Pakistan’s star batter and former captain, Babar Azam, admitted that while he tries to play well, he has been unable to convert good starts into big innings.
Speaking after Pakistan’s victory against South Africa in the tri-series, Babar said, “Whenever I go out to bat, my aim is to score well, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to finish games. Rizwan and Salman played brilliantly, and such performances boost the team’s confidence.”
He also addressed the title of “King Babar,” saying, “Please stop calling me a king; I am not one yet. Time will tell. The opening is a new role for me in the champions trophy, and I’ve taken it on as per the team’s demands. When the innings builds, I get a better understanding of the game and the pitch, but I still struggle to convert my starts into long innings.”
Babar further added, “I talk to myself about how to overcome this situation. My past performances don’t matter; if I dwell on them, I won’t be able to perform in the future. Every new day comes with a fresh plan and mindset. Scoring big totals boosts confidence.”
“Finger Still Swollen, But Hope to Recover Soon” – Shaheen Afridi
Pakistan’s ace fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has assured fans that his finger is improving after an X-ray, though some swelling remains. “I hope it gets better soon,” he said.
Shaheen also addressed Pakistan’s recent death-over struggles, stating, “The purpose of these matches is to prepare well for the Champions Trophy.”
Speaking about his on-field spat with a South African batter, Shaheen clarified, “For the first time, he didn’t say anything—I was the one trying to get under his skin to take a wicket. Later, when he took a single, he hit me. But whatever happened on the field stays there. We play for our country, and so do they.”
Shaheen concluded with a strong message: “There is no Babar or Shaheen here—only Pakistan. As long as negativity exists, progress will be difficult.”
