Former Australian opener Mathew Hayden has voiced his expectationsregarding Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s pivotal role in the crucial SuperFour clash against Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup, taking place on Thursday.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Hayden was questioned about hisconfidence in Babar’s performance against Sri Lanka, considering his recentperiod of less successful outings. In response, Hayden expressed unwaveringfaith in the Pakistani skipper.
Hayden stated, “Babar Azam is a true champion. He has repeatedly bouncedback from challenging situations because that’s what champions do. When youlook at the statistical comparison at this stage, pitting Virat Kohliagainst Babar Azam, it’s Babar Azam who is leading in that head-to-headbattle.”
He continued, emphasizing the significant role Babar plays in thePakistani team lineup, saying, “That’s how critical he is to the Pakistaniteam, and I am confident he can deliver in this crucial encounter againstSri Lanka. Babar’s importance extends beyond just being the captain; he isabsolutely central to the talent within the batting unit.”
The former mentor of the Pakistan team stressed the essential nature ofBabar’s contribution to Pakistan’s batting lineup and how closely theteam’s batting fortunes are tied to his form.
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Hayden concluded, “We all recognize that Pakistan cricket, particularlythis team, relies heavily on its top order, and Babar always shoulders thatresponsibility. So when his performances aren’t at their best, it has asignificant impact.” While Babar Azam displayed his brilliance with anoutstanding 151-run performance against Nepal in the tournament opener, hisrecent appearances against Bangladesh and India were marked by earlydismissals.
Consequently, there is heightened anticipation for him to play a definingrole in this high-stakes match against Sri Lanka. With both Pakistan andSri Lanka accruing 2 points from two Super Four matches, their upcomingencounter effectively serves as a virtual semi-final. The winner willproceed to face India in the final.
In the event of a rain-induced washout, Sri Lanka will qualify for thefinal due to their superior net run rate (-0.200) compared to Pakistan(-1.892).
