Former Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir clarified his stance on a previous statement related to Babar Azam and tailenders.
The 31-year-old pacer said that his words were misinterpreted and he never called Babar a tailender.
"First of all, I would like to ask those who have misrepresented this matter. 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," he said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
Amir, 31, was persistent that as a bowler, your primary duty is to get the wicket whether you are bowling to a batsman or a tailender as every wicket benefits the team.
"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.
Previously, Amir gave a statement right before the start of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8 saying that facing Babar or a tailender batter would be the same for him as he is solely focused on his job, which is to take a wicket.
"These kinds of matchups and player rivalries, keep players on their toes. I personally like these sorts of challenges because it keeps me focused," Amir said in an interview with a local channel. "My job is to take wickets and win matches for my team, so for me, facing Babar or a tailender batting at number 10 will be the same."
- Babar Azam