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Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower feels Babar Azam has got Indian run-machine Virat Kohli's "hunger" and the talent to match his idol's awe-inspiring feats one day.
In a must-win match, Babar oozed class on his way to an unbeaten hundred, guiding Pakistan to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the World Cup in Birmingham on Wednesday, 26 June.
"He is very special. I believe he is going to be one of the best that Pakistan have ever produced. He's really hungry, is fit and still very young," Flower said.
Chasing a tricky target of 238, Pakistan were 110 for three at the halfway stage, but Babar stood tall with his 101-run knock at the Edgbaston.
Impressed by his batsman's performance, Flower, a former Zimbabwe opener, said, "He's definitely got that hunger, so if you practice as hard as he does, and you have his skills, I can't see why he can't get to the top."
During his knock, Babar also became the second fastest to 3,000 runs in one-day internationals. The Pakistani achieved the feat in 68 innings, which is seven fewer than Kohli. The 24-year-old is now only behind South Africa's Hashim Amla, who achieved the feat in 11 fewer outings.
"Confidence-wise, this is definitely his best one (century).
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