Shoaib Akhtar: “Babar Azam hasn’t been dominant for the past 7 years. I… want him to become the world’s most famous star. How is he going to do that? By dominating the game”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has taken a shot at batsman Babar Azam, saying he “hasn’t been dominant for the past 7 years”.
Azam has been Pakistan’s most consistent run-scorer in all three formats for the last few years, but Akhtar thinks the 30-year-old has to step his game up if he really wants to take world cricket by storm.
Lately, Azam hasn’t been anywhere near his best as he has struggled to score runs consistently.
During Pakistan’s tour of South Africa, he began by making 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
He had a much better showing in the ODI series, amassing 148 runs in three matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
Azam then finished as Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in the two-Test series, accumulating 193 runs, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 48.25.
Unfortunately, he was unable to maintain his newfound momentum in the two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan as he only managed to make 45 runs at an average of 11.25.
“Babar Azam hasn’t been dominant for the past 7 years. I… want him to become the world’s most famous star. How is he going to do that? By dominating the game,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam is now involved in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and kicked off his campaign with 10 runs in the opening game against New Zealand.
After the tri-series, he will feature in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place 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