Former England fast-bowling legend James Anderson has named Babar Azam as his favourite cricketer from Pakistan, a statement that has caught the attention of fans worldwide. Anderson made the remark during a rapid-fire segment with TNT Sports, where he was asked to select his favourite players from different cricketing nations.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest swing bowlers in cricket history, Anderson recently retired at the age of 41, ending his Test career with a remarkable 704 wickets, the most by any fast bowler in the format. During the segment, he picked Shane Warne for Australia, Joe Root for England, Tim Southee for New Zealand, AB de Villiers for South Africa, and Virat Kohli for India.
However, Anderson’s choice for Pakistan stood out. Instead of selecting former legends, he chose Babar Azam, describing him as the finest cricketer Pakistan has produced. At just 31 years old, Babar has already scored over 15,000 international runs and is currently the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,429 runs.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka. Reports suggest that Pakistan has submitted a preliminary 20-member squad to the ICC, featuring Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. Babar’s recent performances, including appearances in the Big Bash League, are believed to have strengthened his position ahead of the global tournament.
