Shahid Afridi: “Babar has always been like a younger brother to me”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi said he cares about Babar Azam as he sees the star batsman as his “younger brother.”
Azam had been going through a rough patch with the bat, but has managed to rediscover his form over the past few months.
With Pakistan’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign scheduled to begin in a couple of days, Afridi noted that he just wants to see the 29-year-old remain at his best and continue enjoying huge success.
“Babar has always been like a younger brother to me,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand and amassed 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then played in the three-match T20I series against Ireland and scored 132 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31.
Following this, the Lahore native made 68 runs in two T20Is against England at an average of 34 and a strike-rate of 141.66.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
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