Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has on Monday (June 1) heaped praise on country’s one of the most exciting batting talent Babar Azam, saying his white-ball captain has played some amazing cricket over the last few years but he is yet to reach his full potential.
Babar, who is touted as one of the potential greats of the modern era, has been known for his sumptuous strokeplay, grit, and hard work while his dramatic rise over the years in all formats has drawn praise from the cricketing folklore and even comparisons with the legendary Virat Kohli.
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Hafeez, who has seen the 25-year-old from close quarters, reckons that Babar will serve Pakistan for a long time considering his talent and potential.
In the latest conversation on a YouTube show Cricast, Hafeez said of Babar: “He [Babar] is a brilliant performer for Pakistan. In his five-year career for Pakistan so far, he has played some amazing cricket. However, he is yet to reach his full potential, considering his talent.”
The all-rounder further added, “He is like my younger brother and I tell him to his face that a talent like him is not there yet where I want to see him. He is trying to push those barriers and I am confident that he will serve Pakistan for a long time.”
Meanwhile, Babar has been recently given the responsibility of limited-overs captaincy and Hafeez said he has not seen him a lot as captain, hence, he cannot evaluate the star batsman’s leadership until he sees his personal tactics as a captain in different match situations. However, the veteran believes the Babar can take Pakistan cricket forward with his captaincy and talent.
He further said, “I haven't seen him a lot as a captain. I played only two matches under his captaincy. I can't evaluate his captaincy until I see his personal tactics as a captain in different match situations.”
Hafeez signed off by saying, “I have best wishes for him that he leads Pakistan for a long period of time and joins the list of successful Pakistan captains. It will be beneficial for him as well as Pakistan because when our top-level performer will start winning as a captain, his confidence will be even higher.”
(With India Today Inputs)
