Former Pakistan captain compares Babar Azam’s global appeal to Shahid Afridi’s

Former Pakistan captain and national selector Azhar Ali has praised star batter Babar Azam, calling him the most popular cricketer in the country since legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

Speaking in an interview, Azhar addressed the perception of his alleged bias toward Babar, who has faced criticism for his captaincy. Azhar clarified that while he has often criticized Babar's captaincy, he has never questioned his exceptional batting skills.

“I have criticized Babar a lot for his captaincy,” Azhar said. “I still believe that after captaining for such a long time, he should have built another team during this period. But when it comes to his batting, I say, please stop,” he added. 

Azhar also expressed his disapproval of those who question Babar's batting ability, emphasizing that while every player has ups and downs, Babar has consistently elevated Pakistan’s reputation through his performances.

“He is the only player from Pakistan who has made a name for the country through his batting,” Azhar remarked. “Even if he doesn’t perform well in some tournaments, that doesn’t take away from his achievements,” he further added. 

Drawing comparisons to Shahid Afridi, Azhar highlighted that Babar is one of the rare conventional batters who can electrify crowds. He noted that Afridi’s hard-hitting style made him a fan favorite, and now Babar has captured similar admiration through his elegant batting.

“Babar is the first player after Shahid bhai who has captured the attention of the world, including in India,” Azhar said. “A conventional batter getting such applause is rare,” he further added. 

Azhar urged critics to appreciate Babar's significant contributions rather than focusing on his shortcomings.

“Look at what he has achieved,” Azhar said. “You are too focused on what he hasn’t done. The runs he is scoring in all three formats are phenomenal. We need to recognize how good he truly is,” he concluded. 

Azhar also emphasized the importance of celebrating Babar Azam's achievements, acknowledging his role in enhancing Pakistan's reputation on the global stage.