Pakistan’s bowling coach, Umar Gul, expressed optimism about Babar Azam’s performance in the first T20I against New Zealand, despite the team’s 46-run defeat at Eden Park, Auckland.
Gul acknowledged Babar’s recent form, emphasizing that although he hadn’t scored big in the previous series, he wasn’t out of form. Gul highlighted the importance of Babar gaining confidence, especially after his 57-run knock in the chase of the 227-run target.
“Babar is our top player and one of the best in the world. In the last series, he wasn’t out of form, but sometimes luck doesn’t support you. Scoring 30-40 runs, we were expecting a big innings from him like a century, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Today, his strike rate and the way he batted are positive signs. Babar gaining confidence after today’s innings is good for him and the team,” said Gul in a press conference.
Despite Babar’s efforts, Shaheen Afridi’s first match as T20 captain didn’t go as planned. Saim Ayub provided a brilliant start, scoring 27 off 8 balls, but Pakistan couldn’t convert it into a victory. Babar’s 57 runs off 35 balls was the top score, but it fell short in the face of New Zealand’s imposing target.
In the first innings, Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson stood out with the bat for New Zealand, scoring 57 and 61 runs, respectively. Williamson, who got a lifeline when dropped by Babar Azam at 11, capitalized on the opportunity and played a crucial role in setting up a challenging target.
The New Zealand skipper’s half-century, though not with a massive strike rate (135.71), allowed room for explosive performances from Finn Allen (35 off 15) and Mitchell (61 off 27).
Pakistan’s bowlers faced a tough time, with only Abbas Afridi and Haris Rauf maintaining a decent economy of 8.50 each. Despite Afridi’s early wicket, he conceded 46 runs while taking three wickets.
In summary, Gul remains optimistic about Babar Azam finding his form and believes that the confidence gained from his performance is beneficial for both Babar and the team, even though Pakistan faced a defeat in the first T20I against New Zealand.
