While Babar has 3962 runs to his name from 54 Tests, Richards amassed 8,540 runs during his career, averaging more than 50. (Reuters/AP)
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja believes Babar Azam has the temperament to channel former West Indies legendary batter Sir Viv Richards with the bat.
Speaking during a fan interaction on his YouTube live, Ramiz said, “I feel Babar has to achieve a lot more in Test cricket. He plays the white-ball format really well, has an average of 50-plus in both the formats (T20I and ODI).
“There is so much potential in Babar Azam. Ab unko apne temperament se batana hai duniya mei ke woh ek Viv Richards hain (now he has to prove to the world with his temperament that he is Viv Richards). Bigger the contest, bigger the innings Richards used to play,” he added.
Richards, who played 121 Tests for the West Indies between 1974 and 1991, amassed 8,540 runs during his career, averaging more than 50.
Ramiz’s comments come after Pakistan removed Babar from the Test squad midway through the Test series against England and went on to clinch their maiden home series win in red ball cricket in three years.
Babar has been under the scanner recently owing to a lean patch across formats. His last 50 plus score in Tests came 18 innings ago, during the Multan Test against New Zealand back in December 2022.
In 54 Test matches, the 30-year-old has piled on 3962 runs at an average of 44.5.
Earlier, in the lead up to the England series, Babar had also announced resigning from his position as Pakistan’s white-ball captain – having already given up Test captaincy last year.
Babar alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah was excluded from Pakistan’s squad after the defeat in the first Test against Multan. A decision that was followed by the hosts turning the tide in the final two games.
Pakistan are next scheduled to play three ODIs in Australia starting November 4.
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