Shoaib Akhtar says Babar Azam will take time to reach the level of Virat Kohli

Former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes that the debate between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam is an incorrect one. Akhtar termed this viewpoint on the basis of the fact that Kohli has scored so many centuries. The former cricketer further believes that Azam will have to score hundreds in run-chases like the Team India skipper does.

“Look Virat has around 45 hundreds in ODIs and I think has around 70-80 international hundreds. In the next five years, he will score around 30 and I want him to score 120 hundreds. If not 110 to say the least. Anyone who has scored so many runs, how can you compare anyone with him? The debate is wrong,” said Akhtar in an exclusive chat on Sports Tak.

“Right now, Babar is chasing him”

“Right now, Babar is chasing him. And it is very good that healthy competition is coming. If Babar wants to beat Virat, without any doubt he’ll have to go into run-chasing, he’ll have to score hundreds in run-chase which Kohli did. Without any doubt, Babar Azam can be the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced. There is no second opinion on this but it will take time. We will judge the two after ten years because it includes skill management, man management, run chase management, how do you evolve as a captain and as a player. How do you do under pressure. It’s a whole circle which both of them have to cover. And I’m sure these two people will come out as greats. His recent form is not great form and I hope that he comes back strong because it is important,” he added.

“Pakistan wouldn’t have let Kohli get away easily”

Akhtar believes that Kohli would certainly have been sledged by the Pakistan bowlers during the era between 1992-1999.

“If Sachin Tendulkar and Saeed Anwar were playing today with all these powerplays and field restrictions, I swear to God that those two would have batted with their opposite hands. They would’ve beaten the hell out of the bowlers. If Virat Kohli would have played in the era between 1992-1999, where every side had four major fast bowlers, they would’ve made sure that either they get the best or worst out of you. Pakistan (in that time) wouldn’t have let Kohli get away easily without a shadow of doubt. All eleven players would’ve got into Kohli’s head with verbal exchanges. I have played in the 1999 Kolkata Test and one-days in India. We were very verbal in that time. Even the match referees used to say that to us.”

The former Pakistan cricketer further believes that the Team India skipper would not have been able to score as many centuries during 1992-1999. However, those scored by him would have set an example for the next generation of players.

“What would’ve Virat done in that time? He would’ve scored 30 hundreds but those 30 hundreds would have been an example for the next generations. Sachin, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam, Martin Crowe, Viv Richards, they are my favourites, they would’ve given absolute nightmares to bowlers,” he concluded.