After Pakistan’s win against New Zealand in the second T20I on Saturday at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, pacer Haris Rauf heaped praise on Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Rauf once again excelled in the match, claiming four wickets and conceding 27 runs from his four overs. In the first T20I, he had taken four wickets for 18 runs in 3.3 overs.
Speaking to the media after the match, Rauf said that back-to-back wins were good for the team and that the confidence of the players was up. He also shared his strategy for the match, saying, “The ball was gripping today so I tried slower ones after reading the wicket. I don’t focus much on milestones and keep my focus on matches and give my 100 percent effort. Wickets are not in my mind as I try to bowl dot balls which are more effective.”
Rauf also spoke about Babar Azam’s sensational century in the match, saying that he enjoys watching him bat. “Personally, I enjoy Babar Azam’s batting and after losing wickets in quick succession, then to get back the momentum and set up a good total and scoring a hundred on the last ball was great. We were all very excited about it and wanted him to score a hundred and hats off to him,” he said.
Rauf also praised Azam’s captaincy, saying that he always consults for field settings and that he stays relaxed under his leadership. “I have played all my cricket under the captaincy of Babar Azam and the way he supports us on the field gives me a lot of confidence. He always consults for field settings, and I stay relaxed under his captaincy and enjoy it,” he added.
Looking ahead, Rauf said that the team would try to win the series given the momentum they have at the moment. Pakistan currently leads the five-match T20I series against New Zealand by 2-0.
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