Babar Azam wasn’t keen to play fifth NZ T20I, succumbed to management pressure: Report

Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who has shown some decent form in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, was pushed to play the fifth T20I vs New Zealand recently, despite suffering a groin injury. As per a report in Cricket Pakistan, the team management wanted the star batsman to play in the match, despite the concern.

While the series was already lost, the management feared a clean sweep, and to avoid that, it was necessary for Babar to be there in the last match as well. As far as his performance in that particular match is concerned, he scored only 24 runs in 13 balls and also dropped a catch.

On top of that, he did not even field for half innings, when Pakistan bowled. But such performance notwithstanding, the visitors posted a big 42-run win, to avoid a 0-5 series loss. In fact, Babar emerged as the top run-scorer in the entire series with 213 runs, with three fifties to his name.

Also Read

• BCCI likely to release IPL 2024 schedule in two phases, first half in India
• ICC ignores Rohit Sharma’s plea, WTC Final 2027 set for England after IPL in June
• Zee scraps $1.4 Billion ICC TV rights deal with Disney Star
• SRH star Shahbaz Ahamad’s vanishing act leaves Bengal fuming, Ranji season in jeopardy

The report also reveals that his injury wasn’t too serious, and wanted to rest, to give an opportunity to a youngster. Post the match, he flew to the other part of the world, and came in with a match-winning 56 for Rangpur Riders in the first encounter itself.

The post Babar Azam wasn’t keen to play fifth NZ T20I, succumbed to management pressure: Report appeared first on Inside Sport India.

from - Inside Sport India https://ift.tt/xKNIF9D
via IFTTT