Islamabad
Pakistani Skipper Babar Azam was confident about the Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe beginning Saturday at the Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi saying the players were positive and quality cricket would be seen in the games.
“We will try to play positive cricket in the series. We have got a good pool of players and will try to carry the good type of cricket in T20s that we played in the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe. If you back your players then you get good performances,” he said at the pre-series press conference on Friday.
The young prolific batsman said spinner Shadab Khan wasn’t available for the first T20 but we would try that he comeback after getting fit.
“We checked are best possible strength in the ODI series to see where we stand and lack. We played different combinations in bowling and batting and the youngsters Mohammad Hasnain, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Musa performed well. We should back our youngsters when they are given a chance in the team as they get confidence and perform better. We didn’t finish well but our confidence is high and the players are positive,” he said.
To a question, he said the combination which would be best for the team will be played on the day. “We will also try to go in with senior and junior combination and will try what’s best for the team. We will bring in Muhammad Hafeez. We rested Shoaib Malik and a youngster will be played in his place as whoever batsman will get set on the position will be backed. Hopefully we will also Abdullah Shafiq as we get good results,” he said.
Speaking about his chances to regain the top spot in the ICCT20 Rankings, he said my first priority was the team. “Personal goal is achieved when you attain your team’s goal,” he said. The Lahore-born cricketer also lauded pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi saying he was the main bowler and the more he plays the better he would get. “His mindset is also to play more and more cricket to gain experience. He’s bowling outstandingly and I enjoy seeing him bowl,” he said and added that we won’t take any team easy and would go in with full strength.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Skipper Chamu Chibhabha said moving forward as team we want to be winning more matches so it doesn’t matter what format it is. “It’s important whenever we go out there we play the brand of cricket which win us more matches, that’s the mentality,” he said.—APP
