Jack Edwards: “Babar Azam is a world-class player”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Australia all-rounder Jack Edwards has lavished praise on Pakistan batsman Babar Azam, calling him a “world-class player”.
Edwards’ comments come after he played alongside Azam for the Sydney Sixers in the most recent edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).
Having seen him up close, Edwards acknowledged that the Lahore-born batsman is a quality cricketer.
“Babar Azam is a world-class player,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X.
Azam was recently in action for Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he amassed 91 runs in six matches at an average of 22.75 and a strike-rate of 112.34.
The men in green then took on Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series, but Azam was not picked for it.
He returned for the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and put on a show as he captained the Peshawar Zalmi to the title.
In addition to lifting the trophy, Azam was also the highest run-scorer in PSL 11 with 588 runs in 11 games, which included two centuries and three fifties, at an average of 73.50 and a strike-rate of 145.90.
Pakistan are now touring Bangladesh for two Tests, but Azam is not taking part in the ongoing 1st Test in Mirpur due to a left knee injury.
It remains to be seen if he will be fit for the 2nd Test, which starts on May 16 in Sylhet.
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