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Former Pakistani cricket player and PCB chairman Ramiz Raja feels that star batsman Babar Azam still has a lot to offer in Test cricket. Raja also compared Azam and said that the cricketer needs to prove with his temperament that he is Sir Vivian Richards. Notably, Babar was recently rested from the final two Test matches of the series against England due to poor performance in the long format. Babar has amassed 3,997 runs at an average of 43.92 in 55 Test matches.
He had not scored a Test half-century since 2022, and his form had declined during the year he was appointed captain before resigning after Pakistan lost in the group stages of this year's T20 World Cup in June. Commenting on his poor performance, Raja feels that Babar has to show his skills in white-ball format, and he can match up with the legendary West Indies batter Viv Richards.
There is so much potential in him and prove he is Viv Richards: Ramiz Raja
Former PCB President Ramiz Raza has quite high confidence in Babar and feels that he can excel in long-format games. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ramiz said, "I feel Babar has to achieve a lot more in Test cricket. He plays the white-ball format well, and has an average of 50-plus in both the formats (T20I and ODI)... There is so much potential in Babar Azam."
Not only this, but he also went on to compare the cricketer with legendary batter Sir Vivian Richards. Raja added, "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."
Babar Azam to make comeback in upcoming Australia tour
Babar will make his comeback to the Pakistani team during the forthcoming series tour to Australia. He has been included in both ODI and T20I series. The series will be Pakistan's first ODI since the 2023 World Cup, when they finished in fifth place and were unable to advance to the semi-finals under Babar's leadership.
The right-handed batsman remains at the top of the ICC ODI batters’ rankings and was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year twice in 2021 and 2022. Pakistan is scheduled to tour South Africa and host the West Indies for five Test matches, and Babar would be keen to maintain his strong form in the format and rebuild confidence to make a spectacular comeback.
Richards is regarded as one of the best cricket players, inspiring many over the decades. He amassed 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23 in 121 Test matches and 182 innings, with 24 hundred, 45 fifties, and the highest score of 291.
