Monitoring Desk
\nLAHORE
\nPakistan\u2019s captain Babar Azam on Friday said that the team is very excited to go on its New Zealand tour, adding that it will perform to the best of its abilities.
\nAddressing a press conference in Lahore, Azam said that players are well-prepared to take on the challenge.
\n\u201cWe are playing back to back and are confident about our performance,\u201d Babar Azam said. \u201cOur record in New Zealand has been good. We will play good cricket.\u201d
\nPakistan announced its tour to New Zealand in September this year. The two teams will play three T20Is and two Tests from December 18 to January 7. The team will depart in the last week of November after which they will enter a two-week quarantine period in Lincoln following New Zealand government\u2019s COVID-19 protocols.
\nRead more: Misbah-ul-Haq announces Pakistan squad for New Zealand tour
\nThe skipper maintained that the team is taking the tour as a challenge as well as a responsibility, but it is not under any kind of pressure.
\n\u201cWe will enjoy the tour and make efforts to present a good game. I have tried to learn a lot from my experience.\u201d
\nThanking his teammates Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azhar Ali, Babar Azam said that he has not only learned from them but will also consult them whenever needed.
\n\u201cI am the one responsible for making decisions but I will consult them too,\u201d Babar Azam maintained. \u201cI try to take responsibility and play with the same responsibility.\u201d
\nAnswering a question, he said that there is no concept of grouping among the players, stressing that the team sees itself as a single unit.
\n\u201cAll the players are very good and try to play well. We always face challenges and playing abroad is a difficult task, but we have been playing well when abroad. For example, we showed a good performance in England,\u201d Azam said.
\nThe captain also praised the team\u2019s young fast bowlers, adding that they must be supported by everyone.
\nAzam also expressed his gratitude to the former head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team Mickey Arthur, saying that his guidance has given him the confidence to perform better.
\n\u201cI am aiming to score a century in the upcoming New Zealand, Australia, and England tours,\u201d he said.
\nBabar Azam reiterated that the Pakistan Cricket Board has given him the freedom and confidence to continue a long-term captaincy, therefore, he is not under any kind of performance pressure.
\nEven though Babar demonstrated confidence in his team, he did not rule out the unpredictable nature of cricket.
\n\u201cPlayers need confidence and hard work on every tour. However, the result is not in our hands,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monitoring Desk LAHORE Pakistan\u2019s captain Babar Azam on Friday said that the team is very excited to go on its New Zealand tour, adding that it will perform to the best of its abilities. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Azam said that players are well-prepared to take on the challenge. \u201cWe are playing back […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-157596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n