- Joined
- Aug 12, 2023
- Runs
- 24,977
Azhar Mahmood Press Conference | Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators:
Q: What special work was done with Babar Azam to "discover" this new version of him with such a high strike rate?
Azhar Mahmood: Babar has always been world-class. He went through a slightly tough patch but we worked with him during the Test matches when I was with the national side. We told him to play proper cricket. He isn’t the type of player to just go out and start blind power hitting. He is an artist who plays cricketing shots. Today he paced his innings beautifully scoring a century off 52 balls. You can see those cover drives and proper shots returning. We told him to just go out, enjoy himself and play his natural game. He has now scored 13,000 T20 runs; sometimes people get too emotional and look at things from the wrong angle but his mindset right now is outstanding.
Q: You have two young bowlers Ali Raza and Mohammad Basit. How do you see them as prospects for Pakistan and are you working on their variations alongside their pace?
Azhar Mahmood: We had Bangladesh bowlers (Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam) earlier, which gave me about three weeks to work with these young local boys in the nets. We knew we’d need them once the internationals left. Today Ali was brilliant clocking around 148 kph with great length. Basit also swung the new ball well. These kids are the future of Pakistan cricket, and we need to look after them.
Q: Do you think Babar’s previous struggle was because he was trying to change his natural game to please critics who demanded a higher strike rate?
Azhar Mahmood: The demands on him were different for example making him bat at number four in the World Cup. Regarding strike rate, if you look at Pakistan’s top performers like Sahibzada Farhan his strike rate is around 135. We don’t have many players naturally hitting at 180 or 190. Babar’s international strike rate is 128 it's not a massive gap. What Babar provides is consistency. He sets a platform so that the power-hitters coming after him can play freely. I believe he hasn't always been utilized correctly in the past.
Q: Peshawar Zalmi was trolled after the auction for its team selection. How did you manage to build such a winning combination?
Azhar Mahmood: Yes we were trolled on the team selection after auction but our aim was clear. Since we were playing in Islamabad so we knew we needed a surplus of fast bowlers specifically young ones with potential who were eager to learn. Now we have a good headache to make a playing combination because players like Khurram Shahzad, Shahnawaz Dahani and even James Vince (with 13,000 runs) are sitting on the bench. The team is performing so well that we don't want to change the combination just because we've qualified.
Q: You are unbeaten so far but the tournament moves to Lahore now. How do you see the change in conditions and what was the atmosphere like when Babar needed two runs off the last ball for his century?
Azhar Mahmood: In our dressing room the rule is always "Team First." But because Babar had played such a sublime innings everyone was rooting for him to get that milestone. We were all thrilled to see him complete the 100 because an innings of that impact deserved to be celebrated even if Babar’s century had not been completed, he would have been just as happy because it was such an impactful innings. It wasn't about the number for him; it was about the contribution to the team's success.
The pitches in Karachi had a mix of Australian and local soil. Lahore's pitches are generally even better for batting. Our batting is doing well but we will focus on further improving our bowling discipline to adapt to those conditions.
Q: Fans are disappointed after Pakistan's early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Having watched this PSL for 20 days, has your eye seen any talent that gives hope for the future?
Azhar Mahmood: Yes absolutely. My eyes have seen a lot. I always say there is immense talent and potential in this country. The important thing is how you use it and how you guide them. When you select a team, you must give the players clarity about their roles. You can only hold a player or coach accountable if they have been given that clarity. Unfortunately, in the last two years, we’ve seen about six to eight coaching changes. Every coach has a different mindset. If a player doesn't know if the coach will be there tomorrow, they won't have confidence. You need to give a coach a long tenure and then hold them accountable for how they manage the boys. We have the potential; if we identify the talent and give them proper opportunities, they will perform.
Q: The way Babar Azam played tonight why can’t he perform like this consistently at the international level?
Azhar Mahmood: If you look at Babar’s performances overall, he has performed consistently except for a recent phase, and even then it wasn’t that bad. But expectations are very high — even if he scores 30 or 35, people are not satisfied. International cricket comes with pressure. In Pakistan, unfortunately, we focus too much on results rather than the process. Also, in the last couple of years, there have been many changes in coaching staff. Every coach has a different mindset and method, and players need stability and confidence. If you give a coach time and back players properly, then you can hold them accountable and get results.
Q: How do you balance data-driven plans with bowlers’ instincts?
Azhar Mahmood: Data can give you an advantage and help you plan where to bowl and how to approach a batsman. But at the end of the day, execution is what matters. You can have all the data and feedback in the world, but if you don’t execute your plans, it’s useless. Our bowlers executed their plans well today, and that’s why they succeeded.
Q: What special work was done with Babar Azam to "discover" this new version of him with such a high strike rate?
Azhar Mahmood: Babar has always been world-class. He went through a slightly tough patch but we worked with him during the Test matches when I was with the national side. We told him to play proper cricket. He isn’t the type of player to just go out and start blind power hitting. He is an artist who plays cricketing shots. Today he paced his innings beautifully scoring a century off 52 balls. You can see those cover drives and proper shots returning. We told him to just go out, enjoy himself and play his natural game. He has now scored 13,000 T20 runs; sometimes people get too emotional and look at things from the wrong angle but his mindset right now is outstanding.
Q: You have two young bowlers Ali Raza and Mohammad Basit. How do you see them as prospects for Pakistan and are you working on their variations alongside their pace?
Azhar Mahmood: We had Bangladesh bowlers (Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam) earlier, which gave me about three weeks to work with these young local boys in the nets. We knew we’d need them once the internationals left. Today Ali was brilliant clocking around 148 kph with great length. Basit also swung the new ball well. These kids are the future of Pakistan cricket, and we need to look after them.
Q: Do you think Babar’s previous struggle was because he was trying to change his natural game to please critics who demanded a higher strike rate?
Azhar Mahmood: The demands on him were different for example making him bat at number four in the World Cup. Regarding strike rate, if you look at Pakistan’s top performers like Sahibzada Farhan his strike rate is around 135. We don’t have many players naturally hitting at 180 or 190. Babar’s international strike rate is 128 it's not a massive gap. What Babar provides is consistency. He sets a platform so that the power-hitters coming after him can play freely. I believe he hasn't always been utilized correctly in the past.
Q: Peshawar Zalmi was trolled after the auction for its team selection. How did you manage to build such a winning combination?
Azhar Mahmood: Yes we were trolled on the team selection after auction but our aim was clear. Since we were playing in Islamabad so we knew we needed a surplus of fast bowlers specifically young ones with potential who were eager to learn. Now we have a good headache to make a playing combination because players like Khurram Shahzad, Shahnawaz Dahani and even James Vince (with 13,000 runs) are sitting on the bench. The team is performing so well that we don't want to change the combination just because we've qualified.
Q: You are unbeaten so far but the tournament moves to Lahore now. How do you see the change in conditions and what was the atmosphere like when Babar needed two runs off the last ball for his century?
Azhar Mahmood: In our dressing room the rule is always "Team First." But because Babar had played such a sublime innings everyone was rooting for him to get that milestone. We were all thrilled to see him complete the 100 because an innings of that impact deserved to be celebrated even if Babar’s century had not been completed, he would have been just as happy because it was such an impactful innings. It wasn't about the number for him; it was about the contribution to the team's success.
The pitches in Karachi had a mix of Australian and local soil. Lahore's pitches are generally even better for batting. Our batting is doing well but we will focus on further improving our bowling discipline to adapt to those conditions.
Q: Fans are disappointed after Pakistan's early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Having watched this PSL for 20 days, has your eye seen any talent that gives hope for the future?
Azhar Mahmood: Yes absolutely. My eyes have seen a lot. I always say there is immense talent and potential in this country. The important thing is how you use it and how you guide them. When you select a team, you must give the players clarity about their roles. You can only hold a player or coach accountable if they have been given that clarity. Unfortunately, in the last two years, we’ve seen about six to eight coaching changes. Every coach has a different mindset. If a player doesn't know if the coach will be there tomorrow, they won't have confidence. You need to give a coach a long tenure and then hold them accountable for how they manage the boys. We have the potential; if we identify the talent and give them proper opportunities, they will perform.
Q: The way Babar Azam played tonight why can’t he perform like this consistently at the international level?
Azhar Mahmood: If you look at Babar’s performances overall, he has performed consistently except for a recent phase, and even then it wasn’t that bad. But expectations are very high — even if he scores 30 or 35, people are not satisfied. International cricket comes with pressure. In Pakistan, unfortunately, we focus too much on results rather than the process. Also, in the last couple of years, there have been many changes in coaching staff. Every coach has a different mindset and method, and players need stability and confidence. If you give a coach time and back players properly, then you can hold them accountable and get results.
Q: How do you balance data-driven plans with bowlers’ instincts?
Azhar Mahmood: Data can give you an advantage and help you plan where to bowl and how to approach a batsman. But at the end of the day, execution is what matters. You can have all the data and feedback in the world, but if you don’t execute your plans, it’s useless. Our bowlers executed their plans well today, and that’s why they succeeded.
