RAWALPINDI: As Pakistan go into the second One-Day International today (Saturday) against New Zealand with high spirits following an emphatic win in the five-match series opener, captain Babar Azam Friday said that his entire focus has always been to win matches for the country rather than making efforts to achieve personal landmarks.
In an exclusive interview with ‘The News’ ahead of the second ODI, Pakistan batting sensation and all-format captain said achieving victories for the country has been his top priority.
“I have never focused on individual milestones. My focus has always been to deliver for the team and give such performances that win matches for my team. When you play with that goal, you achieve milestones along the way. The aim should always be to give impactful performances. These milestones and records are byproducts of that mentality,” when asked how excited he was to become the fastest batter to reach 12,000 runs in international cricket.
“I do not have any personal ambition. What I want is to strive for the country’s success. Each time I land at the wicket, I want to win the day for the team and for the country. I never have focused on achieving one record or the other. These things come with performance. But my main aim has always been to win the matches and tournaments for the country and make my performance count,” he said.
To a question on Fakhar Zaman’s words of praise his and Mohammad Rizwan’s achievements for the country, he said, his words were a reflection of a true team spirit.
“What Fakhar has said is a reflection of our team culture. We back and encourage each other. We spend time with each other a lot more than we do with our families and to become a well-bonded unit, it is important to stand by your teammates and enjoy each other's success. We back each other in an effort to get the best results for the team and for the country,” he said.
Babar refused to share any details about Shan Masood’s below-par display in ODI cricket where he has so far scored 112 runs in seven matches he played with a poor average of 16 runs per innings.
“I would like to keep the cards closer to my chest at the moment,” he said.
Abdul Mohi Shah Abdul Mohi Shah is a senior reporter for The News- Babar Azam