Babar Azam Opens Up On His Personal Goals For ICC World Cup 2023, Says 'I Am Not Worried About My Individual Accolades'
Published - 26 Sep 2023, 06:53 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:19 AM
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam opened up about his personal goals for the ICC World Cup 2023, stating that he prioritises team success over individual accolades. Babar Azam expressed his excitement to play against India in the packed stadium crowd in Ahmedabad.
Babar Azam will lead the Pakistan National Cricket Team in the upcoming World Cup, which is set to begin on October 5. The 28-year-old was the leading scorer for his team in the last edition of the ODI World Cup, scoring 474 runs in eight innings at an average of 67.71.
It’s A Chance To Become – Babar Azam
When asked about his personal goals for the World Cup during a press conference in Lahore, Babar Azam expressed his hope to perform his best on the field, emphasizing the importance of not succumbing to pressure in high-stakes tournaments.
“I am excited to play in Ahmedabad as it will be jam-packed. I will try my best to perform up to my potential. I am not worried about my individual accolades, I want to make sure whatever I do helps the result for the team … Whenever there is a tour coming up, I spend some time planning for it,” Babar told reporters.
“I prepare according to [the teams I have to face] and make goals for myself. I try to set targets for myself and then I give my 100% in the ground. The rest I leave up to God, as the results are in His hand … Whenever you are playing a big tournament, it is a very exciting opportunity.”
“It is a chance to become a hero as every World Cup performance gives you a different kind of confidence. Everyone is at their best during the World Cup, so whenever you perform there, it is an altogether different feeling. Performances come when you do not take pressure so that is also important,” he added.
The Babar Azam-led team will take on archrivals India in the highly anticipated encounter at the world’s largest stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on October 14.
They Have Had A Few Bad Days – Babar Azam
Babar Azam acknowledged recent criticism of the spinners’ performances but expressed confidence in their abilities. He emphasised that they have earned their place in the team through their past performances.
“There has been a lot of criticism on the spinners. They have had a few bad days but they are not ordinary players. It is not easy to play for the Pakistan team—they have gotten here on the back of their performances. I have full faith in them.”
Pakistan World Cup Squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.
