Babar Azam recalls his early struggle days in international cricket

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

Pakistan captain Babar Azam sat down with the England legend Naseer Hussain and answered all the questions in an interview session ahead of the first Test, which will be played in Rawalpindi from December 01, 2022.

The 27-year-old said his father played a vital role in helping him pursue his career in cricket.

ALSO READ: England to pay 'special attention' to Babar Azam, says James Anderson

"My father's role is very important; he supported me a lot. Whenever I am going to play cricket in Lahore, we have different grounds; my father took me everywhere, he used to see all my matches and guided me on how to improve my batting day by day," Babar said.

Nasser Hussain then asks Babar Azam at which particular moment he got to know he would become an international player.

 "I think in under-19 cricket, when I was playing under-19 matches in Australia, so after that, I knew I will play for Pakistan, and when I came in Pakistan team, I started well, but within one and a half years as my career started in International cricket, I struggled. Management said that he was not good enough to play cricket for Pakistan, and from that moment, I decided no, I am good enough to play for Pakistan and tried my level best to perform."

Babar Azam also mentioned Mickey Arthur as the former coach who guided the right-handed batter during his struggle early in his career.

"Mickey Arthur supported me a lot; he gave me a chance, he said you just play and don't bring negative thoughts in your mind. The turnaround moment that in the series against West Indies, I scored three consecutive centuries and then I started and gradually became a professional cricketer."

The 28-year-old stated that former South African captain AB de Villiers is his ideal cricketer and that he imitated him while playing shots in his childhood.

"I watched AB de Villiers play on television and used to practice hitting shots like him," he told.

On the other hand, Babar welcomed the English team to Pakistan and expressed that he is excited about the historic Test series.

 

Nasser Hussain interviews Babar Azam ahead of the start of Pakistan vs England Test series 🎙️#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/lo3AvT7UMZ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 29, 2022