Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has recently made a bold statement comparing the achievements of Pakistan’s star cricketer Babar Azam with those of Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem. According to Ali, the magnitude of Nadeem’s accomplishment in winning the gold medal in javelin throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics is far greater than any collective achievement brought by Babar Azam and the Pakistan cricket team.
Arshad Nadeem made history at the Paris Olympics by recording an Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters, securing the gold medal. This victory was especially significant as he outperformed India’s Neeraj Chopra, who secured silver with an 89.45-meter throw. Nadeem’s win marked Pakistan’s first gold medal in athletics and their first Olympic medal since the 1992 Barcelona Games.
When asked about comparisons between Nadeem and Babar Azam as national sports icons, Basit Ali emphasized the difference in the nature of their respective sports. He pointed out that cricket is a team sport, where success is a collective effort, while javelin throw is an individual event, where the athlete’s personal performance is paramount.
“Cricket is a different game. But the work that Arshad Nadeem has done for this country will take a lot of years for Babar Azam. Because Babar plays a team game. He does not play an individual game. Arshad plays individually. He got a gold medal alone,” Ali stated during an interview with Cricket Pakistan.
Ali further elaborated that for Pakistan cricket’s achievements to be comparable to Nadeem’s, they would need to secure a gold medal in the Olympics. With cricket set to be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Ali suggested that if Babar Azam leads Pakistan to an Olympic gold in cricket, then a fair comparison could be drawn.
“If the Pakistan cricket team goes to the Olympics in 2028 and wins a gold medal there, then we can draw comparisons. But at this time, there is no comparison of Babar to Arshad Nadeem. Arshad is a hero at this time,” Ali remarked.
Babar Azam, recognizing the significance of Nadeem’s achievement, took to social media to congratulate the Olympian on his historic win. The gesture highlighted the mutual respect between Pakistan’s top athletes across different sports.
Arshad Nadeem’s triumph has been celebrated widely, with congratulations pouring in from former cricketers in both Pakistan and India. His achievement has not only elevated his status as a national hero but also set a new benchmark for individual sporting excellence in Pakistan.
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