Wasim Akram: “Right now, Babar has what it takes to be a match-winner – the talent is definitely there, and consistency is there – but he needs to win 2-3 important matches on his own with his batting. No doubt, he is a top-class player”
Image taken by; Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan pace icon Wasim Akram knows batsman Babar Azam “has what it takes to be a match-winner” as he has the talent and consistency.
With Azam fighting to get out of a rough patch that has lasted for many months, Wasim feels he just needs to win two to three matches on his own before he gets back to his best.
“Right now, Babar has what it takes to be a match-winner – the talent is definitely there, and consistency is there – but he needs to win 2-3 important matches on his own with his batting. No doubt, he is a top-class player,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Azam has not been part of Pakistan’s squad for their last few T20I assignments, which included a three-match series against Bangladesh in Lahore, a tour of Bangladesh, a three-match series against the West Indies, and a tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan.
The only matches the 30-year-old has featured in lately has been the three ODIs between Pakistan and the West Indies, where he struck 56 runs at an average of 18.66.
Pakistan are now playing in the 2025 Asia Cup, but Azam failed to make the cut for it.
The men in green beat Oman and the UAE in the group stage, but also lost to India.
After reaching the Super Four stage, Pakistan suffered another defeat to India but quickly bounced back with victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, which secured them a spot in the final.
Pakistan will face arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup final on September 28 in Dubai.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem