasan Ali during PSL match goes viral

    Shahid Afridi Says Babar Azam Miles Away from Virat Kohli

    "Babar Azam is Still Miles Away from Virat Kohli..." Shahid Afridi Criticises the Pakistani Skipper

    “Babar could have stuck at one end and allowed the other players to play around him in the chase. No doubt he is the number-one ranked batter in ODI cricket but one thing that he needs to do consistently to reach the level of Virat Kohli or AB De Villiers is to finish games for Pakistan. He has not proved himself as a matchwinner. I want Babar to become a finisher, finish games for Pakistan. Not doing that is hindering him from being the classy batsman that he is” Afridi said in the panel discussion with the Pakistani TV channel Samma TV.

    Imam-Ul-Haq, who opens the batting with Babar Azam in ODI cricket also criticised the approach of Babar Azam on the same platform.

    Also read: Babar Azam unfazed by political differences, dreams of winning 2023 World Cup in India

    Imam-Ul-Haq’s Criticism of Babar Azam

    “There are discussions that happen in the dressing toom of Babar finishing matches for Pakistan. He continuosly speaks about being more dominant with the bat having played the game for such a long period of time. Babar does understand the importance of finishing matches for Pakitan and we have had long discussions on the same as well” Imam said on Live TV.

    “Babar needs to be more dominating as a cricketer and needs to work on his strike rate as well to become a quality finisher like Kohli or De Villiers,“ He added further.

  • Rohit vs Babar: Whose figures are better after 47 Tests? Full Comparison

    Rohit vs Babar: Whose figures are better after 47 Tests? Full Comparison

    Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson are considered the best in Test Cricket at the moment. However, some fans describe Pakistan’s Babar Azam as the best Test batsman of the present time. However, not only Babar, India’s Rohit Sharma is also one of the best Test batsmen currently. He completed 47 Tests as soon as he landed in the second Test of the four-match Test series against Australia.

    At present, the number of Test matches of Rohit and Babar is equal. Both have played 47-47 Tests. In such a situation, we are going to compare the figures of both.

    Also read: IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Is Captain Rohit Sharma And Coach Rahul Dravid Ready To Choose One Between KL Rahul And Shubman Gill?

    Babar Azam after 47 Test Matches:

    Babar has scored 3696 runs in 85 innings of 47 Tests. During this, his average has been 48.63. At the same time, the best score is 196 runs which he scored against Australia. Babar has so far scored nine centuries and 26 half-centuries in Tests.

    Rohit Sharma after 47 Test Matches:

    On the other hand, if we talk about Rohit, Rohit has played 47 Tests, but he has batted less than Babar. The Hitman has scored 3320 runs in 80 innings of 47 Tests. During this, his average has been 46.76. Rohit’s best score in Tests is 212 against South Africa. Rohit has also scored as many nine centuries in Tests as Babar. Along with this, 14 half-centuries are also rooted. 

    Actually, Rohit made his Test debut much later. Rohit played his first Test in 2013. However, even after this, due to injury, he was in and out of the team many times. That is, his place in the Test team was not regular. At the same time, Babar made his Test debut in 2016. Since then he has been a constant part of the team. Babar has played 95 ODIs and 99 T20 Internationals. He has 4813 runs in ODIs at an average of 59.42 and 3355 runs in T20s at an average of 41.42. 

  • ‘He wants to look good and speaks well’: Shoaib Akhtar wants Shadab Khan to become Pakistan’s next white-ball captain

    ‘He wants to look good and speaks well’: Shoaib Akhtar wants Shadab Khan to become Pakistan’s next white-ball captain

    Babar Azam is leading Pakistan in all formats from 2020. However, former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar wants Babar’s teammate Shadab Khan to replace him as Pakistan’s next white-ball captain.

    Shobai Akhtar recently made a few controversial statements in which he criticized Pakistani cricketers for their inability to communicate well in English and urged Babar to work on his oratory skills.

    Days after that, while speaking to a Pakistani news channel, the former Pakistani pacer backed Babar’s teammate Shadab Khan to succeed him as the white-ball captain.

    Also read: IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Pitch Report, Playing XI, Injury Updates, Streaming Details and More

    “Shadab is a very smart kid when it comes to cricket skills. He wants to improve, which is a very good thing. He is ready to accept his mistakes and rectify them. In past two years, he has worked really hard on his bowling and his fitness has improved as well. He wants to look good and speaks well. In times to come, he is not a bad option for captaincy for Pakistan in white-ball cricket,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan. 

    Shadab Khan is currently leading the Islamabad United franchise in PSL 2023. Shadab also served as Babar’s deputy during T20 World Cup 2022.

    “Shadab is a great captain and future of Pakistan cricket. I think Shadab is an aggressive captain with a balanced team, great batting line-up and a great attitude. Shadab and Azhar Mahmood (as coach) are looking great and they can win the PSL 8 trophy,” Akhtar added. 

  • PSL 2023: Watch – Babar Azam’s funny banter with Hasan Ali during PSL match goes viral

    PSL 2023: Watch – Babar Azam’s funny banter with Hasan Ali during PSL match goes viral

    The ongoing PSL 2023 has been creating buzz on social media for various reasons. Amidst this, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam, who led Peshawar Zalmi in the match against Islamabad United on February 23, caught everyone’s attention with his funny banter with international teammate Hasan Ali.

    Islamabad United

    Though Peshawar lost the match, Babar Azam entertained the audience with a hilarious fake bat throw at Hasan Ali. During one of Ali’s over, he fell on the ground while Babar pushed the ball to take a single. As Ali was on the ground for more than the required time, it became an obstruction for Babar to complete the run. Hence, Babar faked throwing his bat towards Ali, who ran for cover, entertaining the crowd.

    The video of the incident was shared by Cricket Pakistan on Twitter, and it immediately went viral.

    Here’s the video shared by Cricket Pakistan:

    Peshawar Zalmi

    After the match, Babar praised Ali’s performance and said that he tried to put pressure on him, but it did not work. Meanwhile, there are reports that the remainder of the PSL 2023 might be shifted entirely to Karachi due to a financial crunch.

  • Babar Azam unfazed by political differences, dreams of winning 2023 World Cup in India

    Babar Azam unfazed by political differences, dreams of winning 2023 World Cup in India

    Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has expressed his ambition to lead his team to glory at the 2023 ICC World Cup, which will be hosted entirely in India. Despite ongoing political tensions between the neighboring countries, Azam remains resolute in his determination to secure victory for Pakistan on the international stage.

    Babar Azam

    In a recent interview, the 28-year-old highlighted two key goals for the coming year: to score his maiden PSL century and to lift the coveted World Cup trophy. Azam’s comments come at a time of uncertainty for Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, with the PCB threatening to boycott the event over the Asia Cup debacle.

    Despite this backdrop, Azam remains focused on his ambitions and is working tirelessly to prepare for the tournament. With the IPL kicking off next month, he is determined to get accustomed to Indian conditions and lead his team to a memorable victory. Fans worldwide will be watching eagerly as Pakistan seeks to reclaim its place at the top of the cricketing world.