"He has to prove to the world with his temperament that he is Viv Richards" - Ramiz Raja backs Babar Azam to rediscover batting form
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has backed ace batter Babar Azam to return to top form after his recent exclusion from the Test side. After Pakistan lost a sixth consecutive Test in the series opener against England at Multan, the management excluded Babar for the next two outings.
Pakistan rebounded from a 0-1 deficit to pull off a 2-1 series win in Babar's absence. However, the 30-year-old is back in the squad for the white-ball tour of Australia, starting with the ODIs on November 4.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Raja said, as quoted by TOI:
"I feel Babar has to achieve a lot more in Test cricket. He plays the white-ball format really well, has an average of 50-plus in both the formats (T20I and ODI). There is so much potential in Babar Azam. 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."
"I am just hoping that he (Babar) rediscovers himself after returning from the rest because there are important series coming up," he added.
Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in the Australian tour from November 4 to 18.
Babar Azam has endured a forgettable 2024 season with the bat
Babar Azam has endured arguably his worst-ever season with the bat in 2024, scoring only 808 runs in 23 matches at an average of 32.32. The champion batter has no centuries and only six 50+ scores this year.
Babar's Test form has been particularly disappointing with an average of under 19 in four games this year. His poor Test form extends to 2023, where he averaged only 22.66 in five outings.
While Pakistan are yet to play an ODI in 2024, Babar hasn't been at his usual best in T20Is despite his reasonably impressive numbers.
The stylish right-hander has averaged 38.82 at a strike rate of 132.79 in 19 T20Is but several of his good-looking knocks had negligible impact on wins. Babar was scratchy in the 2024 T20 World Cup with a strike rate of only 101 as Pakistan suffered an embarrassing first-round exit.
With the Champions Trophy under four months away, Pakistan will hope their talisman can regain his best form in the upcoming Australian tour.