When Ramiz Raja Compared Babar Azam With Sir Don Bradman

image-lqyzpmcrBabar Azam (AP)

Pakistan batting stalwart Babar Azam has epitomized brilliance through years of consistent run-making for his country across all forms of the game. His impact as Pakistan leader and a batting mainstay stands as a beacon of inspiration, showcasing his unparalleled skills and grace on the international stage.

As one can expect, Babar also harbors a colossal fan-following within the cricketing spectrum, with a number of prominent active cricketers and former players singing his praises and lauding his exceptional contributions towards the modern-day game.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja even compared Babar with all-time Australian great Sir Donald Bradman after the active ‘Men in Green’ batsman had attained a staggering batting milestone in May 2023.

When Ramiz compared Babar Azam with Bradman

Back in May 2023, former Pakistan captain and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja described Babar Azam as the best contemporary white-ball player in the world for his consistent run-making abilities. Raja even compared the right-hander with late Australian cricketer Sir Don Bradman for becoming the fastest batsman in the world to complete 5,000 ODI runs.

Apart from comparing Babar with Don Bradman, Raja also compared him with West Indies legend Vivian Richards, and cited his leadership skills as the reason behind Pakistan’s number one ranking in ODI cricket. Taking to his YouTube channel, the former Pakistan skipper said:

“Babar Azam is no less than Don Bradman. In white-ball cricket, he has statistically become the best player in the world. I have never seen so much consistency from a player in such a risky format. He is fastest to 5000 ODI runs and has surpassed many legends like Viv Richards, which is a big achievement. He is the reason why Pakistan has become the number one team in ODI rankings.”

Interestingly, soon after receiving the ultimate praise from Ramiz Raja, Babar Azam underwent one of the worst phases of his career. The cricketer scored just 320 runs at the 2023 World Cup in India, where his side crashed out of the semifinal race owing to a string of defeats in the league stage.

The outcome forced him to relinquish his all-format captaincy, paving way for Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood to take Pakistan cricket ahead.