Former New Zealand cricketer Luke Ronchi has heaped praise on prolific Pakistan batsman, who is also the team’s T20I captain, Babar Azam by putting him in the same category as some of the world’s top batsmen.

Babar scored a sparkling unbeaten century during the recently concluded drawn Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.  

“With Babar Azam, I feel that he will be in the same calibre, if not there already, as some of the world’s top batsmen like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson,” said Ronchi while talking to pakpassion.net.

“It’s the way he makes batting look so easy and the fact that he never looks flustered by pace or spin. He plays nice and elegant shots and he is just a stand-out batter at the moment. I really enjoyed his batting in Australia where he was Pakistan’s best batter and he was the prime target for Australian bowlers to try and get out cheaply and when he did get going on that tour, his batting was a joy to watch for all cricket fans,” he added.  

The former wicketkeeper-batsman also spoke about the return of international cricket in Pakistan while answering a question about the stifling security measures.  

“It’s a tough question to answer as the security measures in place in Pakistan are there for a reason and that is what has to happen for everyone’s safety. But to their immense credit, they are trying to make it as easy as possible for players and to find activities for them to do during their stay in Pakistan,” he said.

The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka begins on Thursday December 19 at the National Stadium in Karachi.