Basit Ali: “It is too early for me to say that he (Babar Azam) reminds me of Javed Miandad after seeing his role in the two games. However, his role in those games was crucial in building the confidence of the Pakistan batters”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has praised batsman Babar Azam for becoming a mentor to the younger players in the side, but admitted it is too early to say the 30-year-old reminds him of the legendary Javed Miandad.
Basit noted that during the ongoing tour of South Africa, Azam has played a pivotal role in “building the confidence of the Pakistan batters”.
Azam himself has shown signs of getting back into form as he made 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
In the three-match ODI series, he amassed 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
“It is too early for me to say that he (Babar Azam) reminds me of Javed Miandad after seeing his role in the two games. However, his role in those games was crucial in building the confidence of the Pakistan batters,” Basit said on ARY News show Sports Room.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after claiming a two-wicket win in the 1st Test in Centurion.
In the 1st Test in Centurion, Azam made scores of 4 and 50.
The 2nd Test will get underway on January 3 in Cape Town.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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