Former England fast bowler James Anderson has named Babar Azam as his favorite cricketer from Pakistan, praising the star batter during a recent appearance with TNT Sports.
Anderson Makes Pick During Rapid-Fire Segment
The comment came during a rapid-fire question round, where Anderson was asked to choose his favorite cricketers from different countries. While selecting some of the biggest names in world cricket, Anderson surprised many by picking Babar Azam as Pakistan’s standout player, ahead of several legendary figures from the country’s cricketing history.
Anderson’s Picks From Around the World
During the segment, the recently retired fast bowler chose:
-
Shane Warne for Australia
-
Joe Root for England
-
Tim Southee for New Zealand
-
AB de Villiers for South Africa
-
Virat Kohli for India
For Pakistan, Anderson’s choice of Babar Azam drew attention, highlighting the global respect the Pakistani batter enjoys.
Praise for Pakistan’s Modern-Day Great
Anderson, widely regarded as one of the greatest swing bowlers in cricket history, recently retired at the age of 41, ending his Test career with 704 wickets—the most by any fast bowler in the format.
Referring to Babar’s consistency and impact, Anderson described him as Pakistan’s finest cricketer, citing his achievements across formats.
At 31, Babar Azam has scored over 15,000 runs in international cricket and is currently the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, with 4,429 runs, cementing his status as Pakistan’s modern-era batting icon.
Focus Shifts to T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan’s next major assignment is the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in February across India and Sri Lanka.
According to reports, Pakistan has submitted a provisional 20-member squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC). The list reportedly includes Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan.
Former captain Mohammad Rizwan has reportedly been excluded, with head coach Mike Hesson favoring Usman Khan as the team’s wicketkeeper.
Squad Selection Highlights
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been included despite concerns over a knee injury, while Babar Azam’s recent performances in the Big Bash League (BBL) are said to have strengthened his case for selection.
