Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali recently praised Babar Azam, calling him the most celebrated cricketer in the country since the iconic Shahid Afridi. Azhar highlighted Babar’s remarkable popularity, similar to Afridi’s, whose charismatic playing style won the hearts of fans globally.
While Azhar acknowledged that he has often critiqued Babar’s leadership, especially regarding team-building during his captaincy, he firmly defended Babar's batting prowess. "I have criticized Babar Azam a lot for his captaincy," "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 said.
Azhar Ali also responded to critics questioning Babar’s batting form due to recent challenges, emphasizing that fluctuations in performance are part of any cricketer’s journey. He stated that Babar’s consistent performances have significantly boosted Pakistan's standing in world cricket.
"He is the only player from Pakistan who has made a name for the country through his batting," Azhar stated, adding, "Even if he doesn’t perform well in some tournaments, that doesn’t take away from his achievements."
Drawing a strong comparison between Babar and Afridi, Azhar praised Babar as a conventional batsman who electrifies crowds in a similar way Afridi did with his explosive batting. Azhar noted that Babar, like Afridi, has managed to captivate a global audience, including in India, with his 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 added.
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