Rahmanullah Gurbaz: “I can see he’s a legend right now”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the Afghanistan opener, believes Pakistan captain Babar Azam is “a legend right now.”
Azam has established himself as one of the best batsmen in the sport since he regularly makes big scores in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
What makes his batting even more impressive is the fact that he doesn’t succumb to the pressure brought upon by the captaincy.
Having seen the 29-year-old in action, Gurbaz acknowledged that it is special to see how Azam goes about his business while at the crease.
“I can see he’s a legend right now,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
In Pakistan’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka, Azam amassed 76 runs at an average of 25.33.
He followed that up with 113 runs in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, which included two fifties, at an average of 37.66.
As for the Asia Cup, Azam made 207 runs in five matches, which included a top score of 151, at an average of 51.75.
Right now, the Lahore native is leading Pakistan in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup and has scored 157 runs in five matches, which includes two fifties, at an average of 31.40.
The men in green started off their campaign with successive wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before falling to India, Australia and Afghanistan.
Next up for them will be a clash against South Africa on October 27 in Chennai.
Pakistan Squad for 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali