Cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards has come out in support of former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who has been increasingly questioned about his form and being called “King Babar” lately. Richards, the West Indian icon, who currently serves as the mentor of Quetta Gladiators in PSL 10, threw his weight behind Babar’s talent and suggested that everyone should be a bit more patient with him until the batter recovers.
Babar Azam, a talented Pakistani cricketer who was widely regarded as the most technically gifted batter, has become the talk of the town for fans and critics alike. His international career appears to have taken a downturn after he scored a staggering 151 runs against Nepal in August 2023. The 30-year-old batter has failed to hit another international century since then. Babar’s latest bow in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has only made the situation worse as he barely registered 49 runs in the four matches.
However, Richards, who was named King Richards in his day for his sheer dominance with the bat, refuted the naysayers and pledged his full support to Babar.
“No matter how talented a batsman is, there always comes a time when they don’t perform well,” said Richards as he spoke to a local sports outlet. “Babar is certainly a remarkable player, and I am positive that he will come back to his best form very soon.”
In response to the inquiry about the title “King,” which was also attributed to him and is now being debated between Babar and Virat Kohli, the former West Indies skipper provided a balanced account.
“A king is someone who has mastered it all. When you observe players like Kohli and Babar, they seem to be fair to cricket,” he commented.
Moreover, Richards opined that cricket should be the arena for celebrating players who embody honor and dedication, and wished that both present icons and aspiring talent would continue to elevate the game.
“I wish that both of them and other young players keep playing like this,” he said.
The former West Indies player took the time to discuss the current state of Pakistan cricket, noting that the Pakistan team is having a very tough time, but remained confident that the team can still regain its form.
“Every team has a bad time. I am sure that Pakistan once again will be a good team,” he remarked. “I always believed that Pakistan has wonderful cricketers and a lot of talent. All we wish is that this great talent will still be there in them in the days to come.”
While Babar Azam is dealing with an ever-increasing burden to re-establish his form, Sir Vivian Richards’ endorsement reminds cricket fans of the match’s uncertain nature, which surely is a stellar reminder of the need to support your heroes when they are at their lows as well as when they are at their highs.
