Pakistan head coach Aqib Javed has explained why Babar Azam was pushed up to open the innings in the side's recent tri-series, a role he has not occupied since 2015.
The squad selected for Pakistan's Champions Trophy and tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand did not include a second opener to play alongside Fakhar Zaman. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan had confirmed that Babar would be opening the innings in the competition, putting his trust in him by saying “King karlega [The King will do it].”
Babar had batted at the top just twice before - back in 2015, scoring 4 and 22 against England. His return as an opener did not prove fruitful, as he ended the series with 62 runs in three innings, also failing to pass 30 once. He started the tri-series with a knock of 10 that was scored at a strike rate of 43.47 before increasing the tempo in the next game with a 19-ball 23. He made 29 from 34 in the final.
Javed has explained the reason for the change in the batting position: “Opening means that you can get a solid start in the first five to seven overs,” he said. “In the recent ODIs in South Africa, Babar had to walk out in the first over despite batting at No.3. Even in the Test, he had to open after Saim [Ayub’s] injury.
“On these pitches, the challenge is not on the top-order, because there is no seam, swing or bounce. For us, we want the best player to open on these pitches and play his cricket against the hard ball. That, for us, suits us more.”
Babar, who became the joint-fastest to 6,000 runs during the series, has made most of his runs at No.3, scoring 5,416 runs at an average of 60.17. All of his 19 hundreds have also come at the position.
Javed also spoke about how the ODI game has changed between overs 11-40, which allows the technically sound players to maximise the middle overs instead, while the big hitters can make use of the first powerplay.
“There is also a change in ODIs, which not many have understood - between overs 11-40, there are four fielders outside the circle, so there is no need for acceleration or playing extraordinary shots. If you see, the Test players or the technically right players like Kane Williamson or Tom Latham, they are more effective in the middle as they need to just navigate through the four fielders.
“I still feel the way Babar is playing, these players should be opening on these wickets and maximise the hard ball in the first ten overs. He is not getting the big runs but the signs suggest that a big innings is due in an important knock as opener, so he should get that when Pakistan need him the most. If your best player bats at No.3 normally and is now opening, it’s not a bad idea.”
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