Muhammad Shami in his latest interview, has said that it’s unfair to compare Pakistan’s Babar Azam with Virat Kohli. He said that it was the consistency of Virat Kohli that brought him in the likes of Steve Smith and Joe Root.
Shami added that Babar Azam is a great player from Pakistan but comparing him to Virat Kohli is a little unfair and too early. Shami said, “Pakistan has been playing very good cricket of late and the emergence of three-four players have helped them a lot. No doubt Babar Azam is a great player. But to compare him with the likes of Steve Smith, Joe Root or Virat Kohli will be unfair on him. I would say let him play for that many years and then maybe we can judge. At the moment, if he continues to play like that, then he would end his career as one of the greats from Pakistan. Good luck Babar Azam, I would say.”
Read more: Babar Azam is ranked above Virat Kohli in all cricket formats
Skipper Babar Azam started this year on a high note after he superseded Virat Kohli in all ICC rankings. As per the latest rankings, Babar Azam is now above Indian batter Virat Kohli in all cricket rankings. Indian Test skipper is below Pakistan’s Babar Azam in the ICC’s batting rankings in all three formats of cricket.
Mohammed Shami "Pakistan have been playing very good cricket of late & the emergence of 3 or 4 players have really helped them a lot. No doubt Babar Azam is a great player. But to compare him with the likes of Steve Smith, Joe Root or Virat Kohli will be unfair on him" #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) January 31, 2022
Virat Kohli was already below Babar Azam in the ODI and T2OI. He has now slipped two-point below Babar Azam in the latest test rankings as well.
Read more: Babar Azam finally topples Virat Kohli to become top ODI batsman
Azam is at the top of the ODI batting rankings with 873 points. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is in the second spot with 844 points. In T20I batting rankings, Babar Azam is at the second spot with 805 points while Virat Kohli is at the 11th spot with 657 points.