Babar Azam Endorses Emerging Talents for Pakistan’s Future

Babar Azam, the former captain of Pakistan and current skipper of Peshawar Zalmi, has voiced his strong belief in two rising stars from his team, suggesting they could be future players for the national squad.

During his appearance on Zalmi TV’s podcast, Babar was prompted to identify those players he feels possess the aptitude to play for Pakistan on an international stage. He promptly pointed out batter Abdul Samad and fast bowler Ali Raza.

“They represent our youthful energy—developing players brimming with potential. Abdul Samad is relatively new and requires further refinement to tackle the rigors of international cricket. One must be prepared for that standard,” Babar commented.

The accomplished right-handed batter also lauded the young pacer, Ali Raza.

“He [Ali Raza] is a remarkable talent with the capability to compete internationally. However, he needs time, and with steady progress, he will be ready for international play,” he added.

It’s worth noting that Abdul Samad debuted in T20I for Pakistan in the five-match series against New Zealand in April.

However, the 27-year-old found it challenging to create a substantial impact, amassing only 66 runs across five matches, with his highest score being 44.

He concluded the series with an average of 16.50 and a strike rate of 113.79.

In his initial Pakistan Super League (PSL) season for Zalmi, Samad has participated in four matches thus far, securing 44 runs with a striking strike rate of 200.

Concurrently, 17-year-old Ali Raza has garnered attention through his remarkable displays in PSL 10. The budding pacer has claimed nine wickets in seven matches, boasting an average of 24.11 and an economy rate of 8.03.

In related developments, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the schedule for the remaining PSL 10 matches on Tuesday.

The league is set to recommence on May 17, with Karachi Kings facing off against Peshawar Zalmi at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Rawalpindi is also slated to host a double-header on Sunday, presenting Quetta Gladiators vs. Multan Sultans in the afternoon, succeeded by Peshawar Zalmi vs. Lahore Qalandars in the evening.

The concluding match at the venue will transpire on May 19 between the defending champions, Islamabad United, and Karachi Kings.

The playoffs will then transition to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the Qualifier, Eliminator 1, and Eliminator 2 are scheduled for May 21, 22, and 23, respectively.

The highly anticipated final is set to take place on May 25 at the same location.

As it stands, Babar’s Peshawar Zalmi is positioned fifth in the PSL 10 points table, having secured four victories and faced four defeats in eight matches.

They have secured eight points but remain in a close race for the playoffs due to a negative net run rate of -0.082.