Babar Azam eyes Sangakkara’s record of four consecutive tons
sharjah — A fast emerging Pakistani batting talent, Babar Azam, is aiming to emulate Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara by scoring four consecutive centuries in the limited overs cricket.
He scored three back-to-back ODI hundreds (120, 123 and 117 ) against the West Indies in the UAE. Babar became the eighth batsman overall and third from Pakistan, after Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar, to achieve this feat. Kumar Sangakkara is the only player to hit four consecutive ODI centuries.
“I have also scored three consecutive centuries in first class cricket. Before the start of the series against West Indies, I wanted to score at least one century in three onedayers,” he said in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times. “I was in good form but was getting out after reaching 30s and 40s. This time I promised myself to concentrate harder after crossing 30 and it helped me while getting the first century of my international career. The next two were comparatively easy for me,” he explained.
Post his three successive tons, there have been comparisons with Pakistani legendary batsmen. “I feel honoured to be bracketed with greats like Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar. The next ODI will be against Australia and I hope to perform well in tough conditions.
“I have played in Australia before and I know the conditions. I will try to score one more and equal Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara’s record of four consecutive centuries,” he hoped.
“Cricket was my craze since childhood and I paid little attention to studies,” pointed out the paternal cousin of Akmal brothers.
“My parents used to scold me and I even got beaten up several times for what my parents considered a bad habit,” he added. Babar, however, refused to give up, playing the game in the streets of Lahore.
“My stubbornness forced my family to give in and they finally enrolled me with a club, which helped me hone my skills,” he said. Rest, as they say, is history as he has never looked back since then. Babar was finally selected for U-16 and continued impressing selectors with his performances. The right-hander continued his climb up the ladder and was the leading run-getter in an U-19 tri-series which also involved Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2009 in Sri Lanka. He captained U-19 side during the 2012 World Cup in Australia. Pakistan lost to India in the semifinal but he was the team’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 298 runs.
Younis Khan’s absence in the first Test provided a chance for Babar to make his Test debut against West Indies in Dubai. He scored an impressive 69 in the first innings.
“I had a chance to score a century on my debut but the situation demanded to accelerate the scoring as we wanted to declare the innings. I have no regrets and there will be chances in future to score centuries. “It doesn’t bother me that I am not in playing XI. Since I am with the team and learning a lot in the company of Misbahul-Haq and Younis. These playing legends are role models for youngsters like me in every sense of the word,” Babar concluded.
liaqat@khaleejtimes.com