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Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf praises Babar Azam's exceptional ton

Pakistan's batting coach, Mohammad Yousuf, has heaped praises on skipper Babar Azam for his 'exceptional' innings against Sri Lanka. He termed it as one of the best innings he has ever seen in the longest format of the game.  


Babar registered a magnificent 119-run knock and added crucial 106 runs with the last two wickets as Pakistan recovered from 85 for 7 to score 218 in reply to Sri Lanka's 222 in the first innings on Day 2 of Galle Test. 


Yousuf, speaking highly about Babar's innings said, "I think it was an exceptional, mature and patient innings. Babar's maturity as a batsman even after becoming captain in all three formats is remarkable."


Also Read: Dinesh Chandimal's defiance hands hosts a 333-run lead


"I think the beauty of his innings was how he played the ball under his chin. On such pitches, be it pace or spin, the right way is to play every ball under the chin and he did that. I was impressed with the way he took the tailenders along. I am pleased with the grit shown by Naseem Shah," Yousuf mentioned after the Day's play, as quoted by TOI. 


The 27-year-old scored a vital century, helping his side recover from a collapse. Pakistan were tottering at 87-5 when the skipper took charge of the innings. He ended up scoring 119 on a difficult wicket and in the process, shepherded the tailender and added 106 runs with the last two wickets.



Young quick, Naseem Shah, was particularly very stoic at the crease and helped his skipper score from the end. Pakistan ended up scoring 218, four runs short of the hosts' 222 in the first innings. The total could have been much less had it not been for Babar's excellence. 

Unstoppable Babar breaks several records with this ton


The Pakistan skipper shattered several records with this innings. He became the fastest Asian after Virat Kohli to score 10,000 international runs. While Kohli reached the milestone in 232 innings, Babar reached in just 228 innings. 


Read: Shahid Afridi reacts to Babar Azam's ton in Galle Test


In the process, he also became the fastest Pakistani batter to reach the milestone, breaking former skipper Javed Miandad's who reached the 10,000 mark in 248 innings. 


Not only but he also has the most number of centuries as Pakistan's skipper (7), surpassing Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.


Sri Lanka was 36 for 1 at the end of Day 2 with a lead of 40 runs with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne back in the hut on 16.


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