Agha Salman, the Pakistani all-rounder, expressed confidence in Babar Azam’s swift return to form despite the recent struggles. Azam, who couldn’t notch a single fifty in Test cricket last year, found support from Salman.
“Every cricketer faces a rough patch. Babar Azam’s track record for Pakistan speaks volumes. This minor dip won’t affect him much. We’re not worried about his form; he knows how to bounce back. Seeing the effort he’s putting in, it’s just a matter of time. You’ll soon witness a remarkable hundred from him”
Salman remarked during a press conference following the day’s play at the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.
Discussing Pakistan’s slip-catching, Salman mentioned the dropped chance by debutant Saim Ayub off Warner earlier in the day.
“Saim has been training for slip-catching. Seems like there’s a hitch at the 1st slip position (chuckles). When I was off briefly, Babar considered moving to 2nd slip (leaving Saim at 1st). Cricket enthusiasts know, more catches tend to head towards 2nd slip,” he shared.
“Dropped catches happen it’s part of the game. Even Australia had their misses, it’s something that occurs to everyone. Slip catches are tough; you’ve minimal time to react. We’ve taken plenty of catches there too, but those don’t get highlighted,” he added.
Rain disrupted play on the second day of the Pakistan-Australia Sydney Test. Persistent rain and fading light led to the washout of the entire third session. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicts a 70 percent chance of rain for the day, possibly even severe thunderstorms in the west.
Tomorrow might see a 50 percent chance of rain in the morning and early afternoon. However, Saturday and Sunday might have only a 20-30 percent chance of showers.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan managed to dismiss openers Warner and Khawaja, limiting Australia to 116-2 by tea. Labuschagne was on 23, Smith on 6 when bad light halted play before tea, prompting an early break due to incoming storms.
Warner’s departure for 34 left him visibly frustrated, missing out on a century in his farewell Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.