While the previous India captain is second solely to Sachin Tendulkar on the listing of most worldwide centuries, with 75 tons, Babar to this point has scored 28 worldwide centuries throughout codecs. But one should keep in mind that Virat made his worldwide century in 2008, seven years earlier than Babar acquired his first Pakistan cap.
Former Pakistan star all-rounder Abdul Razzaq spoke to TimesofIndia.com just lately in an unique interview and likewise rated Virat’s health greater than that of Babar’s.
Razzaq, among the best all-rounders that Pakistan have produced, performed 46 Tests, 265 ODIs, and 32 T20Is for his nation between 1996 and 2013.
Abdul Razzaq (Twitter Photo)
The dashing hard-hitting all-rounder talked about India vs Pakistan bilateral sequence, the Virat vs Babar debate, Pakistan gamers in IPL, Hardik Pandya the all-rounder, and rather more…
You have scored 1025 runs and claimed 51 wickets in opposition to India throughout codecs. What is your favorite reminiscence of enjoying vs India?
I’ve two favorite recollections of enjoying in opposition to India. First was the Mohali Test match (in 2005). We have been 6 down. Day 4 play was on. And we went on to attract the Test match. Second was the Hobart ODI (Carlton & United Series in 2000) when Pakistan have been 160-something in 40 overs. I got here in and scored a fifty and helped Pakistan set a superb complete (262/7) after which took 5 wickets.
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Virat Kohli’s health is means higher than Babar Azam’s: Abdul Razzaq
These two matches will all the time be near my coronary heart. At that point in 2000, the Indian group was very sturdy. They had all the celebs. Tendulkar, Sehwag, Ganguly, Zaheer, and lots of different massive names. We performed with them. Of course, there was strain. Whenever there’s India vs Pakistan, there’s all the time strain.
Apart from India vs Pakistan strain, there was strain (on us) from these gamers too. These gamers created a lot strain. We would plan on what and the right way to bowl to Sehwag, and what and the right way to bowl to Tendulkar. We used to work wholeheartedly and to attempt to dismiss these two.
You have been a star all-rounder for the Pakistan group. Your tackle Hardik Pandya the all-rounder?
My earlier assertion on Hardik Pandya was taken the flawed means. I did not imply it. As a cricketer, I simply stated there’s scope for enchancment in him (Pandya). I did not touch upon a participant who’s from India, England, or Australia. I simply stated issues as a cricketer. If Kapil Dev says that he needs to provide recommendation to Abdul Razzaq, I’ll take this assertion positively.
AP Photo
The better part about Hardik is that he’s very sturdy each mentally and bodily. He is match. This drives him ahead. He hits the ball cleanly. He takes wickets at essential junctures. You ship him in to bowl, he’ll take wickets. You ship him out to bat and he’ll rating runs for you. He is a match-winner. No one is ideal.
He can work on a few issues which based on him are areas of enchancment – when it comes to foot motion, bat motion, and the right way to decide a supply earlier than it’s bowled. That was what I meant earlier. That was only a assertion as a former all-rounder. People took it the flawed means and criticised me as nicely.
Hardik is a whole allrounder. But nobody is ideal. Everyone wants enchancment in sure areas. When I used to be enjoying, I additionally lacked sure issues. Wasim Akram was the identical, Imran Khan was the identical, Kapil Dev was the identical. But nonetheless, we think about all of them to be greats of the sport.
As somebody who has talked about Hardik prior to now and has seen his progress, how would you describe the rise and rise of Hardik Pandya?
He is unquestionably a superb cricketer. I actually like him. He hits the ball cleanly. He is a really clear hitter. I used to hit the identical means that Pandya does. I like his bowling as nicely. He is an affect participant. When you might be representing your nation, it’s essential give you extraordinary performances in order that the group begins counting on you.
You cannot actually mould an efficient all-rounder in a single day. What does it take to develop into an impactful all-rounder? Also how a lot additional strain does an all-rounder really feel vis a vis batters and bowlers?
People typically say batting is tough. I say if batting is tough, then bowling is tough too. These are totally different abilities, and each are tough. Batsman says issues are onerous for him. Bowler says issues are onerous for him as nicely. They each are specializing in one factor at a time. But an all-rounder should take care of each departments. He offers with each batting and bowling with out complaining.
An all-rounder must work rather a lot on his bodily coaching. Things may be actually powerful for an all-rounder. He has to self-discipline himself or herself and attempt to obtain perfection in each departments. Being an all-rounder isn’t straightforward in any respect. This isn’t an in a single day journey. This takes a variety of time.
(Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
When a batsman scores 100 or 200, he would not have sufficient vitality left. But when an all-rounder scores 100, he ought to nonetheless have vitality left to come back again and bowl and take wickets for his group.
In India, the IPL has performed a giant position. This event is producing new gamers. In Pakistan, we now have the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The foremost purpose of those leagues is to showcase new expertise, nurture them and provides them an opportunity to play for the nation, relying on their performances.
We have had star all-rounders like Lance Klusener, Jacques Kallis, Wasim Akram, Chris Gayle, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev. I’m hoping we see an all-rounder like them quickly.
The subsequent version of the IPL is now across the nook. We have seen Pakistan gamers like Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Asif, and extra within the IPL within the 2008 version…
From the cricketing standpoint, if we bury the variations, then every part must be open. We need our gamers to play within the IPL. Indian gamers ought to play within the PSL. Cricket will likely be promoted, individuals will take pleasure in seeing Pakistan cricketers within the IPL. This ought to occur in order that the sport is promoted.
Your tackle India vs Pakistan bilateral sequence?
If I could make a press release on Hardik Pandya, then clearly I’d need that (India vs Pak bilateral cricket sequence) too. As a sportsman, I’ve commented on Hardik Pandya. India and Pakistan ought to play. This brings a lot pleasure. People take pleasure in it . Cricket is promoted. There is a lot strain in India vs Pakistan matches. You (cricketers) take pleasure in it extra. The complete world watches you. You may develop good gamers with these matches.
During your enjoying days, which Indian batsmen and bowlers did Pakistan plan for probably the most?
Virender Sehwag was probably the most harmful participant. After that Sachin Tendulkar. Pakistan used to plan in opposition to Sehwag and Tendulkar. Our plan was like – if we get these two wickets – Sehwag and Tendulkar – we’ll win the match. In bowling, our batsmen used to plan in opposition to Zaheer Khan. Irfan Pathan was there too for a while. Harbhajan Singh was there. These have been the massive names who performed massive matches and carried out for his or her nation.
AFP Photo
In the center order, Yuvraj Singh was the one. Sehwag, Tendulkar, Yuvraj have been the massive massive names. When we dismissed them, we used to say sure, we now have taken massive wickets at this time. These have been the gamers Pakistan severely deliberate in opposition to.
The plan concerned how and what to bowl, sure areas to bowl to them in, subject setting, and attempting totally different bowlers and deliveries in opposition to these batsmen. Similarly, our batsmen deliberate in opposition to bowlers like Zaheer, Harbhajan, and Irfan.
The Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam debate. Your take…
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam (AFP Photo)
Virat is an excellent and implausible participant. The better part is that he takes his group alongside. His intent is all the time optimistic. He utilises his abilities very nicely. The foremost factor is that his health is world-class. Babar Azam’s health isn’t like that of Virat Kohli’s. Babar must work extra on his health.
Babar is Pakistan’s primary participant. Babar is in actual fact the world no 1 batter (ODIs). Be it in any format of the sport, Test, ODI, or T20I, he has been persistently performing nicely. Every nation has one participant like them (Virat and Babar). We need not examine them. It’s like asking, who is healthier – Kapil Dev or Imran Khan? These comparisons aren’t good. Kohli is an efficient participant in India. Similarly, Babar Azam is an efficient participant in Pakistan. Kohli is a world-class participant, Babar is simply too. But Kohli’s health is means higher than Babar’s.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com