As the highly anticipated Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Stadium drew closer, the debate over who is the better batter between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam began to heat up. Former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Tom Moody had already given their opinions on the matter, and now, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has weighed in with a mic-drop remark.
Babar Azam stunningly kickstarted his Asia Cup campaign, amassing 151 runs in Pakistan’s resounding victory over debutant Nepal in the tournament opener. This marked Babar’s 19th century in his ODI career, leaving him just one short of holding the record for the most centuries in Pakistan cricket. It was also his second score of 150 or more in an ODI match, with his previous being a remarkable 158 against England in Birmingham in 2021.
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Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was yet to begin his Asia Cup journey but was eager to face his favorite opponent, Pakistan, against whom he had played a match-winning 82-run knock in Melbourne during the T20 World Cup last year. In a discussion with Fox Cricket, Wasim Akram was asked to choose the better batter between the two cricketing sensations. Despite the potential criticism from his fellow countrymen, Akram opted for Virat Kohli, while still praising Babar Azam as a “modern-day great.”
Wasim Akram stated, “It is a very difficult decision, which is why I don’t become a selector. I’ll probably get a lot of backlash back home, but I will definitely pick Virat Kohli over Babar Azam. Babar is on his way, there is no doubt. He is one of the modern greats, but it will take some time. He will catch up, but it will take time.”
When asked to choose between a couple of star pacers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah, Akram favored the left-arm fast bowler. While he praised Shaheen for his bowling prowess, Akram also highlighted his improving batting abilities.
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“I will choose Shaheen Shah Afridi over Jasprit Bumrah. Being a left-arm pacer, he reminds me of Starc; both of them bowl early on, pitch it full, and aim for wickets. That’s what I like about him. He has a bright future ahead of him, as long as he avoids serious injuries. He has also improved his batting; at No.9 and No.10, he can come in and hit a couple of sixes. He is a genuine wicket-taker, which is why I believe he is one of the most important members of the team,” Wasim Akram concluded.
