Karachi
\nBatting sensation Babar Azam is currently enjoying a purple patch with the willow while his team reached the top of ODI cricket rankings the other day.
\nThe 28-year-old skipper, who is going to play his 100th One-day International here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday when Pakistan face New Zealand in the fifth and final ODI, is now eyeing the biggest prize \u2014 the World Cup \u2014 as his next goal.
\nHe is plain in his desire, and wants to lead Pakistan to World Cup glory.
\n\u201cBeing the captain of a World Cup-winning side would be sweet,\u201d Babar said while speaking to PCB Digital.
\nPakistan, after reaching the top ODI team ranking during the fourth ODI victory against New Zealand in Karachi on Friday, can hope to do well at this year\u2019s 50-over World Cup being staged in India during October-November.
\nBabar reflected on his journey and eight-year international career thus far, recalling several career highlights including the first time he was called upon to the team.
\n\u201cIt was a different feeling altogether,\u201d Babar said.
\n\u201cThere was some talk about me being selected, but when I got the call, there was a lot of excitement. I was sitting with my family and it made them happy.
\n\u201cWhen I entered the Gaddafi Stadium as a Pakistan player, I reminisced my journey of how I used to come here as a ball picker and how I had come here before Inzamam-ul-Haq\u2019s final Test, which was against South Africa, as a net bowler,\u201d Babar recalled.
\nThe Pakistan skipper also recalled how he wasn\u2019t picked to the national academy for top performers after his first season as an under-15 regional player and the many sacrifices he made on the road to becoming an international cricketer.
\nOnce in the national team, Babar had a good start to his career but struggled to convert starts to big knocks. He recalled the role of former head coach, and now team director, Mickey Arthur in him turning around this trend with three centuries on the trot against West Indies in 2016 in the UAE.
\n\u201cI want to mention Mickey as he played an integral role in my transformation,\u201d Babar said.
\n\u201cAs a cricketer, there\u2019s a feeling that if you are not up to the mark, you might get dropped from the side, but he gave me the confidence.
\n\u201cHe asked me to give my best to the side and not worry about getting axed from the side and that helped me a great deal. He did not only do it with me but with every player in the side and that is why we have eight to nine players in the side currently from that lot.\u201d
\nIn 2019, Babar was elevated to captaincy, and his numbers took an instant spike as he enjoyed the additional responsibility. In ODIs, he averages over 75 as captain (after the fourth ODI against New Zealand) and has seven tons in 25 matches.
\nAll three of his T20 Internationals tons also came as skipper of the side. In Tests, the difference was profound with his average going over 50 as captain.
\n\u201cThe first year was a little overwhelming as there were a lot of things to deal with simultaneously as a Pakistan captain,\u201d Babar spoke of taking on captaincy.
\n\u201cBut, I learned how to manage that. I also learned a lot from how Saifi bhai [Sarfaraz Ahmed] managed the team. I used to see his demeanour on and off the field and used to ask him questions that helped me.
\n\u201cThe most crucial bit in leading a team is to provide clarity to each and every player and have honest and open communication with the players. This breeds positivity in the team environment and brings everyone together as a team.
\n\u201cAs a captain, you have a kind of a dual responsibility because as a non-captain, you only focus on your field and batting, but now you also have to run a team. I enjoy taking responsibility and it brings the best out of me.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, fast bowler Matt Henry hopes New Zealand can avoid a series whitewash in Pakistan by producing an improved display in the fifth ODI.
\nNew Zealand landed in Pakistan without regular skipper Kane Williamson, who is likely to miss the World Cup with a knee injury, while several frontline players are busy honouring franchise commitments in the Indian Premier League.
\nThe team under Tom Latham managed to draw the preceding T20 series 2-2 but Pakistan have taken an unassailable 4-0 lead in the one-day series.
\nIn the fourth ODI, skipper Babar smashed 107 to help Pakistan post a commanding 334-6. In reply, New Zealand were all out for 232 in the 44th over to succumb to a 102-run defeat.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a shame we really haven\u2019t had the success that we wanted to \u2026 \u201c Henry told reporters after the loss.
\n\u201cEven though it\u2019s not nice not to have won, we\u2019re definitely taking some positives out of this tour so far.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Karachi Batting sensation Babar Azam is currently enjoying a purple patch with the willow while his team reached the top of ODI cricket rankings the other day. The 28-year-old skipper, who is going to play his 100th One-day International here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday when Pakistan face New Zealand in the fifth […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-329994","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n