All formats Capitan of Pakistan Cricket Team Babar Azam Tuesday contradicted reports about a fight between him and his team mate Shaheen Shah Afridi in dressing room during a meeting after the green shirts were knocked out of the Asia Cup by Sri Lanka.
“Everyone gives me respect [in the team] and whenever matches are lost disagreements happen but it was reported out of context. All of us love each other like family,” said Babar Azam while addressing a pre-departure press conference in Lahore.
The skipper said the national side was focused on winning all the matches during the World Cup and not just one.
He said their aim was to win the World Cup for nation ruling out focus of the team on just one match that was schedule for October 14 between Pakistan and India.
The national squad is set to depart for India for the tournament tomorrow. The team is due to travel to Dubai from Lahore before flying to Hyderabad, India, to play two warm-up matches — against New Zealand on Sept 29 and Australia on Oct 3.
The team’s World Cup campaign will officially kick off in Hyderabad on October 6 against The Netherlands. Their second match will be against Sri Lanka at the same venue on Oct 10.
During the presser, Babar said the team’s morale was high as they geared up for the upcoming World Cup. He made an earnest appeal to the nation, asking for their prayers and support during the tournament.
While candidly acknowledging that Pakistan’s performance in two crucial Asia Cup matches hadn’t been up to par, Babar Azam expressed confidence in the team’s ability to learn from their mistakes and give their utmost in the forthcoming World Cup.
Regarding his own performance, Babar Azam asserted that his primary focus was on contributing in a manner that best served the team’s interests. He appeared unruffled by personal concerns, highlighting the team’s collective goals.
Responding to queries about the highly anticipated clash with India scheduled for October 14, Babar Azam shared his excitement about playing in Ahmedabad, home to the world’s largest stadium.
He anticipated a jam-packed arena for the India-Pakistan encounter and underlined the team’s readiness to handle the pressure despite not having played in India before.
Babar Azam reiterated the team’s unwavering commitment to winning all nine matches in the tournament and ultimately lifting the coveted trophy.
