LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam reflects on his experience of working under two contrasting coaching regimes, with Otis Gibson and Mike Hesson both offering unique approaches that contributed to his development as a batsman.
Speaking on a recent YouTube podcast, Baber revealed that Gibson gave him complete freedom from the start.
“When I first met Otis Gibson, he made it very clear to me that he didn’t have any specific demands on me. He said, play your normal game – I don’t need anything else, just enjoy your cricket,” Babur said.
Gibson never instructed himself to follow a certain style or play certain shots, instead placing full faith in his ability to read competitive situations independently.
“In life, you will meet different opinions from different people. It depends on how you take them. His only message is: You know how to play, so go and enjoy your game,” he added.
In contrast, the 31-year-old described Hessen’s methodology as more structured. Under his guidance, the former Pakistan captain was asked to bat at different positions, including number four.
“He gives you confidence, but also makes it clear what he expects from you in a certain situation,” explained Baber.
The right-handed batsman admitted that he needed time to adjust to the number four role as it was unfamiliar territory.
“Playing at different levels requires different mindsets. Adaptation takes time. You can’t expect to dominate instantly. Every new role requires patience, but nowadays people expect instant results in a day or two. Actually, everything takes time,” he noted.
It is pertinent to mention that the final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 is set to deliver a thrilling contest as 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi go head-to-head with tournament debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Zalmi sealed their berth in a dominant fashion as they cruised past Islamabad United by 70 runs in the qualifiers. In contrast, Kingsman wrote a fairy tale for the finale.
After finishing fourth in the league stage, they stunned both Multan Sultans and three-time champions in successive eliminators to book their place in the title decider.
The summit clash marks Babar Asam’s Zalmi’s fifth PSL final, while the Kingsmen have etched their name in history by reaching the final in their maiden campaign.