Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali expressed his admiration for his teammate and captain, Babar Azam, whom he affectionately refers to as “the king.” The pacer reiterated his previous statement and hailed Azam as the best Pakistan batter.
Reaction over T20 World Cup snub
During an interview with a local news outlet, reflecting on his omission from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, Hasan Ali acknowledged his disappointment but remained resolute in his commitment to performance-driven cricket.
“Obviously, I wanted to play, and I wanted to perform and play. [But] I don’t want to play without performance, and it’s neither in my nature nor do I want to play that kind of cricket, and I never have,” Hasan Ali stated.
He clarified, “I don’t regret it because the management had informed me that I was filling in for Haris Rauf temporarily. When Haris recovered, I knew I would step aside.”
‘Babar Azam is the King’
Hasan Ali didn’t hesitate to laud Babar Azam, describing him as the linchpin of Pakistan’s batting lineup despite recent criticisms.
“He is the king of Pakistan’s batting,” Hasan emphasized. “He continues to improve, and his consistency speaks volumes. I don’t think he has given a bad performance anywhere, except in India in the recent World Cup, where he didn’t score a century.”
Highlighting Babar Azam’s stature in world cricket, Hasan Ali pointed out that Babar’s prowess has elevated him to the elite “Fab Five” of batsmen.
“We all used to talk about the Fab Four – Kohli, Williamson, Smith, and Root. Now, with Babar Azam’s achievements, it’s the Fab Five,” Hasan remarked proudly.
The origin of “King” Moniker
Reminiscing about his viral statement from a podcast, Hasan Ali reiterated his belief in Babar Azam’s abilities, playfully stating, “And he’s the King. I still stand by my statement, and I hope he will get even better. And yes, (King krlega) King will achieve it.”
Hasan Ali’s affectionate nickname for Babar Azam, originating from a podcast chat last year, quickly gained popularity among fans and teammates alike. “We don’t call him Babar, we call him King,” Hasan had quipped, a phrase that resonated widely during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
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