LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam has brushed aside any concerns over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen’s handling of the Australian mentality in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday.
The Kingsmen, playing their first PSL season, won each of their two eliminators to reach the final, including a thrilling two-run win over three-time champions Islamabad United.
The team, led by Australian Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne, had a mixed start to their PSL 11 campaign as they lost their first four matches and went on to win seven of their next eight matches.
The Kingsmen’s spirited comeback has led to debates about how much the Australian attitude has given way to new players, but Zalmi skipper Babar, while addressing a pre-match press conference at the aforementioned venue, insisted that every team has a different style of approaching crucial games.
“Each team has a different mentality and approach. For me, speed is very important, as is the right combination for the conditions,” said Babar.
On the contrary, the 2017 champions have taken a direct route to the PSL 11 finals, having lost just one match against defending champions Lahore Qalandars in the league stage.
Reflecting on his team’s journey in the eight-team tournament so far, Babar praised Zalmi’s combination and lauded each player for their contribution and fulfilling their role.
“Alhamdulillah, our pace and team composition throughout the match was very good. Every player contributed and played his part and we executed our plans well,” Babar said.
Notably, Zalmi played most of their PSL 11 campaign at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, including a qualifier against United, while their only defeat in the competition came at the Gaddafi Stadium, which hosts the summit.
As a result, Babar Assam highlighted the marked difference in conditions at the two venues and asserted that the former champions were “careful” in assessing them.
However, he expressed confidence in his side’s ability to turn things around, citing the presence of experienced players like Gusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell in their squad, before expressing hope of maintaining their consistency in the final Test.
“The conditions here are different from Karachi, so our focus is to assess the conditions first and then execute our game plan accordingly. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but as professionals, you have to adapt to what the game offers,” Babar said.
“We have good experience in the side. Experienced players bring confidence and a different energy when they perform. Our fast bowlers and local players have also stepped up, so it is a combined team effort and we will try to maintain that consistency.”