RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam says positive things will be seen from his team in the Test series against Sri Lanka, despite several new faces in the squad. Speaking at a pre-series press conference in Rawalpindi, Babar said his message to the players is very clear.
“We have told them to play their natural game,” Babar said. “There are quite a few new boys in the squad, and we will see positive things in this Test series.” Talking about his own form, the Pakistan captain admitted there is room for improvement.
“If I talk about myself, there is definitely room for improvement. I try to learn every day,” he said. “It happens to everyone in the world that sometimes you perform, sometimes you don’t. I do my full hard work. My mindset is clear.” Babar added that his performance has not been as it should be, and he is in consultation with the coaches in this regard.
On his dismissals, Babar responded sarcastically to the criticism around him. “Whenever I get out, people say it was my mistake,” Babar said. On team selection, Babar clarified his role as captain. “The 15 players given to me, my job is to get performance out of them. Selection is their job. I am doing my work. We will do whatever is best. Where I am asked, I will definitely give my input.” He called the series very important for him both as captain and as a player.
“This series is very important for me as captain and player. A lot of expectations are attached to me, I will try to live up to them.” On former captain Mohammad Yousuf’s comments, Babar said Yousuf spoke on social media and did not contact him directly. “Mohammad Yousuf spoke on social media, he did not contact me directly. If he contacts me directly, I will definitely learn from him, he is a legend.”
