Peshawar Zalmi assistant coach and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood has strongly defended Pakistan captain Babar Azam, calling him a “world-class player” and dismissing criticism over his recent performances as unfair and exaggerated.
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Speaking at a post-match press conference in Karachi, Azhar emphasized that Babar’s consistency over the years has set such a high standard that even solid contributions are now undervalued by critics.
Azhar Mahmood on Babar Azam:
“Look, Babar has always been world-class. He was going through a bit of a difficult time. When he was with me during the Test matches, we talked and worked with him. We told him to play the cricket he knows how to play. He is a player who plays… pic.twitter.com/e1KXyoFqpa
— Salman. (@TsMeSalman1_) April 19, 2026
Azhar Mahmood said that Babar Azam has already scored heavily in international cricket, which is why even his 30 or 35-run innings are sometimes perceived as below expectations. He stressed that such assessments ignore the value of stability Babar brings to the batting lineup.
The former Pakistan all-rounder further explained that Babar is a traditional batter who relies on classical cricketing shots rather than aggressive, high-risk stroke play. According to him, Babar does not believe in “brute force hitting” but instead focuses on timing, placement, and building innings. He also praised Babar’s recent performance against Quetta, calling it outstanding and noting that the entire team wanted him to complete his century.
Azhar Mahmood highlighted that Pakistan currently lacks players with consistently high strike rates in the 180–190 range, but insisted that Babar Azam remains one of the most reliable batters in the squad. He added that Babar provides much-needed stability in the middle order and has often been used in roles that did not fully utilize his strengths.
He further stated that Babar has always been a world-class player and will continue to remain so in the future. Azhar also expressed satisfaction with the overall squad composition of Peshawar Zalmi, saying the team has been built keeping the schedule and playing conditions in mind, particularly for matches in Lahore.
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Concluding his remarks, Azhar Mahmood said Pakistan has no shortage of talent, but the key challenge is ensuring that players are used in the right roles to maximize their potential and deliver consistent results at the highest level.