LAHORE: Australia all-rounder Aaron Hardie has backed Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam to play a key role in the team’s campaign during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, which runs until May 3.
The 27-year-old, who joined Zalmi as a replacement for Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, praised Babar for creating a welcoming environment for overseas players ahead of the tournament. Hardie also commended the skipper’s leadership qualities, describing him as composed and highly knowledgeable about the game.
“Babar has been awesome. He’s been very welcoming to all the overseas players and you know I got to bat with him in the nets today,” Hardie said while speaking to reporters during a training session.
“So be able to work with him to learn from someone as quality of the player as Babar has been awesome. […] His captaincy speaks for itself; he’s very mature and knows a lot about the game.
Zalmi squad
“So, he’s played lots of 2020s, and yeah, he’s going to be a calm head for us to rely on throughout the season.”
Hardie also expressed confidence in the overall balance of the Zalmi squad, highlighting strength in both batting and bowling departments.
“I’ve been impressed with everyone that I’ve seen. We’ve got some really quality batsmen at the top of the order and some really good power throughout the middle,” he added.
Despite disappointment over matches being played without crowds, Hardie maintained that the team would remain fully committed.
“It’s a shame to have no crowd… we still go out there tomorrow and give a hundred per cent energy,” he concluded.
