Ahmed Shehzad Criticizes Comparisons Between Cricketers

Former Pakistani batsman Ahmed Shehzad has voiced strong disapproval of comparing cricketers, particularly drawing parallels between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli, a modern-day great.

In a recent discussion, Shehzad stated that such evaluations are unjust and place undue burden on players, which he believes is reflected in Babar’s recent dip in form.

“When everything was favorable, campaigns were launched to compare players. Now that performances are lacking, there’s a call to halt comparisons. Why? Virat Kohli stands unmatched globally,” Shehzad commented.

The former opening batsman also highlighted that assessing players from different periods, or even those playing concurrently, often causes more damage than good.

He contended that these discussions diminish individual achievements and set unrealistic expectations for those being compared.

“Kohli is a legend of this era, a role model. He shouldn’t even be compared with MS Dhoni. While Dhoni was a remarkable captain, Kohli excels as a batter, cricketer, and athlete. No one should face such comparisons, as it’s unfair and increases pressure—a burden now evident on Babar Azam,” he added.

Babar Azam’s Recent Form

Notably, Babar’s decline in form has been a prominent topic recently.

He has gone 72 consecutive international innings without a century, his last being against Nepal. Since 2023, no other cricketer has gone longer without reaching a hundred.

Since 2024, Babar and Mohammad Rizwan are the only batters from full-member nations to maintain a strike rate below 80 in international cricket.

This decline has occurred alongside a shift in leadership. Babar resigned as Pakistan’s captain across all formats earlier this year, following criticism regarding team results and his individual performance.

The recent ODI series loss to the West Indies—the first bilateral ODI series defeat to the Caribbean side in 34 years—has amplified scrutiny. Pakistan were dismissed for 92 in the final ODI, suffering a 202-run defeat.

Upcoming Series

Pakistan will now travel to the UAE for a tri-nation T20I series against Afghanistan and the UAE, commencing on August 29 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and continuing until September 7.

Following this, the team will focus on the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled from September 9 to 28.