Basit Ali ranks Arshad Nadeem's Olympic gold above Babar & co. cricket achievements

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has claimed that Arshad Nadeem’s recent Olympic gold medal triumph surpasses the accomplishments of Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam. Both athletes are celebrated figures in Pakistan, but according to Basit, Nadeem’s solo victory stands out as the more significant achievement.

Arshad Nadeem made history by securing Pakistan's first-ever Olympic gold medal in athletics, winning the men’s javelin throw at the 2024 Paris Games. His victory, especially against defending champion Neeraj Chopra of India, has cemented his status as a national hero and, according to Basit, has overshadowed the collective successes of Pakistan’s cricket team.

When asked to compare the two sports icons, Basit Ali emphasized that while Babar Azam shines in a team sport, Nadeem’s individual effort in winning an Olympic gold carries more weight. He pointed out that cricket, being a team game, relies on the collective performance of all players, whereas Nadeem achieved his victory through personal dedication and hard work.

“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," Basit said.

Basit went further to state that even if the entire Pakistan cricket team were to be compared to Nadeem’s individual success, the Olympic champion would still come out on top. He suggested that only if Pakistan's cricket team wins gold at the 2028 Olympics could a fair comparison be made, but for now, Nadeem’s accomplishment stands unmatched.

“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," he further added.