'Good thing Babar Azam got out' - Michael Clarke blasts Peshawar Zalmi captain with controversial statement

Pakistan star Babar Azam has once again found himself in the spotlight for his much-talked-about strike rate. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has slammed the right-handed batsman for his batting performance in the first Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans in the ongoing PSL 2024.

The Sultans thrashed Zalmi by seven wickets to storm in the final. Batting first, Zalmi scored 146 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs. With Saim Ayub departing for just 1 in the very first over, Babar Azam decided to be cautious. Zalmi’s no.3 batter Mohammad Haris helped his team race away to 50 inside six overs by smashing 22 off just 14 balls while Babar Azam decided to play the role of the second fiddle.

In the fourteenth over, Zalmi crossed the 100-run mark, and with their captain still at the crease, they would have expected him to convert his start into a big score and guide them to a big total. However, Babar failed to finish strongly and departed after scoring 46 runs off 42 balls.

Michael Clarke slams Babar Azam:

While Babar Azam top-scored for his team, it did not stop Michael Clarke from criticizing him. The World Cup-winning former Australia captain did not mince his words while commentating as he said that Babar Azam’s dismissal was a good thing for the Zalmi.

“Very rarely do you say it’s a good thing when Babar gets out. You never want him to get out because he’s an absolute class player. He has been in terrific form. But, maybe maybe the extra power here, looking for boundaries, I think that’s where they are at now. I think they got to go a fraction harder and I think they have got to risk it all to try and get above that 170-mark,” said Clarke.

Watch:

Michael Clarke on Babar pic.twitter.com/RuyVXfEqtn

— Bravo 2.0 (@MrCricket183) March 14, 2024

Talking about the Sultans’ innings, they chased down the total in 18.3 overs. Opener Yasir Khan starred with the bat for Sultans, scoring 54 off 37 balls while Usman Khan (36*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (22* off 8) also played crucial knocks. Zalmi will now play against the winner of the Eliminator between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in the second qualifier for a place in the final.