Babar's maturity after becoming captain has been remarkable, says Yousuf

Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf has hailed skipper Babar Azam for his exceptional innings against Sri Lanka on the second day of the ongoing first Test in Galle.

Babar led the visitors’ fightback from the front after Sri Lanka reduced them to 85 for seven at one stage. After the departure of Yasir Shah (18), Pakistan were hanging by a thread at 111 for eight. Babar scored 119, including 11 fours and two sixes, and Pakistan restored parity with a total of 218, just four runs behind Sri Lanka’s first-innings score of 222.

Yousuf lavished praise on the Pakistan skipper for his magnificent knock and also appreciated Naseem Shah for sticking together in the 70-run stand for the 10th wicket.

“I think it was an exceptional, mature and patient innings. The maturity Babar has shown as a batsman even after becoming captain in all three formats is remarkable,” Yousuf said after the second day’s play.

“I think the beauty of his innings was how he played the ball under his chin. On such pitches, be it pace or spin, the right way is to play every ball under the chin and he did that. I was impressed with the way he took the tailenders along. I am pleased with the grit shown by Naseem Shah,” he added.