Babar Azam: “I was and will always remain a fan of AB de Villiers. I used to copy and try playing shots in the nets after watching ABD”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan white-ball captain Babar Azam has admitted that “used to copy and try playing shots in the nets” after watching legendary South Africa batsman AB de Villiers.
Azam has spoken about his fondness for De Villiers on many occasions and made it clear that he “will always remain a fan” of the Proteas great.
De Villiers was considered to be a once-in-a-generation talent as he had the breathtaking ability to score runs all over the ground, which earned him the nickname of Mr. 360.
“I was and will always remain a fan of AB de Villiers. I used to copy and try playing shots in the nets after watching ABD,” Azam was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand and struck 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then amassed 132 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31 in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
Pakistan are now taking on England in a four-match T20I series and find themselves trailing 1-0.
Afterwards, they will take part in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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