Pakistan cricket team is all set to take on England in the first of three Tests in Rawalpindi. Both the teams will renew their rivalry after the marquee T20 World Cup final clash earlier this month, where England had thrashed Pakistan by 5 wickets to lift their second title. England cricket team will be playing a Test series in Pakistan after a long gap of 17 years. England last played a Test match on Pakistan soil in the year 2005, which they lost by 2-0. Apart from all this, this is a much-important series for both the series as it is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
Ahead of the start of the series, England’s legendary former captain Nasser Hussain sat down with Pakistan captain Babar Azam for a candid conversation, where Hussain talked about Babar’s initial years in cricket. Hussain asked several cricket-related questions to Babar, who responded very honestly to all the questions. The former English captain eventually asked the player about his cricketing idol.
Without thinking much, Babar Azam named former South African captain and legendary batter AB de Villers as his “role model.”
“My role model is AB de Villiers. I love him. The way he has played, the way he played his shots. I saw him on the TV and the very next day, I tried his shots in the nets. I tried to copy AB de Villiers, tried to look and play like him. He is my idol,” Babar said in the interview posted on Pakistan Cricket’s official YouTube channel.
Further, Babar Azam also expressed his eagerness to compete in the series as he welcomed the England cricket team in his home nation. He said:
“Yes, we are looking forward to the series. First of all, I welcome the England team here (in Pakistan). I think a few boys have already represented the side in the T20 squad and there are a few new faces, so I think they should enjoy a lot. Enjoy the conditions, and enjoy the hospitality in Pakistan. We are certainly looking forward to the series and everyone wants to play good cricket!”
