Babar Azam, a two-time winner of the ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year award, has accomplished nearly everything in 50-over cricket over the past 24 months, but there is one more honor the inspirational captain is lacking and desperately wants to win: leading Pakistan to the ICC Cricket World Cup championship in India later this year.
Babar has recently emerged as a formidable force in 50-over cricket. The Pakistani skipper has maintained the No. 1 slot in the ODI Player Rankings since July 2021 and has been duly recognized as the ODI Player of the Year for the past two years.
Babar has racked up a ton of runs over that period, and his performance has helped Pakistan maintain its position as one of the top one-day cricket sides even while Asia has made progress toward the top spot.
“ICC prizes are significant. The fact that Pakistan is mentioned is important. When you work hard and succeed, it boosts your confidence greatly. I give Allah praise for it. Behind that were the prayers of my parents. I’m pleased to have received these accolades,” Babar said to ICC Digital.
Although Babar continues to receive personal recognition, his ultimate goal is team triumph, and the 28-year-old will have the chance to do so later this year in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Babar recently discussed his goal to be able to replicate the great Imran Khan and lead his country to World Cup triumph for the second time in an interview with ICC Digital Insider Zainab Abbas.
The goal, according to him, is to make the World Cup team and win the competition.
“The World Cup is quickly approaching, and my goal is to do well so that we can win.”
“You see a lot of things individually too, but for now, the World Cup is my main focus.”
Babar’s team has a number of 50-over matches planned up over the next months that will help them prepare for the World Cup that is slated to take place in India later this year, whereas Pakistan only played a total of nine ODI matches in 2022, losing just once in that time against Australia at home.
Prior to the World Cup, Pakistan will be concentrating on a five-game series against New Zealand at home in late April and early May, as well as a three-game trip to Afghanistan and the 2023 Asia Cup, which will return to a 50-over format.
Babar is aware that a lot of cricket will be played before the World Cup which will affect the composition of his team, even though he has a solid understanding of who Pakistan’s best XI would be during the event.
Because of the World Cup, there has been a lot more white-ball cricket this year, according to Babar.
“You can’t actually leap to your destination. You must accomplish it gradually.”
“The attitude is to go gradually, but you know in the back of your mind that you must succeed.”
But there is effort and preparation behind everything.
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