Sameer Minhas: “Babar Azam is my favourite player in the Pakistan cricket team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Up and coming Pakistan opener Sameer Minhas said batsman Babar Azam is his favourite player in the national team.
Minhas has been tipped to make his international debut soon after putting up a string of strong performances for the Pakistan Under-19 team and in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
In the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup, the 19-year-old from Multan struck 197 runs in five matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 65.66.
He and Azam both featured in the recently concluded PSL season, with the pair drawing attention for their outstanding batting displays.
Minhas amassed 349 runs in 11 games for Islamabad United, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 38.77 and a strike-rate of 155.80.
As for Azam, he captained the Peshawar Zalmi to the title and finished as the highest run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches, which included two centuries and three fifties, at an average of 73.50 and a strike-rate of 145.90.
“Babar Azam is my favourite player in the Pakistan cricket team,” Minhas was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Pakistan will now face Bangladesh in a two-Test series, but Minhas was not included in the team. Azam, on the other hand, did make the cut.
The two Tests will be played in Mirpur and Sylhet from May 8 to 20.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi