Babar Azam will surpass Sir Viv Richards and Garry Sobers after comeback: Karachi Kings owner

Published - 18 Apr 2025, 05:19 PM | Updated - 18 Apr 2025, 05:58 PM

Babar Azam, Karachi Kings owner, Virat Kohli. Image Credit: X

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Babar Azam’s cricketing journey has taken a dramatic downturn. Once celebrated as the pride of Pakistan and compared to modern-era legends like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, Babar Azam’s career has taken a sharp and unexpected downturn in recent years.

The Pakistani superstar’s fall began when he was dropped from the Test squad for a crucial home series against England that sent shockwaves through Pakistani cricket. And most recently, Babar was left out of Pakistan’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour due to his poor form.

Babar Azam's struggles continue in the PSL 2025

He was also removed from Pakistan’s captaincy across the formats. Well, Babar was hoping to silence his critics with his batting performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2025 (PSL 2025), but his form only worsened.

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He could manage only a single run across two games for Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing PSL 2025, leaving fans and cricket experts stunned. Amidst this turmoil, Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal has made a bold and sensational statement, predicting an epic comeback for Babar.

The PSL franchise owner said that when Babar regains his form, he’ll surpass every modern-day great, including Virat Kohli, and his name will be remembered alongside the all-time greats like Garry Sobers and Sir Viv Richards.

Karachi Kings owner claims Babar Azam will outshine Virat Kohli and match with all-time greats

The Karachi Kings owner stressed that Babar will become the best version of himself once he finds his form with the bat again and even become a bigger batting superstar than India’s iconic batter Virat Kohli. Iqbal said that Babar has a class that can’t change, and he backed the former Pakistan captain to make a strong comeback.

Salman Iqbal said on the ARY Podcast, “I am telling you. Mark my words, when Babar Azam makes a comeback again, he will be a bigger player than any other player in the world, including Virat Kohli. He will be matched with names like Garry Sobers and Sir Viv Richards.”

Praising Babar, the Karachi Kings owner further noted, “He has that class element. When someone has class…. Class is permanent; you can’t change that. Style is never permanent. He will come back…he will come back with a bang.”

Salman Iqbal: "Jab Babar Wapis comeback kare ga na, He will be a bigger player than any other player in the world. He will match with those names such as Gary Sobers and Sir Viv Richards" pic.twitter.com/LqUrSmeMCH
— dablew🔪 (@waqastics) April 17, 2025

Karachi Kings owner reveals why they released Babar Azam

Meanwhile, Babar Azam was released by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL 2023 because of a disagreement over his batting spot. Now, the team owner, Salman Iqbal, revealed that the team management wanted Babar to bat at number 3, but he wasn’t comfortable with the idea. As a result, the franchise decided to part ways with the right-handed batter.

Iqbal further explained, “Mickey Arthur and I requested Babar Azam to bat at the number 3 position for Karachi Kings. But he was not comfortable doing that, and that's why we had to release him. The management decided to have a complete overhaul of the squad; that's why we let Babar, Imad (Wasim), and (Mohammad) Amir go.”

Notably, Babar played for Karachi Kings in the PSL from 2017 to 2022. Out of his 90 PSL innings, he opened the batting 76 times. He has 3,103 runs to his name in 78 matches at an average of 47.01 and a strike rate of 129.13. He smashed 28 fifties and 2 hundreds in the PSL so far.

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Babar Azam Virat Kohli Karachi Kings PSL Pakistan National Cricket Team