Former Pakistan captain and current Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam has addressed questions about his T20 international future, performance expectations, and public scrutiny over his strike rate.
In a recent interview, Babar responded to growing speculation about his place in Pakistan’s T20 squad.
He said the decision ultimately rests with the selectors. “Only the selectors and coaches can answer what they’re thinking about my T20 career. My job is to perform—whether it’s in T20s, ODIs, or Tests,” he said. “As long as Allah wills, I will continue to play.”
Babar confirmed that he was informed about being rested from recent T20 fixtures, adding, “Let’s see what they decide.”
Reflecting on Peshawar Zalmi’s campaign in HBL PSL 10, the 30-year-old admitted that inconsistency has hampered the team.
“We tried to build a winning combination and managed two victories, but we need to maintain consistency,” he said. “Our fielding hasn’t been up to the mark. We have to avoid losing wickets at crucial moments or dropping catches.”
On his personal form, Babar acknowledged fan expectations. “People want to see me bat longer. I haven’t lived up to that recently, but I try to learn from every mistake.”
Addressing frequent criticism over his strike rate, Babar defended his style. “I know there’s a lot of talk about strike rate and aggression. I play according to the team’s needs and match situations,” he said. “I don’t need to prove who I am—everyone already knows.”
He also emphasized his flexibility in the batting order, stating, “No one has changed positions as much as I have. I’ve batted from six to opening, both in Tests and T20s. I do whatever the team requires.”
Rejecting suggestions that T20 cricket affects ODI performance, Babar highlighted his love for the 50-over format. “ODIs test your patience. Despite high scores, the format still has value. Some of my best innings have come in ODIs.”
On the Pakistan Super League, Babar praised the competition’s standards. “PSL remains a top-tier league. The fast bowling quality is world-class, and foreign players make an effort to be here.”
Ending on a humble note, Babar said he prefers to let his cricket speak for itself. “Even when I was ranked number one, I wasn’t satisfied. I always want to do more for Pakistan.”
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