Babar Azam's Father Azam Siddique Reveals Reason Why His Son Picked LPL Over Global T20 Canada

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s father, Azam Siddique, revealed the reason behind his son’s decision to play in the ongoing edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka. Azam Siddique admitted that Babar Azam rejected a better offer from the G20 League in Canada to play in the LPL 2023.

Babar Azam is currently representing the Colombo Strikers in the LPL 2023 season. The right-handed batter scored seven runs off eight balls in his debut match. However, he bounced back with a match-winning half-century in the second game. He was named player of the match for scoring 59 runs.

It Is Intensely Hot In Sri Lanka – Azam Siddique

Azam Siddique said that Babar Azam decided to stay in Sri Lanka to acclimatize to the humid conditions, considering that the Asia Cup 2023 would be held in the country.

“Salaam [Hello] Pakistan, Babar told me during the Sri Lanka Test series that he would be receiving the same amount of money for the Global T20 Canada league, which is for 10 [16] days, and the Colombo League [Lanka Premier League], which is for 25 days. The weather in Canada would also be very good, while it is intensely hot in Sri Lanka.

I suggested playing the Sri Lanka League, also mentioning that the Asia Cup would also be held in the country. Pakistan could also play Afghanistan in Sri Lanka as well, and the experience of handling difficult wickets will also help in the World Cup,” he wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvYJC5sIEso/

Pakistan recently played a two-match Test series against the Dimuth Karunaratne-led team as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25. The Babar Azam-led team whitewashed the opposition to reach the top of the WTC points table.

Prepared To Do Everything For The Country – Azam Siddique

Azam Siddique went on to say that Babar Azam decided to give his all for the country rather than choosing the “tempting” offer of playing in good weather conditions.

“Those ten days of playing in the best weather and then ten days of rest at home are tempting, but he was prepared to do everything for the country. During a match recently in Sri Lanka, he had to sit and rest twice and he could not breathe properly in the heat.

All I want to say is that no matter what we do, it should be for Pakistan. Long live Pakistan,” he concluded.

Pakistan will take on Nepal in their first match of the Asia Cup 2023 in Multan on Wednesday, August 30. The Men in Green will face arch-rivals India at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Saturday, September 2.