Babar Azam requested media and fans to stop calling him ‘King,’ emphasizing the need to focus on team success over personal accolades. He credited teammates Rizwan and Salman for their key roles in a historic win against South Africa. As captain, he remains committed to evolving as a player while leading Pakistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Babar Azam, the star cricketer of Pakistan, has expressed his desire for the media to refrain from calling him “King.” Following a record-breaking run chase against South Africa, he emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s collective progress rather than individual titles. He stated, “Please stop calling me King. I am not King, I am not there yet. There are new roles for me now.”
Babar acknowledged the outstanding contributions of his teammates, Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman, whose 261-run partnership led Pakistan to a remarkable victory, successfully chasing down South Africa’s 353-run target with an over to spare. He praised their performances, saying, “The team had a plan, and I stuck to it. Agha and Rizwan played brilliantly today,” highlighting the team effort behind the success.
Adapting to a new role following an injury to Saim Ayub, Babar opened the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman in the recent ODI match, where he scored 23 runs in 19 balls. Despite his recent struggle with form, he is determined to improve as a player and leader, focusing on immediate challenges. “Whatever I have done before is in the past. Every match is a fresh challenge, and I must focus on the present and future,” he remarked.
With this victory, Pakistan advanced to the tri-series final against New Zealand in Karachi, their last ODI before the Champions Trophy. The tournament, co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, will kick off on February 19, 2024. Notably, Team India is set to play all their matches in Dubai due to security concerns regarding travel to Pakistan.
Babar Azam has urged the media and fans to stop referring to him as ‘King’ to shift focus towards team achievements rather than individual titles. Acknowledging his teammates’ contributions in a recent victory, he highlighted the importance of collective effort. As he adjusts his role in the team amidst challenges, Babar is focused on the present and upcoming tournaments, including the Champions Trophy where Pakistan will be co-hosting.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
