Doull and Sohail clash on air over Babar Azam’s strike rate
During the second T20I game between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, a heated discussion took place on-air between Simon Doull and Aamer Sohail over Babar Azam’s strike rate. The discussion ensued on the topic of whether Azam’s slower strike rate of around 110 was hurting the Pakistani side or not. Sohail defended Azam by stating that strike rate is not everything, and one should also consider the number of runs scored by the player. Doull, on the other hand, argued that strike rate is crucial in T20 cricket and could hurt the team’s chances of winning if not maintained at an optimal level.
Aamer Sohail defends Babar Azam’s position as opener:
The argument between Simon Doull and Aamer Sohail on Babar Azam’s strike rate began when Doull expressed his opinion that Azam should not open for the team in T20Is. He suggested that Saim and Haris should open with Mohammad Rizwan instead. Doull reasoned that Azam’s slow strike rate of around 110 was hurting the Pakistani side and that he would be more effective in the middle order. Sohail, however, defended Azam and stated that he is a world-class player who is currently the number one T20I batsman in the world. He also argued that strike rate is not everything, and it is essential to consider the number of runs scored by the player.
Simon Doull suggests Babar Azam should not open in T20Is:
Simon Doull expressed his opinion during the second T20I game between Pakistan and Afghanistan that Babar Azam should not open for the team in T20Is, despite being the number one T20I batsman in the world. He argued that Azam is hands down the best #3 batsman in the world and would be more effective in the middle order. Doull suggested that Saim and Haris should open with Mohammad Rizwan instead. He also mentioned that Azam’s slower strike rate of around 110 was hurting the Pakistani side and that he should play a more tactical role in the middle order.
Sohail challenges Doull’s statement about Babar Azam’s strike rate in T20 cricket:
During the on-air discussion between Simon Doull and Aamer Sohail over Babar Azam’s strike rate, Sohail challenged Doull’s statement by arguing that T20 teams are selected based on averages rather than strike rates. He emphasized that averages hold more significance than strike rates, and one should also consider the number of runs scored by the player. Sohail defended Azam by stating that he is a world-class player and currently the number one T20I batsman in the world. He suggested that Azam’s slower strike rate is not an issue as long as he keeps scoring runs for the team.
Aamer Sohail defends Babar Azam’s heated discussion with Simon Doull:
Aamer Sohail defended Babar Azam during the heated discussion with Simon Doull over his strike rate. Sohail argued that in T20 cricket, teams are selected based on averages and not just strike rates. He stated that averages hold more significance than strike rates, and it is essential to consider the number of runs scored by the player. Sohail acknowledged that Azam’s strike rate may be slower than some other players, but he is a world-class player and currently the number one T20I batsman in the world. According to Sohail, Azam’s slower strike rate is not an issue as long as he continues to score runs for the team.
Aamer Sohail emphasizes on average over strike rate in T20 cricket with Simon Doull:
During the argument with Simon Doull over Babar Azam’s strike rate, Aamer Sohail cited Chris Gayle and AB De Villiers as examples of players who have a lower strike rate but a higher average in T20 cricket. Sohail emphasized that he values the average over the strike rate when selecting players. He argued that if one looks at the top T20 players in the world, such as Chris Gayle and AB De Villiers, their strike rates are only between 135 and 137. Sohail made it clear that strike rate alone should not be the only factor considered while evaluating a player’s performance.
Imad Wasim’s crucial knock:
Pakistan suffered a seven-wicket loss to Afghanistan in the second T20I match played yesterday. In the first innings, Pakistan scored 130 runs while losing six wickets. During the innings, all-rounder Imad Wasim played a crucial role and scored 62 runs off 55 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
T20I series win against Pakistan led by Zadran and Nabi:
Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi played crucial roles to help Afghanistan win their first-ever T20I series against Pakistan. Their match-winning cameos in the second T20I made them the heroes of the match.
This is published in logicalbaat, on 27 March, 2023.
