Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Babar Azam at a press conference ahead of the 1st T20I against Bangladesh:
"We welcome the Bangladesh team, their side is quite strong. We have some youngsters also like Haris, Shaheen making his comeback so we have a good combination. I think we will see good competition in this series.
"I am captaining in my country for the first time and it's a big achievement for me. When I became the captain, I also mentioned that during my journey, I came here 10-15 years ago as a ball picker so it's a big achievement for me to be sitting here as the captain of Pakistan.
"Our focus is on preserving our #1 ranking and that will only happen when we win matches so we aim to win this series comprehensively to remain #1.
"We have prepared well, we played 4 matches during the 6-day camp and did proper match practice. Our team is gelled and in good form and we're hopeful of getting good results.
"There is no pressure on us as such, what's happened is in the past. We will try to not repeat the mistakes of past series and we will try to focus on our strengths and perform as well as we can.
"I haven't seen the wicket, in the matches we have played the wicket is a bit slow so the main wicket may also be a little slow due to the weather. We will plan accordingly and decide what team to play.
"They (Hafeez and Malik) were part of the team for the last year when we were doing well and we were #1 so I gave my opinion to the coach and selectors. I am thankful that they took it into consideration. They are senior players and in captaincy, I will get to learn a lot from them.
"With two seniors coming back, the team isn't that young. We made some changes which happens when someone isn't in form, that's natural. There is no pressure as such, we will rely on our performing players and they will insha'Allah win us matches. In fast-bowling, Shaheen is making a comeback, Haris Rauf did well in BBL.
"We will see the pitch tomorrow and decide what lineup to play. From my point of view, a good total should be around 180-190.
"The players are confident and in form, they did well in the practice matches and look to be in good touch.
"We don't take any team lightly, Bangladesh have the potential to do well. We will try to be positive and play good cricket.
"With young players, I want to give them confidence and let them perform in the same way they have been doing in domestic cricket and in leagues. The more they are backed, the more they will perform.
"I think batting is our strength because we bat till #8-9, we have senior players also and Iftikhar is in good form and did well in Australia. Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan can help with power hitting so I think our batting is quite strong.
"I would give him (Mushfiqur Rahim) the message that it would have been nice if you had come with the team, but he must have had his own reasons and I can't comment much on that.
"To maintain #1, it's do or die for us, we can't lose any matches so we are planning accordingly and telling players to give 110% to keep our #1 position intact.
"The players coming back will be given proper chances in the 3 matches. You and I can't tell how they will perform but we will see how they do on the day. After that, we also have PSL so we will get to see who is and who isn't performing and the picture will be clearer.
"In our last couple of series, it's not that they (Wahab and Amir) performed very badly. They did well but in 1-2 matches they had a couple of bad overs and rumours started that they didn't bowl well or something. With this series, we have Shaheen making a comeback and he has done well in recent matches and in practice matches. Haris Rauf did well in BBL and the more confidence we give to him, the better it will be for him.
"In T20I, the bigger total you make, the better it is for the bowlers. It's not that you make 140-150 and tell the bowlers to defend it, that happens sometimes. The stronger the total and tone you can set, the better it will be for the bowlers.
"We welcome the Bangladesh team, their side is quite strong. We have some youngsters also like Haris, Shaheen making his comeback so we have a good combination. I think we will see good competition in this series.
"I am captaining in my country for the first time and it's a big achievement for me. When I became the captain, I also mentioned that during my journey, I came here 10-15 years ago as a ball picker so it's a big achievement for me to be sitting here as the captain of Pakistan.
"Our focus is on preserving our #1 ranking and that will only happen when we win matches so we aim to win this series comprehensively to remain #1.
"We have prepared well, we played 4 matches during the 6-day camp and did proper match practice. Our team is gelled and in good form and we're hopeful of getting good results.
"There is no pressure on us as such, what's happened is in the past. We will try to not repeat the mistakes of past series and we will try to focus on our strengths and perform as well as we can.
"I haven't seen the wicket, in the matches we have played the wicket is a bit slow so the main wicket may also be a little slow due to the weather. We will plan accordingly and decide what team to play.
"They (Hafeez and Malik) were part of the team for the last year when we were doing well and we were #1 so I gave my opinion to the coach and selectors. I am thankful that they took it into consideration. They are senior players and in captaincy, I will get to learn a lot from them.
"With two seniors coming back, the team isn't that young. We made some changes which happens when someone isn't in form, that's natural. There is no pressure as such, we will rely on our performing players and they will insha'Allah win us matches. In fast-bowling, Shaheen is making a comeback, Haris Rauf did well in BBL.
"We will see the pitch tomorrow and decide what lineup to play. From my point of view, a good total should be around 180-190.
"The players are confident and in form, they did well in the practice matches and look to be in good touch.
"We don't take any team lightly, Bangladesh have the potential to do well. We will try to be positive and play good cricket.
"With young players, I want to give them confidence and let them perform in the same way they have been doing in domestic cricket and in leagues. The more they are backed, the more they will perform.
"I think batting is our strength because we bat till #8-9, we have senior players also and Iftikhar is in good form and did well in Australia. Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan can help with power hitting so I think our batting is quite strong.
"I would give him (Mushfiqur Rahim) the message that it would have been nice if you had come with the team, but he must have had his own reasons and I can't comment much on that.
"To maintain #1, it's do or die for us, we can't lose any matches so we are planning accordingly and telling players to give 110% to keep our #1 position intact.
"The players coming back will be given proper chances in the 3 matches. You and I can't tell how they will perform but we will see how they do on the day. After that, we also have PSL so we will get to see who is and who isn't performing and the picture will be clearer.
"In our last couple of series, it's not that they (Wahab and Amir) performed very badly. They did well but in 1-2 matches they had a couple of bad overs and rumours started that they didn't bowl well or something. With this series, we have Shaheen making a comeback and he has done well in recent matches and in practice matches. Haris Rauf did well in BBL and the more confidence we give to him, the better it will be for him.
"In T20I, the bigger total you make, the better it is for the bowlers. It's not that you make 140-150 and tell the bowlers to defend it, that happens sometimes. The stronger the total and tone you can set, the better it will be for the bowlers.
