Babar Azam Virat Kohli. Image Credits: AFP
Former Pakistani pacer Tanvir Ahmad has poured more fuel into the fire of comparison between Babar Azam and India’s Virat Kohli. His words come ahead of the second Test between England and Pakistan at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, which begins on August 27.
Pakistan lost the first Test that was played in Leeds, Headingley, by an innings and 103 runs. Pakistan had posted 171 in the first innings. England replied with 409 runs and then bowled out Pakistan for just 135 runs. With this win, England went 1-0 up in the three-Test series.
“Look at Kohli first. They talk about Babar—Tanvir Ahmad rages on comparison
Tanvir Ahmad was talking about the comparisons between India's great Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s pride Babar Azam and stated the numbers of Kohli vs. Babar Azam in England in tests. He then asked the people comparing the two to see the numbers first before deciding.
“Babar Azam is Pakistan’s top brand. Nasser Hussain said Pakistan will improve once Babar returns, but you said he’s out of form. Kohli averages 33 in 17 Tests in England; Babar, 65 in 4. Look at Kohli first. They talk about Babar for views,” Tanvir Ahmad said.
Babar Azam has played four Tests in England, scoring 263 runs with three fifties to his name, including the best score of 69 and an average of 65.75. On the other hand, Virat Kohli made 1,096 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 33.21 with a best score of 149, including 2 centuries and 5 fifties.
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Stuart Broad backs Babar Azam to play Lord’s Test
Babar Azam should be back in Pakistan's starting lineup for the second Test at Lord's, according to former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who said the team's batting lineup appeared vulnerable without its top batsman.
Due to a finger injury, he was unable to play in the first Test in Headingley; instead, Salman Ali Agha led Pakistan.
The 40-year-old stated that Pakistan's batting was especially weak at Headingley, emphasizing that Babar's skill and experience might offer much-needed consistency to a lineup that found it difficult to withstand England's siege.
“I’m sure he’ll come back in at Lord’s. They have to bring him back. They look very, very fragile as a batting group, and he’s their best player,” Broad said on a podcast with Jos Buttler.
Pakistan should win the second Test at Lord’s to avoid a series defeat
Pakistan management has claimed that they are aiming to play in the final of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 cycle. Pakistan is at the bottom of the WTC 2027 table, having won just 2 Tests out of 7 played and lost 5 games, with a percentage point of 19.05%.
Pakistan have a very good record in Tests recently in London, having won their last three Tests on the England tour at the Oval and at Lord’s. If Babar Azam returns to the playing XI, the Pakistan side will get an immediate morale boost, as their batting looked pedestrian in Headingley against England pacers.
Lord’s will see England bring in another barrage of pacers, and Pakistani batters will once again face speed fire as they aim to win the Test and level the three-game Test series 1-1.
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.jpg?type=mq "Sarfaraz Khan Fears Action")
.jpg?type=mq "Pakistan's Win Record With And Without Babar Azam")
