Babar Azam is gearing up to take on the West Indies in a three-game ODI series starting on June 8. The right-handed batter is currently the No. 1 ranked player in both whiteball formats of the game, but expressed his desire to maintain pole position in Test cricket as well. Currently, the Pakistani skipper ranks fifth in the game’s longest format, and he says he can’t do it easily just because he is number 1 in white-ball formats.
“As a player, it’s a dream to become the number 1 in all formats and for that you have to focus and work hard. It’s not like being the top player in one or two formats, you take it easy,” the official website quoted from ICC Babar.
“If you want to be number 1 in all three, you have to keep yourself fit and on track. There is back-to-back cricket and the gap is smaller. You have to be extra fit for that. It’s something I I’m preparing. It’s going well in the cue ball and hopefully I’ll be able to do well in Tests too,” he added.
The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies will be played between June 8 and 12. These matches were postponed last December due to the COVID-19 outbreak at Windies’ camp after the T20I series.
Earlier this year, Pakistan won the ODI series against Australia. In those matches, Babar recorded two centuries and a half century.
“As a team, as a captain, you go into the series with a clean sheet, whoever the opponent is,” said Babar.
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“We went with the same mind against Australia, to play tough cricket and dominate. The intention is the same against the West Indies, but it’s not like we underestimate them. They also have the ability to give you a rough time because on the day, they are a dangerous team. You can’t take them easy,” he added.
The matches between Pakistan and the West Indies are part of the ODI Super League and both teams will be chasing key points to reach a top eight to automatically qualify for the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
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