"We call him Dravid" - Babar Azam lavishes praise on Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique

Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique feels honoured after Babar Azam compared his batting style with the Indian legend Rahul Dravid.

While speaking to Dawn, the Pakistan skipper said he loves watching Abdullah's stylish batting and revealed that he is similar to Kane Williamson and Rahul Dravid.

"I personally watch and definitely enjoy Abdullah's stylish batting. He plays very clean, his stance and the way he ducks the ball are impressive. Usually, we compare him to Kane Williamson and Rahul Dravid. We call him Dravid," Babar Azam told the Dawn.

Pakistan's Test squad is currently involved in the training camp for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka scheduled to start on July 16. The team is expected to depart for the island country on July 6. 

Abdullah addressed the media during the training camp. In response to the captain's statements about him, the young Test opener said he feels honoured to be compared with India's batting great Rahul Dravid. However, he further said that he used to follow former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting a lot before moving on to Mohammad Yousuf and Babar as his inspirations.

"I am honoured that Babar compared me with Rahul Dravid. But I used to follow Ricky Ponting a lot. After Babar and Yousuf Bhai, I followed him," Abdullah Shafique told reporters during Pakistan's preparatory camp for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Abdullah was a part of the Pakistan ODI squad during their recent three-match One-day International series win against the West Indies at home. However, the top-order player did not get a chance to feature in any of the games.

"I didn't get a chance to play but it was good being around the players who were playing. I will try to grab any opportunity that comes to me in the upcoming Sri Lanka Test tour," Shafique added.

Shafique lavished praise on Babar Azam and said that his presence on the field helped him learn the tricks of the trade and improve his batting skills.

"Babar Azam is a world-class player. We learn a lot from him on the field," said Shafique while talking to the media in Rawalpindi.

Abdullah admitted that Pakistan played good cricket in their last home series against Australia but playing in Sri Lanka will be different. He revealed that the team is preparing according to the expected conditions in Sri Lanka.

"We have played good cricket in the last series against Australia. [But] the challenges in Sri Lanka would be different. But we are preparing accordingly. 

Our preparations are on the right track so far. The weather in Sri Lanka is similar to ours, which will help us”. 

The right-handed top-order player is banking on his experience playing in Sri Lanka to put up a "good show" in the upcoming series.

"I have played in Sri Lanka in the past as well, which is why I'm hopeful of putting up a good show.

"I'm also ready to grab the opportunity. I'm determined to perform well," he added.

The 22-year-old made his debut in 2020 and has played five Tests. In his breakthrough series against Australia at home, he scored his maiden Test hundred in the first Test at Rawalpindi, followed by a 96 and 81 in the second and third Test, respectively. Overall, he has scored 547 runs at an average of 68.37 with the help of one century and four fifties.