Babar Azam is Pakistan's newly appointed all-format captain.
Pakistan's batting superstar Babar Azam has been regarded as one of the top-tier cricketers in the modern era across formats. The classy batsman is compared to the likes of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Australian batsman Steve Smith from time to time.
The 26-year-old has been batting in his prime for the last couple of years and has not lost his touch even after a long break due to the COVID-19 restrictions. He recorded three half-centuries and a century against Zimbabwe in the bilateral series conducted in Rawalpindi.
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Also, he registered fifties in the knockout games of the Pakistan Super League. He would like to continue this form going to New Zealand for the T20I and Test series starting in December.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has now made Babar Azam as their all-format captain and some fear that the added responsibility might affect his performances with the bat. Pakistan-born South African cricketer Imran Tahir is not of the same opinion and believes that there will be no ill-effects on Azam's batting.
Tahir told the media in Lahore, "Look Babar Azam is one of the finest and best batsmen in the world and the way he is taking responsibility, I don’t feel that captaincy in all three formats will make any negative effect on his batting."
Babar Azam will lead Pakistan for the first time in Test cricket and the conditions in New Zealand will challenge his side's skills.
(With inputs from News18)