‘Will be bigger than Virat Kohli’ – PSL team owner makes bizarre claim about Babar Azam amidst poor run of form

Karachi Kings team owner Salman Iqbal made a bizarre statement when he was speaking on ARY’s Podcast recently. Iqbal said that former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam can become a bigger player than Virat Kohli once he regains his batting form. The 30-year-old batter who is leading Peshawar Zalmi has managed to score just one run from two games in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 tournament. 

Salman Iqbal said “I am telling you. Mark my words, when Babar Azam makes a comeback again, he will be a bigger player than any other player in the world, including Virat Kohli. He will be matched with names like Garry Sobers and Sir Viv Richards”. At the start of his career Babar was compared to the former Indian skipper for their batting styles. 

During the course of the podcast, Salman Iqbal also said, "He has that class element. When someone has class…. Class is permanent, you can't change that. Style is always permanent. He will come back…he will come back with a bang." Peshawar Zalmi are bottom of the table without any points on the board from their two games. 

Mohammad Rizwan led Multan Sultans have also played two games so far this season and lost both. The two sides meet each other on Saturday in what is set to be the ninth game of the PSL 2025 campaign. Peshawar will then travel to Karachi to play their fourth game of the season before facing Lahore Qalandars at the halfway mark of the season. 

Former Pakistan legend slams Babar Azam

Zaheer Abbas has hit out at Babar Azam’s current form with the bat in the ongoing PSL 2025 season. Pakistan’s legendary batter was quoted by PTI as saying, “I think either Babar has an ego issue or is too shy to seek advice from his seniors in overcoming his current situation."

The former Pakistan great also recalled how Younis Khan had sought guidance from Mohammad Azharuddin to overcome his bad form. “I think in 2016, Younis Khan spoke to Muhammad Azharuddin and went on to score a double hundred in England. I also recall how Azharuddin had sought guidance from me on India’s tour to Pakistan in 1989-90. He was struggling to find runs, and I told him to change his batting grip. Saeed Anwar sought Sunil Gavaskar’s advice."