IND vs PAK: "It Was Very Special To See Because..." - AB de Villiers On His First Interaction With Babar Azam
Published - 01 Sep 2023, 07:08 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:18 AM
Former South African captain AB de Villiers recalled his first interaction with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Dubai. AB de Villiers said that he was impressed with Babar Azam’s style of batting, especially in high-pressure situations.
Babar Azam openly expressed his deep admiration for AB de Villiers, regarding him as a role model in his cricketing journey. The star Pakistani batter acknowledged his efforts to emulate the unique and innovative shots that De Villiers showcased during his illustrious career.
It’s very special – AB de Villiers
In a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers lauded Babar Azam‘s skills, comparing him to his former South Africa teammate Hashim Amla.
“It’s very special. We had this interaction; I think it was in Dubai when he met me for the first time in the PSL. It was very special to see because at that time I knew he was going to be a great.
“He stood in front of me as a fan and I was like, ‘Hey, relax. I am also just human. You’re going to be a great one-day. I’ve watched you play and you’re incredible,'” De Villiers said.
“We shared some nice thoughts about the game, said some nice stuff to him, which I feel or believe he appreciated. I have a lot of respect for him.
“I love the way he plays the game. The calm manner in which he plays the game, it’s very similar to Hashim Amla. He loves the big moments and the pressure,” he added.
Babar Azam Is One Of The Best Players – AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers described Babar Azam as one of the best-ever cricketers, emphasizing his vital role in Pakistan’s batting lineup against India in their next match.
“He is one of the best players we have ever seen play this game. Huge rock in that batting line-up of Pakistan. If India want to keep Pakistan quiet, this is the guy to get out.
“In the analysis meeting leading up to this game, there will be a lot of time that will be spend on Babar. He is the glue in that batting line-up.”
“Playing India is a big occasion; we all know the rivalry between the teams, so the juices will be flowing a bit more than usual. There’s an Indian attack that will be planning as to, ‘how do we get him out?’, ‘how are we going to unsettle him?’.”
The Rohit Sharma-led team will take on the Babar Azam-led side in the Asia Cup 2023 group stage match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Saturday, September 2.
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Asia Cup 2023 Babar Azam IND vs PAK 2023 India vs Pakistan 2023 Pakistan national cricket team
