Babar Azam can make it into the Indian batting line-up, feels Ramiz Raja

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja feels Pakistan batsman Babar Azam is the only batsman from the team who could feature in the Indian batting order. 

Azam played a crucial role in the fourth and final T20 against hosts West Indies scoring a 36-ball 38. Along with Ahmed Shehzad, who scored a valuable 53, the duo saw Pakistan home with an over to spare.

In the first innings, the West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals with only three batsmen making it to double figures. Chadwick Walton top-scored for the Windies with 40. T20 World Cup hero Carlos Brathwaite added some valuable runs down the order with a quickfire 37 off 24. 

Pakistan were set a target of 125 and got off to a steady start. Shehzad and Azam put on a 70-run partnership for the 2nd wicket and assured that the visitors were very close to the target. Sarfraz Ahmed and veteran Shoaib Malik brought Pakistan home in the final ball of the 19th over. 

A familiar face in the commentary box, Ramiz said during the 4th T20I between West Indies and Pakistan, “The Indian batting is brilliant as you know. I think he (Babar Azam) has it in him to make it to the Indian side as well.”

A victory in the fourth T20I meant Pakistan took the series 3-1 and will now face the West Indies for 3 ODIs and 3 test matches. 

Babar Azam showed a strong batting performance against the West Indies in 2016, scoring 3 consecutive ODI hundreds in the UAE. He’s known for his discipline at the crease and has been a regular figure in Pakistan’s top order.

22-year-old Azam has managed to get starts in all four T20s against the West Indies. However, he’s failed to convert them into half centuries. The youngster though has shown great promise with the bat and had scored consistently during the recently concluded PSL.