Misbah-ul-Haq Has A Special Advice For Babar Azam

Approaching the T20 World Cup 2024, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has underscored the necessity for current skipper Babar Azam to tailor his batting approach according to match dynamics. While Babar's batting finesse is undisputed, discussions have arisen regarding his strike rate and adaptability in the shortest format. Misbah contends that the star batsman must be ready to escalate his strike rate to 160-170 or even 200 if the situation warrants. Misbah's insight surfaced following Babar's dazzling 75 off 42 balls in the recent T20I series decider against Ireland. Leading from the front, Babar guided the Men in Green to a hard-earned 2-1 series victory over the Irish outfit. Notably, he emerged as the joint-highest run-scorer, amassing 132 runs at an impressive average of 66 and a strike rate of 150.

In his remarks, the cricketing luminary stressed the significance of Babar's astuteness in deciphering match exigencies. Misbah's counsel hints at the need for Babar to exhibit versatility and adaptability, ensuring that his batting prowess aligns with the demands of each game scenario. As Pakistan gears up for the global showdown, Babar's ability to read and respond to match situations will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the team's quest for glory.

“We saw he (Babar) improved his strike rate against Ireland. Hopefully, he will bat like that when the team requires that sort of innings from him. If an anchor role is required, then anchor it. But you have to be potentially ready to play at 160-170 or even a strike rate of 200 if the team needs it. It will be an important thing for Babar to not bat at 130-140 strike rate if the team is chasing 200,” said former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Misbah-ul-Haq also confronted the external scrutiny surrounding Babar Azam's strike rate, recognizing the potential impact of such criticism on players. However, he contended that elite cricketers often channel such noise into motivation, leveraging it to enhance their performance. Prior to embarking on their journey to the Caribbean and the USA for the T20 World Cup, Babar Azam's Pakistan team is scheduled to engage in a four-match T20I series against England commencing on May 22.

“Outside noise does affect a player, but good players, who are mentally strong, top cricketers in the world, they take motivation from criticism. They write down those noises that yes, I have to answer them on the ground. Somehow, they take motivation from those voices and criticism,” Misbah added.