Babar Azam is a world-class player, it's not a joke averaging fifty in international cricket: Tabraiz Shamsi

There is no doubt that star Pakistan batter Babar Azam is among the very best in world cricket. Many would argue that his prowess with the bat is second to none, and the 28-year-old has more than earned it in recent years.

However, there is a preconceived notion that Babar Azam struggles against left-arm spin. With Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya dismissing the star batter six times in seven innings, many came forward to question the 28-year-old’s ability to play against leg-arm spinners.

However, amid such scrutiny, South African cricketer Tabraiz Shamsi came to Babar Azam’s defence, stating that Babar is a world class player and the pundits scrutinising him does not make any sense. 

"Well if people are saying that he [Babar] is weak and he's averaging fifty, I wouldn't like to see him when he's not weak. He's a world-class player, it's not a joke averaging fifty in international cricket, so I think those kind of things that people are saying it's uncalled for," Shamsi was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda. 

At any given day any bowler can get any batsman out: Shamsi

Furthermore, the 33-year-old went on to state that cricket is a game of uncertainties and that Babar Azam, while being a class player, can be dismissed by any bowler on any given day. He opined that any batter can score a century any day, and if one is playing at such a level, they should be appreciated at the highest level. 

"He's obviously a class player and yeah at any given day any bowler can get any batsman out, and at any given day any batsman can make a hundred, so anybody that is playing at that level is very good, so I think we need to appreciate that," Shamsi said. 

Babar Azam will be leading Pakistan at the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and in the ODI World Cup 2023 as well. As the marquee tournament approaches, it could be interesting to see how the 28-year-old skipper hits back at his critics.