Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has tipped Babar Azam as an unbelievable player and feels he is in a league of his own. Azam scored a majestic knock of 151 runs off just 131 balls in the opening match of the Asia Cup against depleted Nepal, to help Pakistan post 342 runs on the board and register a massive win of 238 runs.
This is the highest score by a captain in Asia Cup history and also the second-highest individual score in the tournament. Azam added 214 runs off just 131 balls against Nepal with Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored a quickfire knock of 109 runs.
“Nepal seemed confident after getting the two early wickets and everything was going according to plan. But then comes Babar Azam. 19 centuries in 102 innings, he’s truly an unbelievable player and is in a league of his own. Now, of course, there will be people saying that ‘it’s just against minnows and it’s a flat pitch’,” Chopra said on JioCinema.
“The tournament has just begun, and Babar Azam has set it on fire. Now, everyone will be playing against minnows and on great pitches and people will then notice that while the players are very good, but they couldn’t score 150+ in the same conditions. Pakistan, this time out, were actually in a troubling situation against Nepal but the way Azam maneuvered the innings was sublime.”
Currently, Babar Azam is the number one batter in ICC ODI rankings for batsmen. The Pakistan skipper has scored 3772 runs in 49 Test matches at an average of 47.75 whereas the stylish batter has amassed 5353 runs in 104 ODI games at an impressive average of 59.48.
The flamboyant right-hander has accumulated 3485 runs in 104 T20Is at an average of 41.49, including three centuries.
Pakistan will next meet arch-rivals India in their second match of the Asia Cup at Pallekele on Saturday and Babar Azam is going to hold the key for his team.
