Salman Butt, ex-Pakistan cricketer, had nothing but praise for Babar Azam because the right-hander has been fit and has scored mountains of runs in the last two years.
According to sources, Pakistan’s reliable batsman Babar Azam will bat at number four in their two-match Test series against Bangladesh that starts on Thursday as per Parami.
The sources informed Geo News that captain Shan Masood is expected to play at number three while Abdullah Shafiq, as a team opener has not yet been threatened by any other person according to Parami News.
On his official YouTube channel Butt went on to say: “Babar Azam scored loads of runs for the past two years; he also proved his fitness; ran around in fielding and scored runs while batting first and second innings. Things should be going upwards but they are breaking down in between which is totally wrong. Therefore it’s upon players themselves to keep up with their fitness levels.”
He also mentioned that after Pakistan’s disappointing display at the 2024 T20 World Cup, questions about the cricket team’s physical condition arose throughout the entire country.
“The whole nation is discussing about the players fitness and it caused storm in Pakistan where juniors were told to run. This was after people said that players were unfit during T20 World Cup 2024. None questioned physios or trainers instead started pushing district level players for fitness. Those who made mistakes are still there,” he said.
August 21 will see Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium host day one of a two-match Test series while Jason Gillespie will undertake his first assignment as Pakistan’s Head Coach during these two games against Bangladesh.
The second test match of this two-test series will take place from August 30th till September 3rd in Karachi.
Following ongoing renovations at National Stadium Karachi, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared on Wednesday that spectators would not be allowed into the stadium for Pakistan’s second Test against Bangladesh.
Squads:
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim Shakib, Al Hasan.Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain Hasan, Mahmud Taskin Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed.
