Shoaib Akhtar hails Mohammad Amir for 'mentally dominating' Babar Azam during HBL PSL

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Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has credited Mohammad Amir for “mentally dominating” Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam during their recent encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in the ongoing HBL PSL 10.

Speaking on a digital sports programme, Akhtar praised the Quetta Gladiators pacer’s intensity and control, particularly during his duel with Babar, whom he dismissed for the second time this season.

“Babar was struggling to even see the ball properly — the deliveries were either hitting his head or his body — and it was clear that Mohammad Amir was well aware of Babar’s weaknesses,” Akhtar said.

According to the Rawalpindi Express, Amir seemed to be playing a "match within the match," even as the crowd erupted in chants for Babar.

“While the crowd was chanting ‘Babar, Babar’ around the ground, Amir was quietly playing his own match,” he added.

Akhtar also weighed in on Babar’s approach to the innings, stating that the Zalmi skipper should have adapted his batting to the pitch conditions.

“Babar should have taken a little more time to settle and adapted his batting according to the conditions, as the pitch was difficult and required patience,” he said.

The former fast bowler insisted that even top batters in the country would have struggled under similar pressure.

“When there is even a little swing, Babar tends to struggle,” he noted.

Amir’s aggressive bowling and clear game plan earned further praise from Akhtar, who said it added to the excitement of the match.

He also claimed that Zalmi would have failed to chase even a low target against such a disciplined attack.

“It is matches like these that make cricket exciting to watch,” Akhtar concluded.

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