KARACHI: Former New Zealand cricketer and renowned commentator Simon Doull finally opened up on his conversation with Babar Azam during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.
New Zealand commentator Doull, has been in hot water after criticizing Babar for slowing down to complete his maiden PSL century in Peshawar Zalmi’s crucial fixture against Quetta Gladiators.
The commentator received major backlash from Babar’s fans and then in Zalmi’s next fixture, he was seen having one on one conversation with Babar.
Meanwhile, in a video posted on Twitter, Doull has finally revealed the gist of his conversation with Babar and claimed that Babar has a fear of getting out.
“I told Babar that you are the best player in the country; I believe you should be bullying this tournament and owning these bowlers. You, at times, are afraid to get out, but you shouldn’t ever be afraid to get out. At some point in your innings, that shows, and that was kind of the gist of my whole chat with him,” Doull said.
“Someone messaged me yesterday. Quinton de Kock slowed down, getting to his hundred. Did they win – yes. The simple tactic is if you are chasing and pacing the inning and are at home, you win – there’s never going to be an issue. I’ll never have a problem with it. But when you’re setting, and you don’t know what a good score and particularly at that stage at that game is, there were so many resources waiting in the wings that you just have to keep going.”
“That was the whole crux of the comment. At times it gets blown out of proportion. I’ll never ever hide behind anything that I say. I said it at the time, I stuck by it, and I have no issue that I said it,” Doull concluded.
It is pertinent to mention that Babar’s maiden PSL century went in vain as Jason Roy’s masterclass trumped his efforts to script an astonishing victory for Quetta Gladiators.
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