Don't want to get into Indo-Pak politics but Babar Azam needs to be playing IPL: Nasser Hussain

Guwahati: Babar Azam has truly established himself as one of the finest batsmen in world cricket, but he doesn't get to be a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) unlike other top batsmen like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson.

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain stressed on the need for Babar to play in IPL after seeing the Pakistani batsmen display his skills in the ongoing England vs Pakistan Test series. He also drew parallels between the India vs Pakistan cricketing rivalry and the rivalry between football clubs Manchester City and Manchester United in the English Premier League.

"I don't want to get into the politics of it but India and Pakistan not playing each other are like the Premier League with Manchester City not playing Manchester United, or Everton-Liverpool or Spurs and Arsenal", Nasser Hussain remarked.

Pakistani cricketers were allowed to play in the IPL but since the political relations between the two countries went south, players from the neighbouring country have been banned from the Indian franchise-based T20 competition.

"It's the Pakistani players not being in the IPL. The IPL will start soon and Babar Azam won't be there. He's a phenomenal player and he should be there," Hussain told Geo Super.

Hussain has been amazed by Babar's talent for quite some time now. According to Hussain, Babar should be added to the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root and the list should be renamed as 'Fab 5'.

"They keep going on about the 'Fab Four (Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and England captain Joe Root) — it's the 'Fab Five' and Babar Azam is in that", Hussain asserted.

Babar however hasn't been at his best in the ongoing England tour, scoring 99 runs in three innings. He is key to Pakistan's hopes of pulling themselves level in the 3-match Test series that they trail 1-0 after losing the first match in Manchester.