Pakistan’s cricket star and prominent batter, Babar Azam, has credited the Pakistan Super League (PSL) not only for giving him global recognition but also for fulfilling his ultimate dream: meeting his favorite cricketer, the legendary AB de Villiers.
Speaking at the PSL 2026 Road Show, Babar Azam highlighted the league’s pivotal role in reviving Pakistani cricket and providing a platform for local talent. “The PSL gave me my identity,” he stated. “Through this league, I got to meet players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Andre Russell.”
Azam stressed that the most significant interaction for him was meeting his idol, AB de Villiers, from whom he learned invaluable lessons about the game.
Fellow Cricketers Share Their Journeys:
Other Pakistani players present at the event also spoke about the career-changing impact of the PSL:
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Opener Sahibzada Farhan revealed a moving anecdote, stating that despite playing cricket for 17 years, he remained largely unrecognized until he joined the PSL. He added that he gained crucial knowledge from both foreign players and Babar Azam during the tournament.
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Fast Bowler Haris Rauf described the league as “everything” for him, noting that without the PSL, he would likely be working a regular job somewhere. He shared an amusing detail that his family first learned of his selection into the team through Geo News.
The road show also featured former captain Wasim Akram, who recounted entertaining stories about the social interactions and shared meals between local and foreign players during the league.
