Babar Azam, the former Pakistan captain, is often counted as among the finest modern-day batters in the game. However, his strike rate has often been a matter of concern with several critics using it as a parameter to criticise the right-handed batter. In a recent statement, Babar addressed the criticism head on saying that it is not one of his strengths to hit the maximums unlike some of the other batters in the game.
"People are talking a lot about my strike-rate these days. People want me to go out there and hit sixes, but that is not my strength. I try to stick to my strength and get better every day," Babar said after Peshawar Zalmi beat Multan Sultans by 4 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (March 5).
Notably, the Peshawar skipper was adjudged the Player Of the Match for his innings worth 64 off 40, an innings which was studded with 7 fours and 2 sixes. Riding on his innings coupled with Saim Ayub who made 46 off 22, Peshawar initially posted 204/5 in their 20 overs before restricting Multan to 200/5 despite Iftikhar Ahmed's 60* off 27.
Babar Azam Currently Leading Run-Scorer Of PSL 2024
Babar is currently the leading run-scorer in PSL 2024. In 7 innings, the 29-year-old has already scored 394 runs at an average of 65.67 and a strike rate of 152.12. However, he has only 9 sixes to accumulate those runs. Riding on his good form, Peshawar find themselves at the third place in the six-team table with 9 points from 8 matches. Multan Sultans, despite the defeat, continue to sit at the top of the table with 12 points from 8 matches. Quetta Gladiators with 9 points from six matches is the team that sits in between Multan and Peshawar on the PSL 2024 points tally. Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars lie at the second half of the points table with 7, 4 and 1 point respectively.