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Former Pakistan explosive batsman Shahid Afridi has claimed that current Pakistan captain Babar Azam is yet to prove himself as a big match-winner. While Afridi agreed that Babar Azam is one of the best batsmen in the world, he also said that the Pakistan captain should learn to finish matches from great Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Babar Azam has proved himself as a great white ball batsman over the years, but his strike rate in T20 cricket and defensive attitude has always been a question mark. The right-handed batsman opens for Pakistan in T20 cricket but always struggled against a good bowling attack.
Shahid Afridi told a local TV reporter that Babar Azam is an important player in Pakistan cricket, but he needs to learn to finish matches. Afridi said, ‘There is no doubt that Babar Azam is one of the number-1 players in the world and he is the pride of the Pakistan cricket team. However, one thing is stopping him from being able to match the likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli, and that is finishing matches. Babar Azam needs to prove himself as a match-winner, he will have to work hard now.
Babar Azam won two major ICC Awards in 2022. He won the best ODI player of the year and the best cricketer of the year. The ICC also made Babar Azam the captain of the ICC ODI team of the year. Babar Azam had told during the interview given to ICC that personal records do not matter to him and that he wants to win the ICC World Cup title for Pakistan.
In a recent conversation with the ICC, Babar Azam said, ‘The goal is to be a part of the World Cup team and win the tournament. The World Cup is around the corner and my aim is to do well so that we win it. My target at the moment is to win the World Cup. We have to play a lot of limited-overs cricket this year because of the World Cup. You need to take one step at a time.
