New Zealand commentator Simon Doull called out Pakistan captain Babar Azam for batting selfishly in the game between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators. This PSL game at the Pindi Club Ground in Rawalpindi was an instant classic as the Gladiators pulled off a record 240-run chase.
The first innings saw Pakistan captain Babar Azam score a magnificent ton before Jason Roy smashed an unbeaten 145 to finish the game in the second innings. Doull heavily criticised Azam for only focusing on his hundred as his scoring rate dropped significantly. The former Kiwi pacer was angry about the Pakistan captain not looking to score boundaries and rather focusing on his milestone.
Simon Doull said, "Rather than putting the team first... the last little while, that's all that been happening. Rather than looking for boundaries, still, so much firepower to come. Hundreds are brilliant, stats are great, but it has to be team first."
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Babar was batting on 86 off 49 balls after 14 overs but took 11 balls to reach the 100-mark. While batting on 99, Azam blocked out a delivery from Naseem Shah, after which Doull questioned the batter’s tactics, slamming him for being selfish.
Talking about the game, Azam ended the first innings at a score of 115 in 65 balls which propelled Peshawar to 240. Alongside the Pakistan captain, Saim Ayub scored an incredible 74 in 34 balls while Rovman Powell had a 35-run cameo in 18 balls.
Responding to this massive target, Jason Roy started his innings on an aggressive front. The Englishman smashed the Zalmi bowlers across the Pindi Club Ground scoring 145 in 63 balls. This knock included 20 fours and five sixes as he batted at a strike rate of 230.16.
Former Pakistan captain Mohammed Hafeez also played a crucial 18-ball 41 as he and Roy stitched up 93 for the third wicket. The Gladiators chased down the total with ten balls to spare fittingly on the back of a massive Jason Roy six.
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