It is an obscene simplification, of course, but obscenely simple is what Babar makes batting look. It would be particularly self-indulgent to assume saying this adds to the weight of expectations on him, but Pakistan haven’t had a middle-order batsman so cut out across formats since Inzamam-ul-Haq hung up his boots. There was, for a short while, the false dawn of Umar Akmal, but Babar keeps showing, time and again, he is the real thing.
Saw that Babar Azam innings at Edgbaston? Saw what it did to everyone? That epidemic of swooning and poetry-writing it produced in cricket’s many languages? About his serene stillness in the tumult of the pit, whether while cover-driving or backfoot-defending or just being Babar. He is a kind of batsman who is a certified crush of Pakistani public.
This is undeniably Pakistan’s most successful batsman across formats in the last four years. The fulcrum of Pakistan team’s line-up, the stylish gatherer who ensures there’s enough in the stockpile so the hunters can run wild.Even, at the World Cup, from that innings against England and the innings which lit the sky at Birmingham, Babar has done enough gathering, and the Pakistani hunters nabbed much game.
Richards waxed lyrical about Babar Azam “See the way his hands and wrists work the ball to make best use of his really well organized set-up and technique.”
At Edgbaston chasing 238, against two fast bowlers upfront, that too in an eventual knock-out game for Pakistan in a worldcup – one who wickedly swings the ball and another who is often at their throat at 150 clicks – they lost Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. The experienced Mohammad Hafeez played and missed, beaten on the inside and outside. Then, he was hit on the helmet by Lockie Ferguson. Who really gave them a chance?
Yet, amid the chaos, they found some calm in Babar Azam, who sealed victory with an unbeaten tenth ODI century, a pristine 101 that had a capacity crowd, a majority of it Pakistan fans, crooning with ‘oohs and aahs’. In Haris Sohail, he found an invaluable ally, the pair conjuring a 126-run fourth-wicket stand to see Pakistan home with five balls to spare. Haris’ contribution a noteworthy 68 that built on the 89 against South Africa at Lord’s. Pakistan are now within two wins of a possible semi-final berth that will have their fans talking of the eerie similarities between 1992 and 2019 for at least another week.
There was plenty of the pretty stuff you’ve watched over and over but just that it was feeling like this would amount to way more than the sum of all that prettiness – and if you think about what those shots he plays does to people, then we’re talking a big sum. But that this wasn’t his most in-control innings. Numbers will tell you that he played more false shots than he usually would, that he was beaten more often than he usually is. But ask yourself whether he was ever not really in control?
Watch the ninth over. Boult was sniffing. He had an early wicket and that target had grown considerably in spirit. First ball, Babar committed an error in trying to play to leg and ball somehow missed edge, off-stump, everything. Next ball, Babar leant into a drive through point. Four. Next ball, beaten again, even after correcting the earlier error and playing straight. Where to now? Next ball, a little wider, a little more tempting, no sir, not biting: leave.
He kept doing it long enough so that the bluff that he was in control eventually became the reality and suddenly, you’ll watch and see that he was playing the Babar innings you’ve watched over and over. The steady accumulation to let you drift – control see? – The occasional moment of beauty to wake you up, repeat, until end.
Comparisons with Virat Kohli have been a stumbling block for many batsmen in world cricket but Pakistan’s Babar Azam has embraced the challenge wholeheartedly and is carring his country’s hopes at the World Cup. Nobody else averages 50 in both limited-overs formats. Not the other big three — Steven Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson. Not the old guard — Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni. Only Kohli and Babar. This really sets the stage for Kohli-Babar comparison, and why not?
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He isn’t in your face, he doesn’t wear chains around his neck, he doesn’t dye his hair or cut it in strange ways, he isn’t all guns and glory. He isn’t Shadab Khan, he isn’t Muhammad Amir, he isn’t Umar Akmal — three of the nation’s most recent darlings.
Hell, even his shots are almost apologetic. Just a simple front foot push, as economical as they come. He isnt macho and bravado, he is sense and sensibility. He is the sweet boy you would want your daughter to marry, not the cool kid on the block. He doesn’t scream and shout, he merely smiles shyly and all this makes him public’s absolute cute crush.
The Lahore-born Babar is on course to becoming the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced. The Babarnama is coming out the best of manners; quietly and without controversy, breaking records along the way. It would be a pity though, if he doesn’t win over our collective hearts in the process too.
It is high time that we embrace Babar in the warmest of bear hugs rather than giving him yet another handshake.
However, Edgbaston exploded with joy and the Babarnama was on display and the Pakistan players rushed onto the field. They’ve copped an absolute truckload of criticism and been written off, but a comprehensive win over South Africa and a clinical one over NZ have seen them storm back into contention!
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Don’t write Pakistan off just yet. They are one point behind England and level with Bangladesh. A mature chase, shepherded by a young man with a head far wiser than his 24 years would suggest.
There is probably a rational explanation for what is happening, but let’s not be rationalists for a day, shall we? Or a week. Let’s just accept Pakistan. There’s every chance this might not end the way other such rolls have ended, but right now it is not a question anymore. Scene on hai boss. It is on.
