Babar still Az what it takes to be a star

MATTHEW Hayden has tipped Pakistan’s out-of-form captain Babar Azam to produce “something very special” in the latter stages of the T20 World Cup.

Babar (pictured) averaged 7.8 during the Super 12s but his side bounced back from losing their first two matches to win the next three and improbably finish in the top two of their group.

Standing between them and a place in the final is New Zealand and while concerns about Babar’s struggles linger, Hayden, the former Australia opener and now Pakistan team mentor, is relaxed about a player who averages over 41 from 97 T20IS with two hundreds and 29 fifties.

Hayden said: “In any given career, you have significant moments of ups and downs, and the challenges and the humps along the way, they cement you and your greatness, how you achieve under adversity.

“There’s no question that Babar has been under some adversity. That will make him only an even greater player.

“As we all know about the weather, once there’s a lull, there’s often a storm that follows. So look out, rest of the world, because I think you’re about to see something very special from Babar.”

Pakistan began their campaign by losing a last-ball thriller against rivals India in a gripping MCG contest and their hopes of reaching the knockout stages took a battering after being upset by Zimbabwe.

They stayed in the hunt by winning their next two games before the Netherlands’ shock win over South Africa left the door ajar and Pakistan defeated Bangladesh to finish runners-up to India.

Their progress has drawn comparisons with Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ from 30 years ago, when they won the 50-over World Cup, ahead of their last-four tie against the Black Caps at Sydney today.