Babar Azam’s Surprising ‘Best Batter’ Choice Stuns AB De Villiers
Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam named South African legend AB De Villiers as the best batter he has played against in his career. During an interview on De Villiers’ official YouTube channel, Babar made this choice quickly when asked by De Villiers himself. Though De Villiers was amused and suggested Babar choose someone else, Babar insisted on his initial answer.
Babar also shared that Australian pacer Pat Cummins is the toughest bowler he has faced. Additionally, when asked about the most famous person in his phonebook, Babar humorously revealed Pakistani singer Atif Aslam after De Villiers joked that Babar couldn’t name him again.
In other news, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has denied No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan for the Global T20 in Canada. This decision mirrors a similar refusal for Naseem Shah’s participation in The Hundred. The PCB cited the demanding international schedule from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The board, after consulting with the players and the national selection committee, decided it was in the best interest of the players and Pakistan cricket to prioritize their mental and physical fitness for the upcoming season.
“The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event, amongst other players. After considering Pakistan’s busy cricket calendar and consulting with the three players and the national selection committee, it was decided to decline their requests,” the PCB stated.
The PCB emphasized that these players are integral to the team across all formats and are expected to play in a packed schedule of nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is over the next eight months. This policy aims to manage their workload and ensure they remain in top shape for the season, starting with the two-Test series against Bangladesh.
