‘When you get runs overseas, people sit up and take notice’ WHY PAKISTAN CAPTAIN BABAR AZAM IS KEEN TO DO WELL IN NEW ZEALAND AND PROVE HIMSELF WORTHY OF ACCOLADES
COMPARISONS with modern-day greats like Virat Kohli makes Babar Azam proud, but the young Pakistan skipper aspires to be on a pedestal from where comparisons are drawn with him.
“I feel proud to be compared to these top batsmen and to be ranked in the top five of the world.
“But my dream is that one day I also reach a stage where other batsmen are compared to me and not me being compared to others,” Babar said in an interview to a YouTube channel.
“I know that I also have to perform like them in every condition and compete with them. I also want to perform like them and win matches for the team like they do.”
Pakistan are currently in New Zealand but the tour is in doubt after a seventh member of their squad tested positive for Covid-19. The team remained confined to their hotel in Christchurch last Saturday (28).
The Pakistanis are already on a “final warning” for breaching New Zealand’s tight quarantine restrictions, with the growing number of coronavirus cases adding pressure to preparations for their opening match on December 18.
The 26-year old Azam remained hopeful the tour would go ahead, however, and said the satisfaction players got by scoring runs on tough overseas tours was immense. That was why he was all geared up to do well in New Zealand.
“When you get runs in places like Australia, England, South Africa, it gives you satisfaction and people sit up and take notice of you. New Zealand will be a tough series but I have psyched myself to continue my runs in the two Tests and three Twenty20 matches.”
“In England we did well and gave them a tough time so I am optimistic we can do well. Conditions in New Zealand are different and we have to adjust to those conditions. It’s good we are going there early so that it gives us more time to get used to their conditions.”
The Pakistan captain said he kept himself ready for all conditions but as a professional cricketer he make mistakes and from them.
“In cricket the learning process is never over. I like to study my batting whether I do well or fail. I spend hours watching videos of my batting and even others. It is a good learning exercise.”
Babar, who was named Test captain just before the tour to New Zealand, said whenever he heard former greats praising him, it gave him a boost.
“It is always nice to hear the other greats talk highly about you but it also makes me realise that I have more of a responsibility to do well and prove them right.”
Babar said he was mentally prepared for Test captaincy.
“The board had indicated to me they were considering me Test captain when they made me white ball captain last year.
“They have told me to play fearlessly and not worry about losing matches. They will support me. They have told me I am there as captain for a long time.” knew anyone could the key was to learn