Zaheer Abbas: “He is bigger for us than even Don Bradman”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas believes that Babar Azam is “bigger for us than even Don Bradman”.

Abbas’ incredibly high praise for Azam comes after he has been in superb form as of late.

Azam has been one of Pakistan’s most consistent batsmen this year as he scored 195 runs, which included a lone fifty, in the ODI series against South Africa at an average of 48.75.

In the five-match ODI series against England, he accumulated 277 runs in five games, which included a century and two fifties, at an average of 55.40.

He followed that up with a superb 112 in Pakistan’s World Cup warm-up against Afghanistan.

As for Pakistan’s first two World Cup games against the West Indies and England, he scored 22 and 63 respectively.

Pakistan lost their World Cup opener to the West Indies by seven wickets, but bounced back to beat England by 14 runs in Nottingham on Monday.

Their win over England snapped their 11-game losing streak in ODIs.

“We should not talk up a player so early in his career. He is a great batsman. I have said it before too that he is our only consistent player and we are proud of him,” Abbas was quoted as saying by cricketpakistan.com.pk. “[Virat] Kohli does not hold importance for us, for us only Babar holds importance. If he continues to score, it would be great for the team. He is bigger for us than even Don Bradman.”

Pakistan’s next World Cup game will be against Sri Lanka in Bristol on Friday.

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