Babar Azam is among top five batsmen in the world at the moment: Rashid Khan

The new season of the Pakistan Super League is all set to be played from February 2020 in Karachi, and a lot of world-class players will be stepping up to ply their trade in the T20 league. In the same light, Afghanistan ace spinner Rashid Khan has stated that he is looking forwards to bowl against Pakistan skipper and world-class batter Babar Azam. In his latest interview, Khan stated that Azam is among the top five batsmen in the cricket world currently.

The spinner added that type of performances Babar has come up with in the last few years is commendable. Khan also stated that he enjoys a lot while bowling against top-class batsmen in the world. This is the same reason he likes bowling in IPL, against the likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith.

“The kind of performances he [Babar Azam] has given in the last four or five years in all three formats, he is among the top five batsmen in the world at the moment,” said Rashid Khan in an interview with Cricket Pakistan.

I and Babar Azam are good friends: Rashid Khan

“I enjoy the challenge of bowling to the top players. Like in IPL, when I bowl to Ab de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith, it shows me where I stand as a bowler and what I need to improve. I played against Babar in Asia Cup, and I also played alongside him for Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL, so we are also good friends. It will be a tough challenge to play against him, as the margin of error is very low against a top batsman like him, he added.

The Afghan cricketer threw light on how he would get to spend more time with his childhood idol Shahid Afridi through PSL. He would like to learn some aspects of the game through Afridi’s cricketing mind. Khan hasn’t got much time with him but feels lucky to be in the same team during Afridi’s last international exposure in Lord’s while playing for World XI against West Indies.