Misbah says Babar Azam has returned to his natural game in PSL

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has said Babar Azam’s strong run in the HBL Pakistan Super League this season has come after the batter worked on getting back to his natural method following a difficult T20 World Cup.

At the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre on Monday, Zalmi held their only training session before their Qualifier against Islamabad United. As players spread out across the venue, Babar padded up and went to the middle of the HPC Oval, where he faced left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem. Later, after completing his main net session, he switched places with New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell and spent time working with Misbah.

The exchanges between Babar and Misbah during training suggested a focused technical discussion, and Misbah later said the work done after the T20 World Cup and before the PSL was aimed more at removing unwanted changes than adding new ones.

“The credit goes to Babar himself,” Misbah said after training. “He realised before the PSL that he was losing his [batting] shape and was forcing things. He is a timer — he scores through elegance, by picking the gaps.”

“He did some rethinking after the T20 World Cup and worked on himself. When he joined the camp, he had conversations with the head coach [Ottis Gibson] and me. We both told him the same thing: ‘go there, use the pace, time the ball, maintain your shape and hit the gaps’.”

Babar has scored 485 runs while opening the batting for Zalmi this season, averaging 80.83 at a strike rate of 141.39, as the side won eight of its 10 league-stage matches. His form has stood in contrast to his T20 World Cup campaign for Pakistan, where he batted at number four and made 91 runs in six innings.

Misbah said the signs of improvement were visible in Babar’s unbeaten 100 off 52 balls against Quetta Gladiators. In that innings, he played only one dot ball and had hit five boundaries until the 17th over before finishing with a late burst that included four sixes and another boundary. It was his first T20 hundred in two years and came after 67 innings.

“I think he is back to what he used to be,” Misbah observed. “All we have done is give him confidence and some preparation. The rest is his own effort and the work he has put in.”

Misbah also linked Babar’s return to the balance of Zalmi’s batting order. The line-up includes Mohammad Haris at the top, while Kusal Mendis has been a major contributor at number three. Mendis leads the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 500 runs at an average of 62.50 and a strike rate of 170.64.

Mendis has credited Babar for laying the platform, while the pair have put together 435 runs in partnerships this season.

Team balance around Babar

Misbah said the top-order combination was put together with specific roles in mind rather than asking Babar to alter his game.

“When a team is built, the idea is to ensure all resources complement each other,” Misbah said. “Yes, there was a thought process behind this combination.

“Out of six batters, someone has to act as the glue. The idea behind placing Babar and Mendis in the top three was exactly that, because both can play this role.

“Mendis can adapt — against spin or pace — either as aggressor or anchor. Babar brings consistency and continuity.

“That balance at the top allows players like Haris and others to accelerate. It was not about making Babar do more, but about bringing the best out of each player.”

Zalmi will now look to carry that form into the Qualifier against Islamabad United, with a place in the PSL final at stake. Peshawar are seeking a return to the final for the first time since 2021.