Babar to shoulder backup wicketkeeper responsibility during World Cup

In case Sarfaraz has to miss out on any match in the International Cricket Council (ICC) 2019 World Cup, prolific batsman Babar Azam is likely to don the wicketkeeping gloves for the Men in Green.

According to sources, Azam is a capable wicketkeeper as all three of his cousins, namely Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal and Adnan Akmal are wicketkeeper-batsmen.

Azam had previously kept in most matches, during the early stages of his domestic career, before turning his attention entirely to being a batsman.

Another report suggests that wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan is being sent to England in case of an emergency.

It should be noted that earlier Sarfaraz had stated that opener Abid Ali will be used as backup wicketkeeper, but he was sent home after the England one-day internationals (ODI’s).