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[VIDEOS] Babar Azam for Somerset in T20 Blast and County Championship 2019 - Performance Watch

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Somerset County Cricket Club are delighted to be able to announce that the ICC’s IT20 number one ranked batsman Babar Azam will be joining the Club for this year’s Vitality Blast, subject to the Club obtaining the appropriate visa/NOC clearance.

The 24-year-old Pakistan batsman made his International T20 debut against England in 2016. Since then he has gone on to feature in 29 matches in the format, scoring over 1180 runs at an average of 53.72 with a best of 97 not out and a strike rate of 127.78.

Babar Azam will be available for all 14 Vitality Blast group matches plus the quarter-final. His availability for Finals Day would be dependent on his international commitments with Pakistan.

Somerset CCC Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry said: “To be able to sign a player of the calibre of Babar Azam is tremendously exciting. He is a proven performer at the very highest level and that is highlighted by the fact that he is the top rated international T20 batsman in the world.

“Obviously, everyone wants to sign a world class performer, but we feel that continuity of selection is equally important. For us it is about securing the services of someone as talented as Babar Azam for more than just a handful of fixtures.”

After agreeing to join Somerset, Babar Azam said: “I am looking forward to the new challenge that playing T20 cricket in England will bring. I have heard good things about Somerset from Azhar Ali and I want to play a part in the Club winning matches. I know that Somerset get good support and I hope that I can give them something to cheer about this year.”

https://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/first-xi/somerset-sign-babar-azam/
 
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Great News, Will help him immensely, some county should also signup Fakhar.
 
Good news. This is an added bonus of performing in England - the counties will jeep an eye out for you.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam on Wednesday for Pakistan v Leicestershire.....<br><br>1️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ runs <br>6️⃣3️⃣ balls <br>1️⃣3️⃣ fours <br>2️⃣ sixes <br><br>&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSOMERSET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSOMERSET</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> <a href="https://t.co/NVupo0Z5DT">pic.twitter.com/NVupo0Z5DT</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1124298229175279616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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As Pakistani players are now allowed only 2 overseas T20 leagues (If the rule is still intact) looks like Babar has used it wisely with Vitality Blast and European T20 league.
 
This is bit confusing, Blast will clash with Euro T20 Slam and Babar is Marquee player over there.

Not sure how he can play all group games and QF when he's already signed up for Euro Slam?
 
Will be a good chance for him to accumulate with the bat and improve his english.
 
Good signing, Somerset will be very pleased.

With Essex and Somerset being in the same group, and Babar and Amir opening the batting and bowling for their respective teams, there is high chance they will face each other in a thrilling contest.
 
This is bit confusing, Blast will clash with Euro T20 Slam and Babar is Marquee player over there.

Not sure how he can play all group games and QF when he's already signed up for Euro Slam?

Looks like he'll miss the first group game of the Euro T20 Slam, miss another game if Somerset get to the quarter finals and miss the T20 Slam knockouts (if his team make it) if Somerset get to finals day.
 
Looks like he'll miss the first group game of the Euro T20 Slam, miss another game if Somerset get to the quarter finals and miss the T20 Slam knockouts (if his team make it) if Somerset get to finals day.

He will ultimately play both, but might miss a large chunk of games in the Euro Slam, quarter finals go upto 7th of September with finals day on 21st September.

Anyways,looks like a packed cricket season ahead for Babar ahead, with very little rest in between.
 
Good signing.

And some good money for Babar.
 
Good news for Babar . I wish he was playing 1st class cricket. That would improve him more.
 
Great signing. Might go and watch a Blast game.
 
Great news.
This is expacted when you're no.1 t20 batsman. Next signing will be Big bash.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to Somerset County Cricket Club <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> &#55357;&#56394;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeHaveWeWill?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeHaveWeWill</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/uU7CCVLjVy">pic.twitter.com/uU7CCVLjVy</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1137791409950535681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking forward <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/kSXeQYeZdP">https://t.co/kSXeQYeZdP</a></p>— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzharAli_/status/1149640997745201154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Expect him to ace this format in England - will be disappointed if he doesnt end up in top 3 batsmen in T20 Blast
 
Expecting big things from Babar.

Should be a good experience for him.
 
To be honest i am not...T20 format he isnt suited to but no doubt he has done well in it
 
Sky Sports cricket will show live coverage of Kent Spitfires v Somerset on Saturday.

Somerset need to use him as an opener so he can showcase his array of skills from the start.
 
There's 18 teams in the blast, not every game can be televised. However, his game on Saturday is televised!
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh what a shot Babar Azam!! &#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GLAMvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GLAMvSOM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/bjRyaMONPD">pic.twitter.com/bjRyaMONPD</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1151934855606886401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh what a shot Babar Azam!! &#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GLAMvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GLAMvSOM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/bjRyaMONPD">pic.twitter.com/bjRyaMONPD</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1151934855606886401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Beauty
 
Babar Azam 32 off 20 with 4 fours hitting the ball nicely must say his partner Tom Benton is looking even better 58 from 30 with 4 fours and 5 sixes so far
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh what a shot Babar Azam!! &#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;&#55357;&#56613;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GLAMvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GLAMvSOM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a> <a href="https://t.co/bjRyaMONPD">pic.twitter.com/bjRyaMONPD</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1151934855606886401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Sheer class.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam at his elegant best today for Somerset versus Glamorgan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20Blast?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20Blast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/A96IwQaKpu">pic.twitter.com/A96IwQaKpu</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1151964539874893824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A special West Country welcome to Babar Azam ahead of his Somerset debut tomorrow!! 😂😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSOMERSET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSOMERSET</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TheWurzels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheWurzels</a> <a href="https://t.co/x0WyvSVTm7">pic.twitter.com/x0WyvSVTm7</a></p>— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1151555965407432705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
If the match is not on sky sports, the host county will live stream the match on their website. Glamorgan had a livestream up.

But some counties may not do this.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam at his elegant best today for Somerset versus Glamorgan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20Blast?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20Blast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/A96IwQaKpu">pic.twitter.com/A96IwQaKpu</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1151964539874893824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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This guy is too good for T20s.. those shots are test class.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A special West Country welcome to Babar Azam ahead of his Somerset debut tomorrow!! &#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSOMERSET?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSOMERSET</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TheWurzels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheWurzels</a> <a href="https://t.co/x0WyvSVTm7">pic.twitter.com/x0WyvSVTm7</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1151555965407432705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What the hell did I just watch ? :))

Is this what those on the South Coast are like [MENTION=139981]HitWicket[/MENTION]
 
What the hell did I just watch ? :))

Is this what those on the South Coast are like [MENTION=139981]HitWicket[/MENTION]

South West, they have a proper village accent.

The South Coast is more Southampton/Bournemouth area. I studied in Southampton and their accents aren't much different to what you find in the South East, closely resembling the London cockney.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">T20 STAT: Babar Azam's T20 average of 40.63 is the highest of any player in the history of T20 cricket to have played at least 100 matches &#55357;&#56394;&#55357;&#56394;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KENvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KENvSOM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/FkzURc3ye5">pic.twitter.com/FkzURc3ye5</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1152251252992106497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">T20 STAT: Babar Azam's T20 average of 40.63 is the highest of any player in the history of T20 cricket to have played at least 100 matches &#55357;&#56394;&#55357;&#56394;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSomerset?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSomerset</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KENvSOM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KENvSOM</a><a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/FkzURc3ye5">pic.twitter.com/FkzURc3ye5</a></p>— Somerset Cricket &#55356;&#57295; (@SomersetCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1152251252992106497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Wow. That's incredible! :clap
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great to chat with Babar Azam earlier. 9 years since I first learnt of his talent, he remains a humble, determined, respectful and sincere young man <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/iPcrXVhEhr">pic.twitter.com/iPcrXVhEhr</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1152615835376201733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great to chat with Babar Azam earlier. 9 years since I first learnt of his talent, he remains a humble, determined, respectful and sincere young man <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/iPcrXVhEhr">pic.twitter.com/iPcrXVhEhr</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1152615835376201733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Unlike his cousin
 
Interviewed Babar a few days ago.

Watch this space for the interview.
 
Babar plays out all 20 overs and stays not out on 95(61) at a SR of 155 with 9 fours and 3 sixes.
 
Babar ends up on 95* lol. Needed 6 from last ball to get the 100
 
Interviewed Babar a few days ago.

Watch this space for the interview.

Looking forward to it!


Top knock today, unlucky not to get to 3 figures.

I would like him to play county cricket(4 day), he will learn so much.
 
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