 "Former Pakistan cricketer blasts Babar-Virat comparisons as Pak batter struggles: 'It adds extra pressure'")
Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has criticised the fans and experts who compared Babar Azam to Virat Kohli, as the former faces a tough time in international cricket. Babar scored 56 runs across three matches against West Indies in the recently concluded ODI series as Pakistan lost 2-1, their first ODI series loss to West Indies in 34 years .
Babar has not played T20Is since December 2023 and was also forced to quit captaincy in all formats late last year due to poor form and criticism. He has not hit an international hundred since 2023 against Nepal.
Pakistan cricketer blasts Babar-Virat comparisons
Amid growing concern about Babar’s form, former Pakistan cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has slammed the tendency of comparing players, particularly Babar with Kohli.
“When everything was going well, you were running campaigns comparing players. Now that the performances are not coming, you are saying ‘don’t compare two players.’ Why not? Virat Kohli’s comparison cannot be made with anyone in the world,” Shahzad said.
Shahzad added that Kohli is in a league of his own, even above MS Dhoni and comparisons with the former India captain have played a role in ruining Babar’s form.
“He is a legend of this generation, a role model. You cannot even compare him with MS Dhoni. Dhoni may have been a great captain, but as a batter, cricketer, and athlete, Kohli stands alone. No one should be compared with anyone because it’s unfair and it adds extra pressure — which we are now seeing on Babar Azam,” he added.
Not only Babar, Pakistan ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has also been struggling for form recently. Along with Babar, Rizwan is the only other batter from full-member nations to have a strike rate of less than 80 in ODI cricket.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAfter defeat in the West Indies, Pakistan will now take part in a T20I Tri-Series including Afghanistan and the UAE at Sharjah Cricket Stadium from 29 August.
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