Pakistani captain, Babar Azam, has outlined his team’s strategic shift forthe upcoming ODI World Cup, emphasizing the importance of adopting a newapproach to secure wickets during the middle overs of the game. Addressingreporters at a pre-departure press conference in Lahore, Azam stressed thesignificance of middle-over wickets, acknowledging that their previousmethods weren’t effective. Furthermore, he acknowledged the need forimproved fielding, recognizing lapses in their performance in this regard.
In response to inquiries about the playing conditions in India, Babar Azamexpressed that the conditions were akin to those in Pakistan, downplayingany additional pressure on his players. He conveyed a sense of high moraleand confidence within the team, emphasizing their commitment to deliveringtheir best cricket during the tournament.
Babar Azam underlined the flexibility in team composition, stating that itlargely hinges on the specific conditions of the ground and pitch. Herevealed that the final playing XI is decided on the day of the match,highlighting the adaptability and tactical acumen of the Pakistani team.
The captain candidly acknowledged the team’s shortcomings during the recentAsia Cup, conceding that they fell short in the last two matches. However,he reassured fans that the team is actively working to rectify thosemistakes and elevate the quality of their cricket.
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Regarding the absence of a pre-World Cup camp, Babar Azam clarified thatthe decision was made to provide much-needed rest to the players, who hadbeen engaged in continuous cricket for two and a half months. The team hadonly a week’s respite following the Asia Cup, necessitating the break.
In terms of players’ contracts, Azam expressed optimism about fruitfuldiscussions between the players and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Finally, he confirmed that the team had obtained visas and was scheduled todepart for India, with the Indian government having approved the visas forthe Pakistan cricket team to participate in the World Cup, as confirmed byPCB sources.