“We gave Haider Ali a chance and he showed us how good he is” : Babar Azam

[Abdullah719]

Babar Azam post match;

“It was a good match and very entertaining and close. The wicket was good and we utilized it and got to our target. With the ball, we started off very well. After that, Moeen Ali batted really well but our bowlers came back well.

“In the last over I was telling the bowler that one boundary is long so try to bowl yorkers on that side. He did that according to the plan but then he bowled a slower ball off line, but no problem, he finished well.

“Haider Ali was outstanding. He did well in the U19 World Cup too and he’s a great talent, he did well in PSL too. We gave him a chance and he showed us how good he is today.

“I would like to thank ECB for their hospitality and how they arranged everything for us.”

 

[TeamPak95]

Could've been a reasonably comfortable win had it not been for Sarfraz's bizarre stumping miss off of Ali. Despite that, Pakistan bowlers held their nerve and got the job done.

Wahab was excellent in this game and I hope that he stays consistent with this type of bowling as too many times he'd be really good, and then spray gun and no-ball all over the place. Haris was expensive but the ability with the ball in this format is there so Pakistan have to be persistent with him. He just needs to figure out how to start his 1st spell well and not leak too many runs.

In regards to Haider Ali, why wasn't he given a chance for the whole series? Though he scored fantastically, coming in and making your debut with the task of the team trying to tie the series is pressurizing. It's not ideal to give a debut like that but apart from that I'm very happy with his performance. You also can't ignore the fact that Hafeez has been averaging 70-80 runs in his last ~10 t20s and he continued that form with his 86* today. This just solidifies the fact that only one of Hafeez and Malik should be in the playing XI and so far Hafeez is obviously the better option... though I'd be surprised if Pakistan implement this.

Overall, great win. However, even though the likes of Banton, Billings, and Mahmood are very talented, this was a depleted England team without Root, Stokes, Archer, and Buttler, and Babar and his team need to be aware of this and not get too comfortable. For them to be a proper t20 force, they need to beat quality opposition on a consistent basis and not just be comfortable with the odd 1 win per series. There are 2 t20 WCs to come so let's see how far Babar can take his team.

 

[MenInG]

Excellent move by Pakistan and kudos to the management for taking that call to bring Haider in.

 

[MenInG]

Manchester: Babar Azam was satisfied with the team’s overall performance and said the boys learnt a lot from England tour.

Speaking to reporters via teleconference, Babar credited team management for preparing players for a tough series. “This tour wasn’t easy for us but our overall performance was good. We ended the series on a winning note and it was one of the positives for us,” said the T20I captain.

T20I series
Addressing media after winning the third and last T20I, Babar said they could have won the series after playing good cricket in the first half of the second match. “We batted brilliantly in the second match but lost grip in the bowling department,” he said.

“Our bowlers bowled really well today, especially Wahab Bhai gave us the turning point in second last over by removing well-set Moeen Ali. Our plan was to play aggressively and level the series and we succeed in it,” he added.


Captaincy
Babar refused to had any pressure due to captaincy, said he tries to maintain the balance between both his roles. “When I come to bat, my all focus remains to score runs and as far as captaincy is concerned, I try to lead my team from the front,” he reiterated.

“All decisions I make during the game are of mine. I prefer taking suggestions from senior players and team management,” he added upon being asked.

Younis Khan as batting coach
Babar highly praised Younis Khan who served the team as batting coach during three-months long England tour. He wants the former cricketer to continue his job as full-time batting consultant.

“Younis Bhai’s presence in the dressing room helped us a lot. We tried to gain as much from as we can. I would love to see him continuing as team’s batting coach for a longer-run,” he said.

Babar was also satisfied with Test series performance as he thinks the team performed well except for a couple of sessions. “We played strongly in Test cricket. If you look at the first test, we dominated the home side on three days. Unfortunately, we lost a couple of sessions in the end which cost us the whole match,” he concluded.

https://arysports.tv/learnt-a-lot-from-england-tour-babar-azam/

 

[sindhiboy]

Now time for Ayan ali to replace shoaib Malik and our batting will be solid

 

[Slog]

He got a couple of chances so it could have been a quick innings if he hadn’t been dropped.

Secondly He didn’t come across as a natural stroke player. He was putting in too much power rather than relying mostly on timing like top class batsmen do.

Obviously it’s very early days and congrats to him for a debut 50 but I’m not as excited by him as the rest. Babar (against Zimbabwe) and Haris in their debut series came across as much more natural batsmen. Hopefully it’s a function of t20s and his batting style and ability is much more enhanced than what it came across as

 

[pakistani pride]

He got a couple of chances so it could have been a quick innings if he hadn’t been dropped.

Secondly He didn’t come across as a natural stroke player. He was putting in too much power rather than relying mostly on timing like top class batsmen do.

Obviously it’s very early days and congrats to him for a debut 50 but I’m not as excited by him as the rest. Babar (against Zimbabwe) and Haris in their debut series came across as much more natural batsmen. Hopefully it’s a function of t20s and his batting style and ability is much more enhanced than what it came across as

Also take into account that Pak had to win this game in order to level the series, it was his debut match, both babar and hafeez batted slow early on so he had to do all the hitting......

Of course in T20s at times you have to force the issue a bit.

The main question should be why did it take until the last game to have him debut?

Luck favours the brave and that 2nd ball 6 showed his intent and also that he has the right attitude.

 

[Slog]

Also take into account that Pak had to win this game in order to level the series, it was his debut match, both babar and hafeez batted slow early on so he had to do all the hitting......

Of course in T20s at times you have to force the issue a bit.

The main question should be why did it take until the last game to have him debut?

Luck favours the brave and that 2nd ball 6 showed his intent and also that he has the right attitude.

I agree. He didn’t seem too fazed by the occasion and the pressure. Just saying based on this innings he did show several faults (great he didn’t let them get to him and affect him negatively). So hopefully our fan base doesn’t hype him as next babar or whatever

 

[Mesozoic]

Misbah gets flak for picking oldies but never gets the credit for selecting youngsters like Naseem, Haider, Rauf, Musa etc....

 

[TeymurBlake]

Could of picked Khushdil Shah for Shoaib Malik to be honest.

 

[topspin]

Misbah gets flak for picking oldies but never gets the credit for selecting youngsters like Naseem, Haider, Rauf, Musa etc....

Apart from Haider, the rest aren't going to cut it at international level. Picking raw kids and oldies isn't the way to do it.

The real travesty is why did it take Misbah the 3rd T20I to try out Haider Ali.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Now time for Ayan ali to replace shoaib Malik and our batting will be solid

I don’t think she qualifies.

 

[shamaan]

Now time for Ayan ali to replace shoaib Malik and our batting will be solid

Who's ayan ali ?

 

[shamaan]

He got a couple of chances so it could have been a quick innings if he hadn’t been dropped.

Secondly He didn’t come across as a natural stroke player. He was putting in too much power rather than relying mostly on timing like top class batsmen do.

Obviously it’s very early days and congrats to him for a debut 50 but I’m not as excited by him as the rest. Babar (against Zimbabwe) and Haris in their debut series came across as much more natural batsmen. Hopefully it’s a function of t20s and his batting style and ability is much more enhanced than what it came across as

Couple chances when?

If your on about haider he can play conventional strokes normally plays on the offside yesterday he showed his skill on the leg side

 

[shamaan]

Misbah gets flak for picking oldies but never gets the credit for selecting youngsters like Naseem, Haider, Rauf, Musa etc....

That's cuz thier bowlers not many youngsters

 

[shamaan]

Could of picked Khushdil Shah for Shoaib Malik to be honest.

Maybe zimbabwe

 

[shamaan]

Apart from Haider, the rest aren't going to cut it at international level. Picking raw kids and oldies isn't the way to do it.

The real travesty is why did it take Misbah the 3rd T20I to try out Haider Ali.

But if you dont give them opportunities how will you know ?

 

[Khan12]

Couple chances when?

If your on about haider he can play conventional strokes normally plays on the offside yesterday he showed his skill on the leg side

People who haven't watched Haider Ali before want to see his off side game. But people who have know he got an offside game. A pretty decent offside game too.

 

[Slog]

Couple chances when?

If your on about haider he can play conventional strokes normally plays on the offside yesterday he showed his skill on the leg side

He got dropped twice

 

[Khan12]

He got dropped twice

What dropped twice can't remember.

 

[topspin]

But if you dont give them opportunities how will you know ?

I agree with your statement 100% but there were better choice of kids/younger players to throw in.

For e.g. For the Australian tour we should have picked Sameen Gul and Ehsan Adil over Musa and Naseem.

The selection of Musa was unforgivable when you consider the fact he was average 40+ with the ball during the last FC season.

 

[Lurker_Ind]

Very good find for Pakistan. He showed that he can play the pull shot well. Gave Pakistan the impetus with his big hitting.

 

[Abdullah719]

He got dropped twice

What dropped twice can’t remember.

IIRC there was that one chance at the boundary when he hit it in the air and Billings near the boundary misjudged it – it went over his head for four.

Don’t recall any other chance.

 

[shamaan]

He got dropped twice

Dropped if you dont touch the ball it doesnt count as a drop I remember one but that he didnt touch the ball

 

[shamaan]

People who haven't watched Haider Ali before want to see his off side game. But people who have know he got an offside game. A pretty decent offside game too.

Yeah thatd true and yup he has decent offside game agree

 

[shamaan]

I agree with your statement 100% but there were better choice of kids/younger players to throw in.

For e.g. For the Australian tour we should have picked Sameen Gul and Ehsan Adil over Musa and Naseem.

The selection of Musa was unforgivable when you consider the fact he was average 40+ with the ball during the last FC season.

Sameen gull and ehsan adil should be in the squad but not in the place off naseem but defo in place of musa

 

[shamaan]

IIRC there was that one chance at the boundary when he hit it in the air and Billings near the boundary misjudged it – it went over his head for four.

Don’t recall any other chance.

You cant call that a drop he didnt touch the ball

 

[Abdullah719]

You cant call that a drop he didnt touch the ball

Yeah, you can call it a chance, but not a drop as such.

It wasn’t a flukey type innings at all.

 

[Smudger]

Yeah, you can call it a chance, but not a drop as such.

It wasn’t a flukey type innings at all.

People have a habit of putting down players. Haider seems to me a very good hitter of the ball and has good match awareness and strike rotation. Only time will tell how good he is

 

[TeymurBlake]

Maybe zimbabwe

Well I do expect them to customise the squad somewhat against the Zim's tbh.

 

[shamaan]

Yeah, you can call it a chance, but not a drop as such.

It wasn’t a flukey type innings at all.

Agreed he only really gave 1 chance on the whole game dunno where the guy got 2 dropped catches

 

[shamaan]

Well I do expect them to customise the squad somewhat against the Zim's tbh.

Yes hopefully the team is young and none of the seniors get a chance but u never no with Pakistan team management

 

[shamaan]

People have a habit of putting down players. Haider seems to me a very good hitter of the ball and has good match awareness and strike rotation. Only time will tell how good he is

Very very good

 

[JaDed]

Were they gonna drop him after one chance?

 

[sweep_shot]

I think Pakistan could've lost the 3rd game without Haider. This guy set the tone.

 

[aloo paratha]

IIRC there was that one chance at the boundary when he hit it in the air and Billings near the boundary misjudged it – it went over his head for four.

Don’t recall any other chance.

I wouldn't even call it a misjudgement. The fielder was in since the boundary was big, Haider got it over him because he was so far in. That's the risk you take when you stand 15 metres in from the boundary. In the game before that the risk paid off as they got Babar out like that.

 

[Mirpur express]

“We gave him a chance” more like he earned it & should’ve been in from the first game

 

[naseem]

“We gave him a chance” more like he earned it & should’ve been in from the first game

Should have played all 3 matches...in place of Malik