Babar reminds me of Kohli: Arthur

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur compared young gun Babar Azam to Virat Kohli on Thursday, saying the 22-year-old reminded him of the India skipper at the same age.

Azam has played only three Tests, narrowly missing out on a century in Pakistan's loss to New Zealand in Hamilton this week when he was left unbeaten on 90 as the side was bowled out. 

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In his 18 ODIs, he has scored three centuries, all of which came in consecutive matches against the West Indies earlier this year.

"He (Azam) is a young gun who will be an exceptional player," Arthur told Perth's 6PR radio ahead of Pakistan's sole warm-up match for their three-Test series against Australia. 

"I'll go so far as to say, at the same age, I reckon he's as good as Virat Kohli, which I know that's high praise but he's right up there."

Pakistan have resisted the temptation to change and retained the same 16-man squad for Australia that lost the recent series against New Zealand 2-0.

For South African Arthur, it will be his first time facing Australia since he coached them over a two-year tenure that ended in June 2013. 

He said Pakistan were ready to fire against an Australia Test team coming off a demoralising 2-1 series loss to South Africa, adding that his charges had learned a lot in New Zealand.

"Had that series gone another Test match, we would have been better for the conditions," he said of the New Zealand tour. 

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"Hopefully, this has put us in good stead for what we can experience in Australia."

Pakistan play a three-day pink-ball clash next week against a Cricket Australia XI in Cairns before the first Test – a day-night affair in Brisbane – from December 15.

The remaining two Tests are in Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).

They will also play five one-day internationals in Australia.

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