Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has praised Pakistan star Babar Azam, calling him one of the toughest batters he has ever played against, while highlighting the growing impact of Pakistani superstars in the Big Bash League (BBL) this season.
Speaking on a recent BBL podcast, Finch said Babar’s arrival at Sydney Thunder has brought major excitement to the competition.
“You’ve got one of the best players that I’ve ever played against. I played against Babar in Pakistan, and it was almost impossible to get him out,” Finch said.
He acknowledged that Babar has been quieter over the past 18 months but stressed that he remains a world-class player at his best.
When asked to pick his team for BBL 15, Finch stressed the importance of consistency and immediately named Babar Azam as his first choice.
“I want consistency. The number one player that comes to mind when I think consistency is Babar Azam. I’m putting him front and centre straight away, because you know he will get runs,” Finch said.
Finch also praised the Pakistani players, calling them global superstars who add significant value to Australian cricket.
Finch said the presence of these experienced internationals is “incredible” for the quality of the competition and for the development of Australia’s next generation of cricketers.
Babar Azam is the headline name among the seven Pakistani players featuring in this year’s BBL, with Sydney Thunder securing his signing ahead of the season.
The former Pakistan captain has expressed excitement about playing in Australia and said he is looking forward to learning from and sharing the field with top players in the league.
