As a bowler, I don't see Babar Azam as threatening in T20 format: Mohammad Amir

Former speedster, Mohammad Amir, offered a new perspective on Pakistan skipper Babar Azam after coming under fire for his comments on the latter's batting prowess. The pacer provided his clarification on his remarks during the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), when he commented that bowling to Babar and a tailender would be the same for him.

Consequently, Amir received a lot of flak from fans, which made him open up on his critical remarks about the national skipper. Though Amir clarified that he has a lot of respect for Babar, however, he also added that he fails to see the latter as a threatening batter in the T20s.

"First of all, Babar is not my ex-fiance that I won't like him (laughs). Babar is playing for five years and we never had heated argument. There is always a mutual understanding between us and being a junior, he has always given me respect," said Amir during a show on Geo News.

"I have always said that he is a great batter in Tests and ODIs. In T20s, I have a different opinion related to him. As a bowler, I don't see Babar as threatening in the T20 format. Now if someone gives the wrong angle to this statement then I can only pray for his guidance," he added.

I have called him the best batsman of Pakistan: Amir

Earlier in May, Mohammad Amir took to his YouTube channel to issue a clarification on putting Babar's batting exploits and tailenders in the same bracket. Hitting back at his critics he minced no words when the pacer said that Babar Azam has been Pakistan's best batter for a long time now in the ODIs and Tests. But in the shortest format, the game progresses differently and every player's wicket for him holds a lot of importance.

"Show me one interview in which I said that Babar is an average player or a tailender. In all my interviews, I have called him the best batsman of Pakistan, which I am saying with my own mouth, and have said in many places, that it is difficult to bowl against him in ODI and Test matches due to his technique. So, would I call him a tailender? Let me make it clear to these people," told Amir.

"My point was that whether it's Babar or a number 11 playing, taking wickets is important for me because it benefits the team. For example, if 12 runs are needed in the last 2 overs and 8 wickets are down, then tailenders are the ones playing, right? So, they are also equally important to dismiss. That was my point. For me, every wicket is important whether it is Babar's or a tailender's," he concluded.