Fakhar Zaman: “I admire Babar Azam more than Virat Kohli. He has more range of shots in Tests and ODIs”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan big-hitter Fakhar Zaman said he admires Babar Azam over India batsman Virat Kohli as he has a wider range of shots in his arsenal in Tests and ODIs.
Kohli and Azam have constantly been compared to each other as they are the frontline batsmen of India and Pakistan respectively.
In Zaman’s eyes though, Azam deserves greater admiration due to the way he bats.
“I admire Babar Azam more than Virat Kohli. He has more range of shots in Tests and ODIs,” the 34-year-old from Mardan was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently toured South Africa with the Pakistan team and began by scoring 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
He fared a lot better in the three-match ODI series, making 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
In the two Tests that followed, the 30-year-old amassed 193 runs, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 48.25.
Azam then featured in the two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan, but failed to have the same kind of impact as he only managed to muster 45 runs at an average of 11.25.
He and Zaman will now take part in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa before proceeding to play 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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