Kwena Maphaka: “Babar is definitely one of the greats of this generation. I think he’s an incredible batter”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
South Africa pace sensation Kwena Maphaka believes Pakistan batsman Babar Azam “is definitely one of the greats of this generation”.
Azam has done so much for Pakistan cricket throughout his career and is no doubt on track to end up being one of the country’s best-ever batsmen.
During the recent tour of South Africa, he began by scoring 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
He enjoyed a lot more success in the ODI series, amassing 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
As for the two Tests that followed, he was Pakistan’s highest run-scorer with 193 runs, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 48.25.
Maphaka dismissed Azam three times across all three formats during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa, but insisted that the 30-year-old is an “incredible batter”.
“Babar is definitely one of the greats of this generation. I think he’s an incredible batter,” the 18-year-old from Johannesburg was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Following the South Africa tour, Azam featured in Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan, where he mustered 45 runs at an average of 11.25.
Next up for him will be the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, after which Pakistan will take part in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
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