Babar Azam ‘excited’ to lead Pakistan on home turf

KARACHI: World No1 batsman Babar Azam is set to lead Pakistan in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh which starts Friday (tomorrow) at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, a venue where he served as a ball-picker in the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa 13 years ago.

The 25-year-old, since making his international debut in September 2016, has moved to the top of the ICC batting charts following his consistent performance in the shortest format of the game against all opposition in different conditions.

To compliment his T20I ranking, he is ranked seventh in Tests and third in One-day Internationals.

Babar is only the second batsman in circuit with an average of over 50 in T20 Internationals. He has scored 1,405 runs in 36 matches at an average of 50.17 and only India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli has better average than him — 52.72 with 2,689 runs in 78 matches.

Appointed Pakistan captain in September 2019, this will be the first time the Lahore-born star will lead his country in front of the home crowd. Babar previously led Pakistan in Australia where his side was swept aside 2-0 in a three-match series, but he still managed to standout by striking two half-centuries.

“It seems like yesterday when I walked for almost three miles to get to the Gaddafi Stadium and work as a ball-boy for the 2007 second Test between Pakistan and South Africa,” Babar recalled, adding: “It was the love for the game and the attraction of some of the stalwarts like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq that pulled me to the home of Pakistan cricket without caring for anything else.”

“For me, it was the incentive of being closer to Test cricket and legends of the game. Pats on the back and smiles from the Test players during that match were my ultimate rewards,” he said.

“I have been very fortunate that in this journey, people have held my hand, coached and mentored me, and always stood beside me in my good and bad days.

“I owe all my success to all those unsung heroes and now it is my responsibility to continue to strive for excellence so that I can match the expectations, both as a player and captain,” said Babar.

Babar has played 10 T20Is at home and it is no surprise that he has always left a big mark. He has scores of 86, 45, 48 (against ICC World XI in Lahore), 34 not out (against Sri Lanka 2017), 17, 97 not out, 51 (against the West Indies in Karachi) and 13, 3 and 27 (against Sri Lanka in Lahore).

“There is no better feeling when you walk out to bat with your fans behind you. You feel that additional comfort that you are in a familiar territory then you grow in confidence every time you hear the applause for a good shot.”

“This is what Pakistan cricket had been missing for the past decade or so. I am from that generation of Pakistan cricketers who grew and established ourselves away from our home conditions and fans.”

Talking about captaining the side against Bangladesh, Babar said: “Captaining your country is the biggest responsibility and honour one can get. I have always aspired to play hard but fair cricket, and that’s what I will do as long as I am representing Pakistan.”

“Since the tour has been announced, I have been excited about the prospect of leading an extremely talented bunch of players onto the field. Frankly, this is what I used to dream as a young boy, and that dream is now about to turn reality,” he added.