My only goal is to win World Cup, says Babar Azam

DALLAS: Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam has set his sights firmly on winning the upcoming World Cup, saying that individual goals are secondary to his primary objective which is : winning the World Cup.

"My sole aim is to win the World Cup," he stated while talking to the media on Wednesday in Dallas. "I focus on what the team needs from me. My personal records are immaterial."

Describing the team's thorough preparations for their tour in the United States, the skipper said, "We have come to the USA well-prepared. We know the style of cricket we need to play. Our goal is to perform well in the World Cup and achieve success."

He said the team had past experiences of playing under similar conditions. Sharing insights into the team's training routines, Azam said, "Our batters have been training indoors, while our bowlers have been practising on the field. We have utilised all available facilities. The lack of a warm-up matches does not matter because we have been playing continuously," he explained.

Azam also touched upon the unique challenge of playing cricket in the US for the first time, urging players not to focus on what is missing or the distance from the hotel. "That is the PCB's job. We are here to play cricket," he added.

Evaluating the T20 World Cup matches so far, Azam observed that high-scoring games have been rare so far. "Some of our players have played here before. Hence, they understand the conditions here," he said, mentioning past experiences of Shadab, Imad, and Haris of playing in the US.

Azam stressed the importance of flexible strategies for the team, saying, "We plan based on what benefits the team. Batting positions are not fixed and can change depending on the situation."

"Unfortunately, Saim Ayub could not deliver the expected performance. He is as a game-changer, but he could not get the opportunity he needed," he noted.

Expressing confidence in all players of his squad, Azam highlighted Shadab Khan's reliability. "I trust every player, but I have the most faith in Shadab because he has performed in various conditions. Shadab is valuable in all aspects of the game, and I hope the conditions here suit him," he said.

Azam acknowledged the ups and downs that cricketers face and stressed the importance of supporting each player. "We support our players through thick and thin. The more we support them, the better is it for the team. If one player has a bad day, others cover for them," he remarked.

Discussing the upcoming match against the US, Azam showed confidence in his team's abilities despite the home advantage for the Americans. "I believe in my team. The USA conditions are favouring pacers. Our fast bowlers also are performing well, and I have confidence in them," he said.

Azam called on senior players to take responsibility and avoid past mistakes. "Our World Cup campaign starts the day after tomorrow. All senior players need to step up. We'll strive not to repeat past errors," he stressed.