23/09/2024
Babar Azam Zimbabar? - The Myth Debunked
It's been a negative tactic used to discredit Babar Azam's success by calling him Zimbabar; someone who thrives to loot runs against weaker opposition. Is this true?
I am going to dissect the factual situation. I will be comparing his record with some of finest of the game so their fans please don't get offended as this is just to explain how things have been blown out of proportion.
Babar Azam vs Zimbabwe:
Out of Babar's 13836 international runs - 31 centuries & 94 half centuries, only 693 runs which include just 2 centuries & 7 half centuries have come against Zimbabwe.
That makes ONLY 5 % of Babar's runs against Zimbabwe!
On the contrary, Fakhar Zaman has enjoyed true picnic against Zimbabwe who has got 517 ODI runs vs Zimbabwe at the average of 172 with 2 centuries in 5 matches. So does that mean, we can call him Zimbabman? Certainly, no.
Pakistan's finest Mohammad Yousuf scored 1649 international runs with 5 centuries against Zimbabwe. Even the great Sachin Tendulkar scored 2295 international runs with 8 centuries against Zimbabwe though it was a much stronger Zimbabwean bowling attack. Does this make them any less players? I am not comparing Babar to these 2 great batsmen. I am just making a point to explain how things work!
Actually, Babar Azam has much impressive record against the best teams:
- 1914 international runs at the average of 49 against Australia with 5 centuries
- 2125 international runs at the average of 50.59 against England with 4 centuries
- 2421 international runs at the average of 48 against New Zealand with 5 centuries
- 1332 international runs at the average of 44 against South Africa with 2 centuries
- 1297 international runs at the average of 46 against Sri Lanka with 6 centuries
- 1676 international runs at the average of 54 against West Indies with 5 centuries
Babar has played only 13 games against India. Surely he is bound to improve on those numbers and win Pakistan some games as he plays more against India in the future. Babar is still 30, a batsman's best years come in 30's. Virat Kohli will be 36 in a few weeks and Rohit Sharma is already 37.
The reason to bring up is the constant propaganda thrown at the best Pakistani batsman of this era. Sadly, we don't have anyone who is close to Babar in Pakistan at the moment.
The myth of Zimbabar has been debunked for once and ever though, cheers.
C:
Basit Subhani
