Peshawar Zalmi bowling coach Azhar Mahmood has defended star batter Babar Azam, saying he was not used effectively during Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign and was pushed away from his natural playing style due to expectations of a higher strike rate.
Azhar made the remarks after Zalmi’s dominant 118-run win over Quetta Gladiators at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday, a match highlighted by Babar Azam’s unbeaten 100 off 52 balls. The innings, featuring fluent stroke play, marked a return to form for the batter in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he has crossed 400 runs at a strike rate above 143.
Speaking after the match, Azhar said Babar remains a world-class batter but had gone through a difficult phase. He stated that discussions during their previous stint together focused on allowing Babar to play his natural game rather than forcing aggressive adjustments.
Azhar noted that Babar’s strength lies in conventional stroke play rather than power-hitting and said his recent PSL performances reflected a return to his natural rhythm.
Commenting on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign, Azhar argued that batting position changes and external pressure over strike rate affected Babar’s performance. He said expectations for him to bat at number four and accelerate unnaturally created unnecessary strain.
Azhar further stated that Pakistan’s overall T20 strike rates are not significantly higher, adding that Babar’s international strike rate of 128 is consistent within the team context. He stressed that Babar’s value lies in providing stability and building innings for power-hitters to capitalise later.
He also criticised what he described as excessive focus on strike rate narratives, saying it contributed to the perception that Babar was underperforming.
Expanding on broader concerns, Azhar said Pakistan cricket tends to prioritise short-term results over long-term planning and process. He added that frequent changes in coaching staff over the past two years have created instability, leaving players uncertain about direction and expectations.
He emphasised that consistent coaching structures and a focus on development over immediate outcomes are necessary for sustained improvement in performance.