If Babar keeps himself fit, he’ll end up as one of the all time greats: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India skipper and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar reckons that if Pakistan’s Babar Azam keeps himself fit and motivated enough, he will end up as one of the greatest players of all time by the time he ends his career. Gavaskar heaped massive praises on the Pakistan skipper for his inspirational and calm leadership style, which has worked wonders for the team at the ongoing T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan, having won all their five Super12 games thus far, is the only unbeaten side in the tournament, and will be facing off Australia in the second semi-final on November 11. Gavaskar added that the key for Pakistan to succeed against Australia will be taking early wickets, given the form of their openers David Warner and skipper Aaron Finch.

“Pakistan have always been a mercurial side with some of the most naturally talented cricketers in the game. What has pulled them back is an excitable temperament,” Gavaskar wrote in a Khaleej Times column. “This time with Babar Azam leading them they are a lot calmer and a lot more game aware team. There is no doubt that Babar if he keeps himself fit and motivated is going to become one of the all time greats of the game. What he can become is also one of the greatest captains that Pakistan has produced.”

Lauding Azam for his understanding of the game situations, Gavaskar added: “His reading of the game situation is brilliant and the changes that he has been making with the bowling and field placing have been unbelievably accurate.”

“The variety he has at his disposal in bowling means that at no time is he going to be a bowler short and that for any captain is a huge plus. They need to take the early wickets for if the Finch-Warner duo get going then it will be tough to stop the Aussies,” he added.

He also stated that Australia, the team with more World Cup trophies than any other country, would want to emulate that success in the shorter format, where they are yet to win the elusive Cup. Australia’s best effort in the tournament history has been their 2010 runners-up finish.

“The one Cup that is missing from Cricket Australia’s Trophy cabinet is the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup and they will be desperate to bring that back from UAE.”