Babar Azam is the best player in the world at the moment: Simon Doull

Babar Azam has been a revelation in world cricket over the last seven years. The 27-year-old is currently the skipper of the Pakistan national team across formats.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull said that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is currently the best batter in the world. The 27-year-old Babar recently became the fastest batter to 1000 runs as an ODI captain in 13 innings, surpassing India’s Virat Kohli, who accomplished the milestone in 17 innings in 2017.

Babar accomplished the feat in the ODI series against Nicholas Pooran’s West Indies earlier this month. In 89 ODIs, the Lahore-born cricketer has notched 4442 runs at an average of 45.98 and a strike rate of 90.25 with 17 centuries and 19 half-centuries to show for his efforts.

Doull reckoned that Babar has arguably been the standout batter as far as batting in the top order is concerned. The veteran put forth his opinions during the ongoing third Test between England and the Black Caps at Headingley in Leeds.

"Not many could argue that Babar Azam is the best player in the world at the moment. As far as batting in that top order is concerned, he is unbelievable. Joe Root's got an argument for that too. They talk about the big four, at the moment, he's the big one," Doull was quoted as saying.

In 74 T20Is, Babar has racked up 2686 runs at an average of 45.53 and a strike rate of 129.45 with one century and 26 half-centuries to his name. The Young Turk also has six centuries and 21 half-centuries from 40 Tests.

Under Babar, Pakistan also won five matches in a row in the T20 World Cup 2021 before losing to Aaron Finch’s Australia in the semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Last year, Babar also replaced Imad Wasim as the skipper of the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).