Pietersen Claims Credit as Babar Azam Ends Century Drought

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has humorously credited his net sessions with Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam for helping the latter break his two-year international century drought. Babar achieved this milestone during the ongoing One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 102 runs at the Rawalpindi Stadium on October 7, 2023.

Pietersen took to social media to celebrate Babar’s achievement, sharing a playful post featuring a photo of himself alongside the Pakistani batter next to a bowling machine. In his tweet, Pietersen quipped, “My net session with @babarazam258 definitely helped him get his flow back and scoring 100s again.” His light-hearted remark followed Babar’s remarkable performance, which proved crucial for Pakistan’s successful chase of Sri Lanka’s target of 289 runs.

Babar’s century came after a long stretch of drought, spanning 33 ODI innings and 82 innings across all formats, including Tests and T20s. Coming in to bat after the dismissal of Saim Ayub, who scored 33 runs, Babar quickly found his rhythm. He celebrated his century with a signature pulled single off Pramod Madushan, lifting his bat to acknowledge the crowd, before bowing in gratitude on the ground.

The innings was not only a personal triumph for Babar but also instrumental in setting up the team’s victory. He formed a significant partnership with Fakhar Zaman, who contributed an aggressive 78 runs with a six and eight fours. Together, they added 100 runs for the second wicket, laying a strong foundation for the chase.

Following this, Mohammad Rizwan further solidified their position by scoring 51 runs112 runs with Babar. Rizwan’s innings included a six and five fours, culminating in the winning single that sealed the match for Pakistan.

In reflecting on his performance, Babar expressed his relief and joy, stating, “I was also waiting for my century, so I am thankful to the Almighty. It is more delightful that it has come in the team’s win.” This sentiment underscores the importance of teamwork in achieving personal and collective success in cricket.

Babar Azam’s return to form not only alleviates personal pressure but also strengthens Pakistan’s batting lineup as they continue their series against Sri Lanka. With this century, Babar aims to build momentum and further contribute to his team’s success in the ongoing ODI series.