Babar addresses NRR plan, captaincy, own performance as World Cup exit looms

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Pakistan will face England in their final pool match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on Saturday in Kolkata.

The Men in Green are currently ranked fifth in the 2023 World Cup points table with eight points and a net run rate of +0.036 and in order to reach the semi-final round of the mega-event, they will have to beat England by around 287 runs while batting first or by about 284 balls to spare while chasing the target.

While speaking in the pre-match presser, Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed confidence in his team's ability to secure a victory and emphasized the importance of a strategic approach.

"We have planned regarding net run-rate against England. However, we cannot start blind slogging from ball one. We have planned how to play the first 10 overs and what to do after that. If Fakhar Zaman plays for 20-30 overs, we can achieve what’s required,” Babar said.

Addressing concerns about Pakistan's potential exit from World Cup 2023, Babar stated that cricket is an unpredictable game, and no one is certain about what is going to happen next.

"You never know what'll happen next; we have a match left,” Babar said.

Pakistan skipper dismissed notions of feeling the weight of captaincy on his shoulders, asserting that he has not succumbed to pressure during his three-year tenure as captain.

"I have not performed the way I should have in the World Cup, that's why people are saying that I am under pressure. I am under no pressure," insisted the 29-year-old.

"Everyone has their own point of view, their own way of thinking. Everyone is saying something different. He should be like this, or like that.

"If someone has to give me advice, everyone has my number. It is easy to give advice on TV. If you want to give me some advice, you can message me."

The 29-year-old also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from fans in India and addressed criticism regarding his strike rate, clarifying that his primary focus has always been on playing for the team.

"Pakistan received a lot of love and support in India. I never had a target to score my fifties. Many people criticized that I played with a slow strike rate, but the situation matters to me. I always played for the team,” Babar asserted.

Reflecting on the team's overall performance in the tournament, Babar stated that the failure to execute their overall plan, rather than specific elements like bowling or batting, has been the primary factor behind their shortcomings.

"You cannot blame bowling or batting. We failed to execute our overall plan. There is a very small margin of error in the World Cup. We aim to learn from our mistakes in this World Cup,” he further said.

Moreover, Babar addressed ongoing speculations about his captaincy, emphasizing that discussions regarding his leadership role will only take place once the World Cup concludes.

"PCB will discuss my captaincy once the World Cup ends and we go back to Pakistan because, for now, I am only focused on the remaining league match in this World Cup," he said.

Lastly, Babar debunked the notion that Pakistan has consistently underperformed in World Cups since 1999, highlighting the team's success in winning the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy.

"This is a wrong call that Pakistan has been poor in World Cups since 1999. We won the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Pakistan is playing good cricket but only failing to finish in World Cups," he concluded.