Ahmed Shehzad On Babar Kohli Comparison (Source: AFP Photos)
Babar Azam’s lean patch continues, as fans are still waiting for a classic innings from the Pakistani superstar. His last disappointing outing against the West Indies triggered harsh criticism as the team faced a horrific defeat despite early domination.
The Pakistani batter is often compared with Virat Kohli, but former Pakistani player Ahmed Shehzad put an end to the comparison. In a recent interview, he said that Babar Azam shouldn’t be compared with Kohli.
Shehzad Wants Kohli-Babar Comparisons Sent To The Pavilion
Pakistani cricket produced some of the finest cricket talents, and Babar Azam is one of their modern-day greats. As the star batter proved his heroics on the big stage, the cricket world often draws parallels between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. While the former Indian captain has carved an enduring legacy in cricket history, the Pakistani superstar’s prolonged slump is starting to draw concern.
In the recently ended ODI series against the West Indies, Babar Azam’s struggle continued. Speaking on his YouTube channel, former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad slammed the Kohli-Babar comparisons, saying that they only pile unnecessary pressure on the Pakistani star.
“When everything was going well, you were running campaigns comparing players. Now that the performances are not coming, you are saying, ‘don’t compare two players’. Why not? Virat Kohli’s comparison cannot be made with anyone in the world. He is a legend of this generation, a role model,” he said.
“You cannot compare him even with MS Dhoni. Dhoni may have been a great captain, but as a batter, cricketer, and athlete, Kohli stands alone. No one should be compared with anyone because it’s unfair and it adds extra pressure, which we are now seeing on Babar Azam,” he added.
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Babar’s Form Sparks Concern
Once hailed as Pakistan’s best batter, Babar Azam’s current form is sparking concerns. Scoring his last century against Nepal in 2023, the batter struggled in 72 innings without a single ton. Once considered Babar Azam’s strongest format, ODIs have seen his batting average slump to 30.36 this year.
After being dropped from the T20I squad against West Indies, he came back in the ODI series, but the disappointment continued. In three matches, he scored only 56 runs with an average of 18.66. In the last match, he was dismissed scoring 9 runs and Pakistan faced a massive 202-run defeat. With the Asia Cup looming, his poor form is becoming an added worry for Pakistan.
