Will Babar Azam finish as the best ever Pakistani batsman?

[Bhaijaan]

Happy Birthday to Big Bobby B

 

[Hitman]

I personally get a feeling that Babar is one Pakistani player who has not fudged his age. But then again it's just my opinion.

 

[Firebat]

The problem is Pakistan very rarely play against gun attacks in Babar's best format ODIs. That's why this Asia Cup and WC back-to-back is so crucial for his legacy and career, it's sink to statpadder or swim with the greats. Been very disappointing so far.

I'm holding out hope he's got a few iconic knocks around the corner in India.

He sunk. Sunk far far down. It's going to take a lot for his reputation to recover from this hit.

Babar at WC 2023:

Innings 9
Runs 320
Average 40
SR 82.9
Fifties 4
Hundreds 0

A fair amount of runs, healthy average, 0 impact.

 

[Bhaijaan]

He sunk. Sunk far far down. It's going to take a lot for his reputation to recover from this hit.

Babar at WC 2023:

Innings 9
Runs 320
Average 40
SR 82.9
Fifties 4
Hundreds 0

A fair amount of runs, healthy average, 0 impact.

That would have been a healthy average in 1999 world cup

In 2023, that’s a bad average for a top batsman in a World Cup.

All major batters are averaging 70+ now at the world cups

 

[Buffet]

He sunk. Sunk far far down. It's going to take a lot for his reputation to recover from this hit.

Babar at WC 2023:

Innings 9
Runs 320
Average 40
SR 82.9
Fifties 4
Hundreds 0

A fair amount of runs, healthy average, 0 impact.

He needs to having impact in away test series. His game is not suited for ODI due to his lack of hitting sakills, but in test you don't need to hit that big. He should score heavily in away test to win or at least draw some test.

So far he has been nothing more than a footnote when Pakistan had played away test series when it comes to impact. He should be aiming to change that.

 

[hassan918]

He could be the best batsman for Pakistan if he was playing about a decade ago when a strike rate of 80-90 considered good in ODI cricket. These days, a batsman can't be considered best or worst only on his average, the strike rate also is a factor and Babar doesn't have good enough strike rate to be considered as the best batter.

 

[Bhaijaan]

He could be the best batsman for Pakistan if he was playing about a decade ago when a strike rate of 80-90 considered good in ODI cricket. These days, a batsman can't be considered best or worst only on his average, the strike rate also is a factor and Babar doesn't have good enough strike rate to be considered as the best batter.

A SR of 80-90 wasn’t considered good a decade ago either lol

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Having watched the game since the 1980s I think it’s an insult to Javed Miandad that Babar Azam, for all his talent, is being considered the superior player.
Miandad was clutch, as clutch as you can get. He has his flaws (for example his record against West Indies, except at the end). But this was a batsman who was respected and feared, who never gave up. Babar is talented but so far the record shows that he is soft.

On a general note, I didn’t see the batsmen of the 70s and earlier, so can’t speak about Hanif Muhammed, but Pakistan has never had a batsman like Miandad. That includes Zaheer, Anwar, Inzi, Younis Khan. And Babar.

 

[hassan918]

A SR of 80-90 wasn’t considered good a decade ago either lol

It was very much acceptable as the teams would end up around 270-290 in an ODI game with the help of some extras and a couple of cameos at the back-end of the innings.

 

[Bhaijaan]

It was very much acceptable as the teams would end up around 270-290 in an ODI game with the help of some extras and a couple of cameos at the back-end of the innings.

Again, 280-290 wasn’t a great total
10 years ago either.

Pakistan is not stuck in 2010s but in the 1990s

 

[zaidihusain]

Babar has played 4 WCs, 2 each of 50 Overs & 20 overs, 1 Champions trophy & 3 Asia cups. In all these big tournaments & other big series his performance has been awful. He has played almost every series / tournament, he plays at a position of his choice in every format, he never comes out of his comfort zone but still he has failed to win any big match whenever his team needed him most. His social media army is still trending Babar - Goat or Babar King on social media. Those who still consider him King / Goat are biggest enemies of Pakistan cricket

 

[Tintin]

On the topic, I can never rate Babar as the best pakistani batsman just because I am still in awe of some of the batsman which the pakistan team used to have (being a nineties kid) .. Inzi, Saeed Anwar, Younis even Moin Khan during his prime days. There is no way that I can consider Babar more than some of these legends who used to torture the hell out of the Indian team.

However I agree that Babar is the very best among the current crop of Pakistan batsmen. No one in this team is even close to him currently. Maybe he is a little bogged down by the additional responsibilities of captaincy as it happened with Sachin as well. But once Sachin got rid of this burden, he was once again back to his true self. Hope the same happens with Babar as well as Pakistan cannot afford to lose him at this stage.

 

[sweep_shot]

Babar is not a good captain but is a phenomenal batter. He already has like 6000 ODI runs and is not even 30 yet.

He should break many records for Pakistan if he gets to play till 38-40.

He may even surpass likes of Sanga, Mahela etc. in ODI.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I have never seen him imposing himself. I have more respect for Younis Khan.Some 18 years back Bengaluru test was heading for draw. Pakistan had about 50 overs on day 4. Younis khan demonstrated insane match fitness in the first innings during his 267 runs. So he had to score quickly in the 2nd innings. He took up the challenge and scored rapidly. Pakistan scored 261 in 50 overs.He bossed Kumble and Harbhajan on day 4 pitch with a strike rate of 85. I can never imagine Babar switching to 4th gear in a test match on day 4 pitch against top flight spinners. He is a statpadder. That is all i can see.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Babar Azam in his last four white-ball events:

Asia Cup 2022:
10 vs IND
9 vs HK
14 vs IND
0 vs AFG
30 vs SL
5 vs SL

T20 World Cup 2022:
0 vs IND
4 vs ZIM
4 vs NED
6 vs SA
25 vs BAN
53 vs NZ
32 vs ENG

Asia Cup 2023:
151 vs NEP
17 vs BAN
10 vs IND
29 vs SL

World Cup 2023:
5 v NED
10 v SL
50 v IND
18 v AUS
74 v AFG
50 v SA
9 v BAN
66 v NZ
38 v ENG

The sort of numbers you’d expect from a number 7-8 bowling all rounder. If Shahid Afridi was selfish he’d have better numbers than Babar EASILY.

 

[Cric1234]

Babar Azam in his last four white-ball events:

Asia Cup 2022:
10 vs IND
9 vs HK
14 vs IND
0 vs AFG
30 vs SL
5 vs SL

T20 World Cup 2022:
0 vs IND
4 vs ZIM
4 vs NED
6 vs SA
25 vs BAN
53 vs NZ
32 vs ENG

Asia Cup 2023:
151 vs NEP
17 vs BAN
10 vs IND
29 vs SL

World Cup 2023:
5 v NED
10 v SL
50 v IND
18 v AUS
74 v AFG
50 v SA
9 v BAN
66 v NZ
38 v ENG

The sort of numbers you’d expect from a number 7-8 bowling all rounder. If Shahid Afridi was selfish he’d have better numbers than Babar EASILY.

That 150 against Nepal under 19s bowling attack puts him in the pantheon of the remarkable though.

 

[Cric1234]

He sunk. Sunk far far down. It's going to take a lot for his reputation to recover from this hit.

Babar at WC 2023:

Innings 9
Runs 320
Average 40
SR 82.9
Fifties 4
Hundreds 0

A fair amount of runs, healthy average, 0 impact.

Well below par strike rate considering Pakistan were involved in matches where first innings scores were 400 368 344 337 286 a number of flat wickets and all he could muster was a strike rate of 82 after all the hype and talk beforehand.

 

[zaidihusain]

Babar Azam in his last four white-ball events:

Asia Cup 2022:
10 vs IND
9 vs HK
14 vs IND
0 vs AFG
30 vs SL
5 vs SL

T20 World Cup 2022:
0 vs IND
4 vs ZIM
4 vs NED
6 vs SA
25 vs BAN
53 vs NZ
32 vs ENG

Asia Cup 2023:
151 vs NEP
17 vs BAN
10 vs IND
29 vs SL

World Cup 2023:
5 v NED
10 v SL
50 v IND
18 v AUS
74 v AFG
50 v SA
9 v BAN
66 v NZ
38 v ENG

The sort of numbers you’d expect from a number 7-8 bowling all rounder. If Shahid Afridi was selfish he’d have better numbers than Babar EASILY.

Failed on every big occasion and his fans compare him with Kohli. Clearly one of the most impactless batsman

 

[VForVendetta]

He sunk. Sunk far far down. It's going to take a lot for his reputation to recover from this hit.

Babar at WC 2023:

Innings 9
Runs 320
Average 40
SR 82.9
Fifties 4
Hundreds 0

A fair amount of runs, healthy average, 0 impact.

Those fair amount of runs have all been absolutely useless. Did nothing for the team except adding more soft runs to his existing soft career. Also in a tournament where guys are maintaining 70 to even 100 averages (with 100+ s/r), an average of 40 with a laughable 82s/r should not be termed as healthy. As far as impact is concerned that's beyond his capability, he doesn't have the heart to pull off impactful knocks.

 

[VForVendetta]

It was very much acceptable as the teams would end up around 270-290 in an ODI game with the help of some extras and a couple of cameos at the back-end of the innings.

You are talking about 90's or at the very least pre 2006/07. 270 totals have long been proven irrelevant in odi's. Now ofcourse if you were playing on those pathetic desert tracks then yes, that was acceptable total.

 

[heddie19]

Failed on every big occasion and his fans compare him with Kohli. Clearly one of the most impactless batsman

Scored 473 runs in 8 innings in his debut WC at the age of 24. That is the highest run any Pakistani batter has scored at any WC.

Top scored WC '21 as a captain with 303 runs.

Even in his abysmal WC last year, he managed to turn the game on with his match-winning knock against NZ.

Babar fans remember what he has done already in his career while his haters forget.

 

[heddie19]

I have never seen him imposing himself. I have more respect for Younis Khan.Some 18 years back Bengaluru test was heading for draw. Pakistan had about 50 overs on day 4. Younis khan demonstrated insane match fitness in the first innings during his 267 runs. So he had to score quickly in the 2nd innings. He took up the challenge and scored rapidly. Pakistan scored 261 in 50 overs.He bossed Kumble and Harbhajan on day 4 pitch with a strike rate of 85. I can never imagine Babar switching to 4th gear in a test match on day 4 pitch against top flight spinners. He is a statpadder. That is all i can see.

MYK is the GOAT red ball batter for Pakistan. There is no debate regarding that. Babar is inferior in red-ball but I haven't seen any Pakistani batter play better LOIs than Babar despite his bad form or captaincy burden whatevery you want to call it.

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan is the least talented cricket nation in history. It is a fact and this fact is illustrated more so by the pool of great batsmen Pakistan has produced in its history.

It makes for a pitiful reading. Not a single Pakistan batsman would even make the C team of an all-time World XI in any format including Miandad.

The Babar for being the best Pakistani batsman of all time is not high at all. Babar is on track in spite of the fact that he is not as good as his fans think.

 

[LegendAli]

I see different respected posters saying this on a daily basis and it's sickening, at least to me that is.

I don't rate Babar one bit, the recent World Cups are there for everyone to see, he's not fooling anyone, if that is the best Pakistani batsman ever than I am seriously speechless, not happening.

Would love to get everyone's opinions on this, do most of you really have him at the very top?

 

[AMSS]

He's a good test bat, but far from being even a Pakistani great.

In ODIs, the recent WC has dented his cred irreversibly. People can no longer cite his ODI record anymore and say he can only play what's before him. He had a chance to bury that sly this world cup and he failed.

In T20s, he's a MEDIOCRE batsman. Not even average.

 

[AMSS]

Purely in tests, I'd think it's a tie between Younis Khan and Miandad.

As an all-format batsman, surely there's no looking past Inzamam?

 

[Caved12]

1- Javed Miandad
2- Babar Azam
3- Saeed Anwar
4- Inzi and Yousuf
5- Younis Khan

 

[Ab Fan]

Tests - Miandad, YK, Inzy
Overall - Miandad, Inzy, Yousuf/Anwar

Babar should be in top 2 in Overall by the time he finishes his career.

 

[Statpadder Inc]

In tests,
Miandad
Younis
Inzi
Anwar
Yousuf

In odis,
Babar
Anwar
Inzi
Miandad
Yousuf

Overall,
Miandad
Inzi
Anwar
Younis
Yousuf
Babar

 

[160KPH]

He already is in ODI and T20. Test there’s a long way to go still.