Babar Azam Lauds PCB For Conducting Online Sessions With Former Cricketers; Terms It As A Confidence Booster

Babar Azam, Pakistan’s T20I captain and the current No.1 ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game, has thanked the PCB’s online training sessions, terming them as ‘rewarding’ and confidence booster for al the players.

With cricket currently on the backburner, Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] had come up with a brilliant initiative of conducting online training sessions in a bid to keep the players motivated during the lockdown. The online sessions, involving the current and emerging red and white-ball cricketers from the country, which had started from April 27th, ended on Saturday.

The sessions were conducted by the former legendary cricketers including the likes of Javed Miandad, Rashid Latif, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed, Muhammad Yousuf, Moin Khan, Younus Khan and Shoaib Akhtar.

Lauding the initiative, Babar Azam said that the sessions have helped in increasing the confidence of the players.

“The online sessions were very rewarding, wonderful, and have helped in increasing the confidence of the players. From the start of my career I have tried to model my game and seek inspiration from Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan,” Babar Azam told ANI.

Babar Azam added: “Listening to them has further increased my confidence and I can’t wait to put in practice the tips they gave during the lectures. If the lockdown prevails for long, I would strive to stay in contact with these players and seek their guidance on a long term basis,”

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Misbah Ul Haq thanks former players for taking part in the online session

The sessions saw former cricketers stress on the importance of discipline, temperament, hard work, and confidence in becoming a successful cricketer at the international level. Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah Ul Haq thanked all the former greats for taking out their time to take part in the online training program.

“I am thankful to all the greats who took time out and spoke to the players. These lectures have proven to be a wonderful experience for the players especially in these unprecedented and challenging times,” he said.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said that talking to the likes of Moin Khan and Rashid Khan has improved his confidence and their tips will surely help him during his wicketkeeping.

“I consider myself fortunate to belong to a city that is famous for producing top-notch wicketkeepers, including Rashid Latif and Moin Khan. Since I also live in Karachi, I keep interacting with both from time to time yet each and every session with these greats provides some valuable lessons and these lectures were no different. Moin Khan and Rashid Latif improved my confidence; tips by these wicketkeeping greats are very useful for me,” Sarfaraz Ahmed said.

A total of 45 current and emerging players took part in the online training session.

Also Read: Sarfaraz Ahmed Demoted To ‘Category C’ In PCB Central Contract