Babar Azam in action [Source: @abubakartarar_/X.Com]
After a brilliant series against Zimbabwe, the Pakistan team is set to play a multi-format series against the home side South Africa. The T20I leg of the tour will commence first as the visitors will aim to defeat a lacklustre Proteas side.
For Pakistan, all eyes will be on Babar Azam as he returns back to the side after a mini break from the Zimbabwe tour. He has had a rough 2024, failing to deliver the goods across formats. However, the former Pakistan captain relishes playing in South African conditions and will feel at home when he walks out to bat in the 1st T20I of the series.
Babar will be under lot of pressure as the talented batter was recently axed from the Test squad and will be eager to prove his worth in the shortest format of the game against the Proteas. Ahead of the T20Is, the Pakistan side sweated it out in nets and the focus was on Babar.
The right-handed batter looked in ominous touch as he played a lovely square cut and also stepped down the track, showcasing his aggressive game-style as well.
Babar, Shaheen under pressure as Pakistan aim series win
Across formats, Babar and his teammate, Shaheen Afridi have been under par. Babar came under scrutiny for his dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, and post that he stepped away from white-ball captaincy as well.
Interestingly, the star batter has not scored a Test fifty since December 2022 and as a result was dropped from the Test team alongside Shaheen Afridi.
The series is of utmost importance for the duo, especially Babar, who boasts incredible stats against the Proteas. In 11 innings, he has racked up 416 runs, at a strike-rate of 142, including a solitary century.