Abdullah Shafique: “Babar Azam is a superstar and has a huge fanbase”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique has lauded batsman Babar Azam, saying he is a “superstar” with a “huge fanbase.”
Azam has been going through a difficult time with the bat for numerous months, but still remains one of the most popular cricketers in both Pakistan and world cricket.
“Babar Azam is a superstar and has a huge fanbase,” Shafique was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Recently, Azam featured in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and began by scoring 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
He then made his T20I comeback and performed well, amassing 79 runs in three matches, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
In the three ODIs that followed, the Lahore native fell short of expectations as he only made 45 runs at an average of 15.
Azam made up for it during the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, accumulating 165 runs, which included his first international hundred since August 2023, at an average of 82.50.
His most recent assignment was a T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, where he struck 127 runs in five games, which included a top score of 74, at an average of 31.75 and a strike-rate of 112.38.