IND vs PAK: "It Will Be Like Playing In Home Ground For Haris Rauf At MCG"- Babar Azam
Published - 23 Oct 2022, 12:31 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:14 AM
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has backed pacer Haris Rauf to deliver the goods in their ICC T20 World Cup 2022 opener at the MCG against India. The Men in Green are currently brimming with confidence as they emerged victorious in two of their last three outings in T20Is.
Azam feels that MCG is like a home ground for Haris Rauf who has plied his trade for a couple of seasons for the Melbourne Stars. The Pakistan pacer had an impressive show with Melbourne Stars in BBL where he claimed 30 wickets in 18 matches. The 28-year-old has all the credentials including the ability to clock 150kph at regular intervals to succeed in T20 World Cup.
Haris Rauf has stepped up in the absence of Shaheen Afridi, credits Babar Azam
Babar revealed that Rauf has already shared some crucial information with the teammates regarding the conditions at MCG.
Babar was quoted as saying in the pre-match press conference, “He knows the conditions well, having played in the BBL. It’s literally his home ground. He has passed a lot of information to the bowlers and batters. The way he has improved as a bowler, leading the pack, not letting us feel Shaheen’s absence, it’s going to help us a lot.”
Babar Azam is confident of Pakistan’s middle order to deliver despite the recent poor form
Pakistan heavily relied on their opening pair in the batting order as their middle order looked vulnerable in recent times. However, Babar displayed his faith in his middle order and suggested that anything can happen in the shortest format.
“You will get to know this on that day. On the day in a T20I, any player can surprise us. Any player can win you matches. I have full belief in my middle-order batters as they have won us plenty of matches and have performed in tough times. Anything can happen and we should be ready for everything,’ Babar added.