Shadab Khan: “Babar Azam is our biggest player. I have seen him grow into the player he is today”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Shadab Khan believes Babar Azam is Pakistan’s “biggest player” and expressed pride in how far the top order batter has come.
The spin-bowling all-rounder noted that he has witnessed Azam’s growth into the player he is today, a journey during which the 31-year-old has broken multiple records.
Azam has long been Pakistan’s most consistent run-scorer and has recently rediscovered his form following a prolonged lean patch.
During the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), he played a key role in Peshawar Zalmi’s title-winning campaign, finishing as the tournament’s top run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches. His tally included two centuries and three fifties at an average of 73.50 and a strike-rate of 145.90.
“Babar Azam is our biggest player. I have seen him grow into the player he is today,” Shadab was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Following the PSL, Azam represented Pakistan in their two-Test series against Bangladesh, but only featured in the 2nd Test in Sylhet, where he posted scores of 68 and 47.
He was then involved in a three-match ODI series against Australia and amassed 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 41.66.
Azam was recently named Pakistan’s Test captain again and will now lead the team in their two-Test series against the West Indies, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
The men in green will then face England in a three-Test series between August 19 and September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah