Quetta Gladiators wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan has revealed his admiration for the batting skills of Pakistan T20I captain Babar Azam as he considers him his “role-model”. The 21-year-old has even said that he tries to watch Babar play as much as he can and switches off the television whenever the latter gets out. Babar has scored two fifties for Karachi Kings in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) and both of the scores in the 70s have come against last two times’ finalists Peshawar Zalmi.

Azam, son of former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan (the current coach of the Gladiators), himself has also scored a couple of good knocks in seven outings in PSL 2020 with one of them getting transformed into a fifty (against Islamabad United). Gladiators, the defending champions, have won three games out of six so far and are placed at No.4 in the points table. The Kings also have six points but have played a game less than the Gladiators.

In the game between the Gladiators and Kings in Karachi on February 23, Azam scored more than his role model as he made 46 as against the latter’s 26. He was adjudged the man of the match for his 30-ball knock that gave the Gladiators a five-wicket win. The two sides will meet again in Karachi on March 15 in what will be the final league game before the play-offs.

“Babar Azam is my role model in cricket if you talk about Pakistan cricketers. Whenever I get the opportunity or I’m watching him on television, I ensure that I don’t miss Babar Azam’s batting. Also, as soon as he gets out, I switch off the television,” Azam Khan told Cricket Pakistan.

Overall in this PSL, Azam has scored 150 runs in eight games while Babar has made 187 runs in five.

Azam Khan looking to represent Pakistan one day

The youngster, who said he is focusing more on his batting than keeping, hoped to represent Pakistan on the international stage and with the guidance of his former cricketer father, Azam is working on his form and fitness to reach his goal.

Azam made his List-A debut in 2018 and in T20s the year before, has played in only 15 games so far with one fifty.