In 2017, Babar Azam, then 22 years old, was a bright and talented player who assisted Pakistan in winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
After nearly eight years, he has emerged as one of the top hitters in the world in every format, and he is determined to help his nation achieve the same success.
Babar Azam made his international debut thanks to the 2017 competition. Pakistan won by 180 runs at The Oval, a victory that will live on in the national cricketing mind, thanks to a normally active 46 from 52 balls in the final versus India.
However, in the upcoming weeks, the graceful right-hander hopes to create more memories in front of the devoted Pakistani people since he refuses to live in the past.
“I am ecstatic,” he declared. “After a very long time, we will host an ICC competition in Pakistan. All of the fans are as eager as I am as a player.
“The victorious moment, Hasan Ali’s spell, Mohammad Amir’s spell, and Fakhar Zaman’s innings (of 114) are my main recollections of the 2017 final.
As a young athlete, it was a novel experience for me. There was both excitement and anxiety when playing India, but we relished and celebrated our victory.
Since the Champions Trophy was contested in 2017, a lot has changed. We only have three or four players from that championship squad, and we have new guys coming. However, the execution, confidence, and belief are all the same.
Two of the biggest names in the sport will square off when Pakistan and New Zealand begin the tournament in Karachi on Wednesday. Babar will face Kiwi sensation Kane Williamson.
Although Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root are members of the England, Australia, and India teams, respectively, Babar Azam remains unmatched in ODI cricket and entered the tournament as the top-ranked batter in the world for the 50-over format.
“I take it positively when you have responsibility as a senior player on any team and the team believes in you and depends on you,” he said.
“In every match, I strive to give it my all. I strive to play well so I may enjoy cricket and help Pakistan win.
If Pakistan wants to improve on their current tournament performance, his form will be essential. They lost to co-hosts USA in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year, and they were eliminated in the group stage of the previous two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups.
“There isn’t any pressure,” Babar Azam stated.
“We cannot control what has happened in the past. We have talked about our past errors and have made progress. Therefore, we will make an effort to avoid repeating our previous actions.
If Pakistan’s fortunes are to change, home advantage might be crucial. Lahore, Babar’s hometown, is one of the three Pakistani cities hosting games, and he thinks his team will succeed thanks to local knowledge.
“You have an advantage when you play at home because you are familiar with the conditions,” he remarked.
“Even though you know how the pitch will play in the first and second innings, you still need to play well since every other team is one of the greatest.
Being the competition’s host means a lot. People in Pakistan adore cricket, and they are quite welcoming.
“Cricket brings everyone together. Everyone is united by it, and Pakistan as a whole is fervently hoping for victory. Everyone agrees on that.
India
