Babar Azam has talked about learning from previous experiences, both good and bad, ahead of his second tenure as Pakistan's Test captain. The announcement came ahead of the Men in Green's away series against the West Indies, commencing on July 25.
Babar emphasised three aspects of the game he needs his side to focus on, those being fitness, discipline and performance. The right-handed batter claimed that the aforementioned aspects are non-negotiable and backs the rest of the players to work on them
going forward. He also stated how happy he was to have been allowed to lead Pakistan again in the longest format of the game.
"It is an honour for me to be leading Pakistan again. I have learned from my past experience of leading the side and playing as a player. I am very confident this time and I feel I have improved and matured. So, I will be leading this team with better planning and a positive mindset this time around … There were negatives and positives in my last tenure, which I analysed and it provided me clarity. My main focus is on discipline, fitness, and performance and there would be no compromise on them. They are of utmost importance for me to build this team. I have always backed the players whenever I have led the team, but that can only be done when there is a positive response from the players," Babar Azam said to PCB, via Cricinfo.
Babar also fully backed a new-look Pakistan squad ahead of their series in the Caribbean thanks to their noteworthy performances in domestic cricket.
"This is a young team and it has best performers from our domestic circuit. I feel confident of leading this side because these all are the best players we have. As a senior player and captain, you have to be aware how you have to get performances out of them while keeping the environment calm, because international cricket is all about handling pressure. I talk to them about how they can handle different situations and remain focused," he added.
The talismanic captain also spoke about his batting style, something that has always raised questions amongst fans and media alike. The 31-year-old claimed that he will adjust his batting based on the situation at hand for the betterment of the team.
"I try to take responsibility rather than batting for myself when I walk to the middle. It doesn't matter whether I am captaining the team. If the team needs me to score quickly, I do that. If the situation demands me to be defensive, I mould myself in that manner. The pressure is always there when you bat [whether you are a captain or not]. I enjoy the responsibility," Babar Azam said.
Pakistan squad for Tests in the West Indies and England:
Babar Azam (C), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghouri, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah
