Yousuf heaps praise on Babar

LAHORE: Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammed Yousuf heaped praise on Babar Azam, calling him ‘class apart’ and the best Pakistan batsman since his retirement.

Yousuf was arguably one of the best batsmen during his playing days and for him to rate Babar highly should come as a massive boost for the top-order batsman.

“Babar is a class apart from the others right now. That is why he is in the ICC’s top five rankings in all three formats. Personally, I have not seen a finer batsman in Pakistan than Babar since I last played for the national team,” Yousuf said in a TV interview. Yousuf also came down hard on the Pakistan Cricket Board opposing the decision to overburden Misbah-ul-Haq, as the national coach and chief selector.

“I just don’t understand why to give so much responsibility to one man and I don’t see any planning in the way Misbah is handling things.

He also opposed the re-entry of veterans Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez in the side. “Why recall Hafeez and Malik when their records in places like Australia is clear. It is a step backward for Pakistan cricket.”