New Delhi, May 4: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has made it clear that he wishes to continue playing all three formats of cricket. He emphasized that a player’s role is to play, not to decide which format to abandon.
Babar has been a key player for the Pakistan team throughout his career. However, his recent performance has been somewhat lackluster, with a struggle to score consistently. He did not make a significant impact during this year’s T20 World Cup.
Nonetheless, his journey as captain of Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has revitalized his career. He scored two centuries in 11 matches, emerging as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with a total of 588 runs, equaling a record in the process.
After winning the PSL 2026 title, Babar stated in a post-match press conference, “My focus is on all three formats. It is not a player’s job to decide which format to leave out; a player’s job is to play. In my opinion, every player should participate in all formats of cricket. You should not only focus on white-ball or T20 cricket. Red-ball cricket provides immense experience. It teaches you how to build an innings and instills patience.”
He further added, “When you play four-day cricket or any domestic tournament, you gain experience in playing ‘long’ innings. You should play in all formats because each format supports the others. Red-ball cricket aids your performance in T20 and ODI formats. The patience and mindset you develop while playing Test matches significantly benefit your white-ball cricket.”
Babar will soon have the opportunity to maintain his form, as the Pakistan team is set to play a two-Test series against Bangladesh at home, starting this Friday. His last Test century was scored in December 2022. Prior to this year’s PSL, his performance in limited-overs cricket was also not impressive, with only one half-century in a T20 match against Australia in early February.
Regarding his poor form, Babar commented, “I was not happy with my performance, but it is normal for a batsman to go through such phases. You need to take a step back, understand your mistakes, and work on them. During such times, support and encouragement are crucial, which I received from my family and friends. I discussed my weaknesses with my coaches and worked on them. Life is like a rollercoaster; circumstances are never the same. Good and bad experiences provide learning, and that is the essence of life.”
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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