Ramiz Raja Urges Babar Azam to Emulate Viv Richards

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Ramiz Raja has called on Babar Azam to showcase his temperament and skill in red-ball cricket, drawing a comparison to the legendary West Indies batsman Vivian Richards. Babar, currently in a tough phase of his international career, has faced criticism for his lack of runs across formats for over 15 months.

Babar’s Current Struggles

Babar Azam, once considered the poster boy of Pakistan cricket, has struggled to find form, especially in Test matches. His recent statistics tell a challenging story: in his last nine Tests, spanning 17 innings, he has managed only 352 runs at an average of 20.71, with a highest score of just 41. Overall, in 55 Tests, he has amassed 3,997 runs at an average of 43.92, including nine centuries and 26 fifties, with a best score of 196.

His recent performances led to his exclusion from the remainder of the home Test series against England after a disappointing showing in the first Test, where Pakistan suffered a significant loss. Despite his struggles, Pakistan managed to secure a 2-1 series victory, thanks to standout performances from spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.

Ramiz Raja's Confidence in Babar

Despite the ongoing difficulties, Ramiz Raja remains optimistic about Babar's potential. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Raja stated, "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 formats (T20I and ODI). There is so much potential in Babar Azam, and 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."

Raja's remarks underscore the expectations placed on Babar to rise to the occasion and regain his form, particularly in Tests, where he has yet to fully realize his potential.

Comparing Babar to Vivian Richards

Vivian Richards is celebrated as one of the greatest players in cricket history. Over his illustrious career, he played 121 Tests, scoring 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23, including 24 centuries and 45 fifties, with a best score of 291. The pressure on Babar to emulate such greatness reflects the high hopes for him as a leading figure in Pakistan cricket.

Upcoming Series for Pakistan

As Pakistan prepares for a busy schedule, they have announced a 15-member squad for upcoming white-ball series tours to Australia and Zimbabwe. Babar Azam has been rested for the Zimbabwe tour but is set to play in Australia, where the white-ball series begins on November 4. The tour includes three ODIs from November 4-10 and three T20Is from November 14-18. Following that, Pakistan will head to Zimbabwe for another series starting November 24, consisting of three ODIs followed by three T20Is.

Babar's performance in the upcoming series will be crucial as he seeks to regain form and assert his status as one of the leading batsmen in the world. The comparisons to Richards serve as both a challenge and an inspiration for the talented cricketer.