Kamran Akmal heaps praise on ‘mentally strong’ Babar Azam

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, Kamran Akmal, lauds skipper, Babar Azam, for scoring crucial runs and not crumbling to the opponent's pressure during the first ODI match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Akmal praised Babar's performance and his impressive mental prowess.

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"It's not relatively easy for a batsman to carry on and sustain the momentum as soon as his preceding batsman returns to the pavilion. The only player who can successfully tackle such a situation is the one who is mentally strong, and that is certainly Babar. He knows how to score runs that will contribute to the team's victory. The partnership that he built of 86 runs was crucial and equally important," Akmal said.

"If Pakistan had suffered a back-to-back wicket loss at that point, it must have been easier for New Zealand to dominate Pakistan yet again. Despite playing well, Babar was rather unlucky to remain stranded at 49," he further added.

On Thursday, Pakistan won their opening ODI against New Zealand by 5 wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.

Pakistan's batting performance was strong throughout the match, with Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq providing a solid foundation with a 124-run partnership. Babar's solid innings and Rizwan's quick cameo towards the end helped Pakistan secure the victory without much difficulty.

The two teams are set to meet again for their second ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.