Shamyl Hussain: “I batted with Babar bhai in one match, that feeling was different. He keeps guiding you, and you start paying more attention to what he say”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Up-and-coming Pakistan batter Shamyl Hussain has praised Babar Azam for taking the time to offer him guidance.

Hussain recalled batting alongside Azam during a match and shared how the 31-year-old provided valuable advice. He added that he absorbed every bit of it, describing Azam as an elite cricketer who has achieved significant success at the international level.

“I batted with Babar bhai in one match, that feeling was different. He keeps guiding you, and you start paying more attention to what he say. He has so much experience, when someone has stayed at the top for such a long time, you try pick his brain,” the 21-year-old from Islamabad was quoted as saying on Facebook.

Hussain recently played for the Quetta Gladiators in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and amassed 215 runs in nine matches, which included three fifties, at an average of 23.88 and a strike-rate of 146.25.

As for Azam, he captained the Peshawar Zalmi to the title and finished as the highest run-scorer in PSL 11 with 588 runs in 11 games, which included two hundreds and three fifties, at an average of 73.50 and a strike-rate of 145.90.

Pakistan are now facing Bangladesh in a two-Test series, but Azam was not picked for the ongoing 1st Test in Mirpur due to a left knee injury.

The 2nd Test will begin 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

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