BBL Or IPL: Babar Azam Picks His Favourite Between The Two T20 Leagues

Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi will play the PSL 2023 eliminator against Islamabad United later this evening. 

Peshawar Zalmi's captain Babar Azam plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, in Rawalpindi on March 10, 2023.

Source : AFP

Pakistan and Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam was put in a spot in a recent interview when he was asked to choose his personal favourite between the Big Bash League (BBL) or the Indian Premier League (IPL). While Babar hasn't played in either of the leagues, the Men in Green's run-machine chose BBL over its Indian counterpart, also giving a reason for his pick.

The right-handed batter explained that since the playing conditions in Australia are much different than what is available in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he rates it as more challenging that the IPL where the wickets are more or less similar to those in Pakistan.

''The conditions over there in Australia are different. The pitches over there are really fast and you get to learn a lot. Whereas in IPL, you get the same Asian conditions,'' Babar said Peshawar Zalmi’s podcast. 

Here is the video:

According to Babar Azam 👑

Big Bash League > IPL#PSL pic.twitter.com/RRpbH57wuE

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) March 15, 2023

Talking about the ongoing season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar-led Zalmi managed to qualify for the Playoffs after finishing with 10 points from 10 matches with the help of five wins and as many defeats. 

They will now feature in the eliminator against Islamabad United later this evening. 

Talking about Babar's personal form, the 28-year-old has been the team's leading run-scorer in this season having scored 416 runs from 9 innings at an average of 52.00 and a strike rate of 146.47 with a highest score of 115. Despite having great numbers, he was criticised by commentator Simon Doull especially during his hundred against  Quetta Gladiators for slowing down when approaching the three-figure mark.

Doull, who was on air when Babar was nearing the century, said that century looks good but is of no use if it doesn't help the team. His comments found more weightage when despite scoring 240 batting first with the help of the skipper's hundred, the team succumbed to a defeat by 8 wickets with 10 balls remaining.