‘Don’t Have To Justify Myself To Anyone’ – Babar Azam lashes at reporters questioning his captaincy

After a disappointing Test season at home, speculations about Babar Azam’s future as captain of Pakistan swamped the internet. When asked if he was considering resigning as Test captain due to his poor home record since last year, Babar shot off the question in a press conference prior to the ODI series against New Zealand.

Babar, when asked about his captaincy and whether it was affecting his batting, said  “I don’t have to justify myself to anyone. I know how I am doing. My focus is on performing well for Pakistan”. He also said the players were excited about the One-Day series beginning at the National Stadium on Monday.

We have followed a particular pattern in white ball cricket and we will want to do that: Babar Azam 

“In white-ball formats, we have performed well and we want to continue with that momentum against New Zealand although we know they are a very good side and it will be a tough series for both teams,” he added.

Additionally, Babar stated that he and the head coach were frequently in meetings providing their opinion and detailing their ideas to the selectors and that he had no difficulties with the interim chief selector Shahid Afridi regarding player selection. “I think we are on the same page that is important. We have our best bowlers back and hopefully, we can do well against New Zealand.”

Kane Williamson of New Zealand stated that the conditions would determine the strategy his team will use during the three-match series. “We have followed a particular pattern in white ball cricket and we will want to do that but it is a new experience for some of our players to be playing in the subcontinent conditions and they will have to adapt accordingly during the match.”

Williamson, who last reached a century in an ODI in 2019, said he was not pressured by that since what mattered was that everyone was scoring runs for the team at crucial moments.

Williamson stated that no substitute for fast bowler Matt Henry, who was forced to withdraw from the white ball series in Pakistan and India owing to injury, had been selected. All three ODI matches would be played in Karachi during the upcoming week.