# Waqar Younis: "Babar Azam is a superstar", but "the sad part for Babar is that he is alone"

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/waqar-younis-babar-azam-is-a-superstar-but-the-sad-part-for-babar-is-that-he-is)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 29 Oct 2026
Updated: 29 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 30 Oct 2026

> On an Indian cricket podcast, Waqar named Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi as Pakistan's current superstars and said Babar carries the batting without the support Tendulkar had. It comes two days before the tri-series final in Lahore.

**Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has named Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan's current cricket superstars**, and said Babar's problem is that he has no one batting alongside him at his level, [ARY News reported](https://arynews.tv/waqar-younis-labels-babar-azam-as-pakistans-last-superstar) on Thursday 29 October 2026.

Waqar was speaking on the podcast *Unplugged*, hosted by Indian presenter Shubhankar Mishra. Asked who Pakistan's last superstar was, with the host suggesting fast bowler Mohammad Amir, Waqar answered: **"Babar Azam is a superstar, Shaheen Afridi is a superstar."**

## "He is alone"

Waqar defended Babar against criticism of his recent form. "The sad part for Babar is that he is alone," he said, arguing that when one batter has to carry a side, "the pressure on him increases". He compared today's line-up with the 1990s and asked how many Pakistani batters other than Babar most fans could name now.

When the host said Sachin Tendulkar had also carried India's batting early in his career, Waqar disagreed: Tendulkar had Sanjay Manjrekar and Navjot Singh Sidhu with him, and later Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. He said Babar's fast start had set expectations very high and compared the scrutiny to what Virat Kohli faces.

## Babar's numbers

| | |
|---|---|
| ODI runs | 6,744 at an average of 52.68 |
| ODI hundreds | 20, level with Saeed Anwar for the most by a Pakistani |
| Last seven ODIs | 243 runs at 34.71, one fifty |
| Current tri-series | 118 runs in four innings |

Figures from ARY News and [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com/news/2040746/hesson-hoping-struggling-pakistan-top-order-shows-up-on-big-occasion-in-tri-series).

## Next: the final on Saturday

Babar's next chance to answer is the **tri-series final against Sri Lanka on Saturday 31 October at 1:30pm PKT** at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. One more hundred would take him past Saeed Anwar's record. Coach Mike Hesson said on Thursday he expects "big players to stand up in big games". Every result, the table and how to watch are on our [Pakistan tri-series page](/news/cricket/pakistan-tri-series-schedule-results).

## Frequently asked questions

**How many ODI centuries does Babar Azam have?**

20, level with Saeed Anwar for the most ODI hundreds by a Pakistani batter, as of 29 October 2026. He has 6,744 ODI runs at 52.68.

## Sources

- Waqar Younis labels Babar Azam as Pakistan's 'last superstar' (29 Oct 2026) (ARY News): https://arynews.tv/waqar-younis-labels-babar-azam-as-pakistans-last-superstar
- Hesson hoping struggling Pakistan top order shows up on big occasion in tri-series final (29 Oct 2026) (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2040746/hesson-hoping-struggling-pakistan-top-order-shows-up-on-big-occasion-in-tri-series

How to cite: "Waqar Younis: "Babar Azam is a superstar", but "the sad part for Babar is that he is alone"", Searchable, 29 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/cricket/waqar-younis-babar-azam-is-a-superstar-but-the-sad-part-for-babar-is-that-he-is