We came to ‘conquer’: Babr Azam
DALLAS: As Pakistan prepares to begin its 2024 World Cup campaign on Saturday, batting captain Babar Azam expressed confidence that the team is preparing for the upcoming matches.
“We came to the US with good preparation,” Babar told reporters in Dallas, noting the team’s strategic approach and readiness to adapt to different situations.
“The batsmen are trained indoors, the bowlers are trained on the field,” he said, ensuring a balanced approach to preparation.
“Some of our players have played here before and are familiar with the conditions. Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Haris Rauf have played here before,” said Babar.
He also said that they do not expect a high-profile game here.
With USA’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on June 9, the right-handed batsman wants the former player to take responsibility in the upcoming games to avoid past mistakes.
“I believe about our fast bowling; our fast bowlers have done well here. We will try to avoid the mistakes of the past,” said the talented violinist.
“Our World Cup starts tomorrow, now all the senior players have to step up and take responsibility. My only goal is to win the World Cup; personal achievements come later. My main focus is what the team needs from me, not on personal records, ” he said.
Babar also mentioned the change in batting due to the “low performance” of Saim Ayub. He said that Shadab can replace Saim in the upcoming match.
“The batting position is not fixed, it can change depending on the situation,” said Babar.
“Unfortunately, Saim Ayub did not perform as expected. He is a defender but did not get the opportunities he needed. We are planning the best for the team,” he said.
“Shadab has performed in different situations, so we have faith in him. As captain, I have faith in all our players, especially Shadab. He is valuable in all three sides of the game, I hope the conditions here suit him,” Babar added.
“There is a problem with the cricketers, we will support them. Supporting the players is good for the whole team. It is a team game; if one player has a bad day, others come out for him,” said Babar.
“The Americans have home conditions and they are familiar with the ground here. I am sure my team will play good cricket,” he said.
Babar hopes that by playing good cricket, he can win the T20 World Cup. With the T20 World Cup being held in the USA for the first time, captains and teams need not focus on what they are missing.
“We will try to do well and be successful in the World Cup,” said Babar.
“We are not worried about the distance from the hotel or the facilities; that is the responsibility of the board. We have played in such conditions.
