PSL 9: Peshawar Zalmi head coach reveals Babar Azam's batting position

Peshawar Zalmi head coach Mohammad Akram revealed Babar Azam's batting position for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine which is set to begin on February 17 in Lahore.

Akram stated that our top-order batters are ready to play in any position, and our overseas players are expected to arrive, after which we will finalise the combination.

Talking about Babar, he said that the team management has no problem regarding Azam's batting position. He will decide wherever he wants to play.

"We have no objections to Babar Azam playing in any position, but he prefers to open. Babar Azam is the team's captain and has performed well in the opening position," Akram said.

"We have a good pool of both international and local players, Mohammad Haris has matured and will play good cricket, we have tried to select the best squad."

Akram then went on to confirm former Pakistani batter Mohammad Yousuf has been included in the coaching staff where he will work with the team as a mentor.

"Muhammad Yousuf has been included in the coaching staff, he will work with young cricketers and with us as a batting mentor. Umar Gul has also been invited to the camp," Akram said.

Akram was confident that the team would give a good performance this time as well, like the past season where they reached the playoffs in eight years and played four finals.

"In Peshawar Zalmi's squad, there are experienced and junior competent players, every year we try to pick good bowlers, and this year, too, we have picked good bowlers.

"We desired to have more matches in Peshawar where our fans are more, and it is also our right because our fans have been waiting for matches at the home ground for a long time, and if not in Peshawar, then there should have been more matches in Rawalpindi," he added.

Peshawar Zalmi's squad

Babar Azam, Rovman Powell (both Platinum), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (all Diamond), Mohammad Haris (Brand Ambassador), Aamir Jamal (both Gold), Khurram Shahzad (Silver), Haseebullah Khan (Emerging), Asif Ali, Naveen-ul-Haq (partially unavailable), Umair Afridi, Dan Mousley, Gus Atkinson, Mohammad Zeeshan, Lungi Ngidi (Waqar Salamkheil), Mehran Mumtaz, Noor Ahmad (replaced by Gus Atkinson), Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Shamar Joseph (partial replacement for Gus Atkinson), Arshad Iqbal (partial replacement for Khurram Shahzad), Luke Wood, Aimal Khan