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'After Shahid Bhai, He Is...': Ex-Pakistan Captain Compares Babar Azam To Afridi's Fame

Rajgeeta Yadav

Babar Azam and Shahid Afridi [Source: @CricArjun, @ICC/X.com]Babar Azam and Shahid Afridi [Source: @CricArjun, @ICC/X.com]

Babar Azam, the star batter of Pakistan, is often in the spotlight, not only for his stellar performances but also for the criticisms he faces regarding his captaincy and batting. However, former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has defended him, calling Babar Azam the most popular cricketer in Pakistan after the legendary Shahid Afridi.

Azhar Ali Defends Babar Azam’s Batting

In a recent interview, Azhar Ali was asked about his support for Babar Azam, especially given the frequent criticism Babar receives for his leadership. Azhar was quick to clarify that while he has criticised Babar's captaincy, he has never questioned his batting skills.

“I have criticised Babar a lot on his captaincy, I’m saying this now as well that he has captained for so long, he should have created another team in this duration. But when it comes to batting, I say, please stop,” said Azhar.

“I’m like if you don’t like someone then you start talking about his batting as well. Yes, at times, you don’t do well in the tournaments but he’s the only player from Pakistan, who has given Pakistan a name through his batting,” Azhar added.

Azhar Ali went on to compare Babar Azam's impact on the world stage to that of Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s beloved all-rounder known for his explosive batting. According to Azhar, Babar Azam has created a buzz like no other conventional batter before him, including Afridi.

“There have been very good Pakistan players, a lot of match-winners but couldn’t catch the world the way Babar has done it.

“I think, the way Babar has made his name in the world and in India, I mean, a normal conventional batsman, is getting cheered by the crowd, I’ve seen the first person after Shahid bhai,” he added.

Babar Azam has earned his place as one of Pakistan’s greatest players, with over 14,000 runs in all formats. He has also scored 31 centuries and remains the country's top T20I batter, including a record-breaking 122 runs in a T20I match against South Africa. His leadership abilities were also recognised when he took Pakistan to the number-one spot in the ODI rankings.

Although Babar resigned from the captaincy after the 2023 Cricket World Cup, he was reappointed as the white-ball captain in March 2024. Later, he resigned from the role again, citing workload and a desire to focus on his batting.