• Babar Azam is the leading run-scorer in BPL 2024 so far.
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• He has scored 251 runs in 6 matches with a strike rate of 50.20.
• He has scored two half-centuries so far for the Rangpur Riders.

In the ongoing T20 leagues, Pakistani cricketers have demonstrated their skills. Babar Azam, the former captain of Pakistan, has been a notable player in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024.

Playing for Rangpur Riders, Babar led the batting rankings, scoring 251 runs in six games with an impressive average of 50.20. Despite a lower strike-rate of 114.61, Babar’s consistent performance, including two half-centuries, made him a key player for his team.

Ahmad Shahzad, playing for Fortune Barishal, capitalized on the absence of veteran Shoaib Malik. Shahzad’s aggressive batting, reflected in his strike-rate of 155.12, added strength to his team’s batting, as he scored 121 runs in just four games, including a half-century.

However, the newly formed opening pair for Pakistan’s T20I in the BPL faced challenges. Mohammad Rizwan, playing for Comilla Victorians, struggled to perform, scoring only 85 runs in five games with an average of 21.25.

Similarly, Saim Ayub’s performance for Durdanto Dhaka did not meet expectations, as he scored 77 runs in five games with an average of 15.40.

On the bowling side, young Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Imran, impressed with his performance for Fortune Barishal. Imran took ten wickets in six games with an average of 18.80, demonstrating his potential and reinforcing Pakistan’s reputation for fast bowling. Faheem Ashraf, playing for Khulna Tigers, took eight wickets in four games, while Aamer Jamal took six wickets in three games, including the tournament’s first five-wicket haul, contributing to Pakistan’s bowling strength.

In the ILT20 2024, Pakistani players had varied performances playing for different franchise teams. Among them, Azam Khan stood out with his powerful batting for the Desert Vipers.

Azam’s performance in the tournament peaked when he hit the fastest fifty in ILT20 cricket history, reaching the milestone in just 18 balls while playing for the Desert Vipers. Despite his aggressive batting style, he scored 159 runs in seven games with an average of 31.80 and a high strike-rate of 176.66.

However, not all Pakistani players had a successful tournament. Imad Wasim, playing for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, scored 52 runs in nine games. However, he managed to take 10 wickets in nine games with an economy rate of 7.50.

In terms of bowling, the Pakistani fast bowling pair of Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi demonstrated their skills. Mohammad Amir was a key player for the Desert Vipers, taking 11 wickets in seven games with an average of 18.72 and an economy rate of 7.62, earning him the sixth spot in the tournament’s highest wicket-takers list.

Shaheen Afridi, despite his aggressive bowling, struggled to take wickets, managing only six wickets in five games.

Shadab Khan, who returned after recovering from an injury, struggled to regain his form, scoring only 22 runs in three games and failing to take any wickets while playing for the Vipers in the tournament.

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