Former Pakistan captain compares Babar Azam’s popularity with Shahid Afridi

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali recently stated that Babar Azam is the most celebrated cricketer in the country since the iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi, whose charisma and playing style won the hearts of fans worldwide.

Azhar, who is currently serving as a member of Pakistan’s selection committee, acknowledged that while he has often criticized Babar’s captaincy, he firmly believes that there should be no doubt regarding his batting.

“I have criticized Babar Azam a lot for his captaincy,” Azhar Ali said. “I still believe that after captaining for such a long time, he should have built another team during this period. But when it comes to his batting, I say, please stop.”

Azhar Ali defended Babar against those critics, who undermined his batting capabilities due to recent struggles.

He underscored the inevitable highs and lows that all players experience and insisted that Babar’s consistent performances have greatly enhanced Pakistan’s standing on the international cricketing stage.

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“He is the only player from Pakistan who has made a name for the country through his batting,” Azhar said.

“Even if he doesn’t perform well in some tournaments, that doesn’t take away from his achievements.”

Drawing vivid comparisons to Shahid Afridi, Azhar fondly depicted Babar Azam as one of those exceptional conventional batsmen who can truly electrify a crowd.

He reminisced about Afridi’s explosive batting style that endeared him to fans and noted that Babar has similarly won admiration through his graceful and elegant batting.

“Babar is the first player after Shahid bhai who has captured the attention of the world, including in India. A conventional batter getting such applause is rare,” he further added.

READ: Former Pakistan batter suggests resting Babar Azam for second West Indies Test