Pakistan U19 captain Saad Baig talks PSL impact and guidance from Sarfaraz Ahmed

Pakistan U19 cricket captain Saad Baig has shared insights into his cricketing journey following his team's impressive run to the semi-finals of the 2023 U19 World Cup.

In an interview with Cricket Pakistan, Baig detailed his rise from playing tape ball cricket on the streets to leading his country on the world stage.

"I started with tape ball cricket. Then my father got me admitted to Custom Cricket Academy. That's where my journey began," Baig said.

His talent and dedication soon saw him progress through the ranks, performing consistently in U13 and U16 cricket before making a mark in the Pakistan Junior League (PJL). His standout performances there caught the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which appointed him as captain.

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"I played U13, then U16, and after performing for three years there, I performed in the PJL. After consistently performing, PCB announced me as a captain. I represented Pakistan in the World Cup as a captain and also in the Asia Cup. So, thank God, the journey has been very good so far," he added.

As a wicketkeeper, Baig looks up to Rashid Latif, one of Pakistan's finest. "If I want to become a wicketkeeper like someone, it's Sir Rashid Latif. I watch a lot of his videos, and I'm inspired by him. He was the best wicketkeeper of his time, so I try to keep wickets like him," he said.

Baig acknowledged the challenges of captaincy on the international stage but emphasized the importance of leadership under pressure. "As a captain, there is pressure on you. But how you lead your team under that pressure is a very important role. The journey of the U19 World Cup was very good; we showed good performances. The last two matches were very thrilling against Bangladesh and Australia, but we learned a lot from them. The pressure we played the semi-final under and handled will be very helpful in the future," he explained.

A highlight of Baig's career was leading Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup 2023. "The Asia Cup was the first tournament for me where I was going to represent Pakistan as a captain, so it was a very proud moment for me and my family. There was excitement and nervousness about how I would perform there, and how I would lead the team. But I was very happy with my team for how we defeated India, Afghanistan, and Nepal, especially the way we dominated against India. I felt very good about my team there," he reflected.

Among his notable performances, Baig cited his innings against India as particularly memorable. "My career-best innings was against India. It was a short inning, 68 not out, but there is unmatchable pressure against India, and chasing has its own pressure. So, that was the best inning for me," he said.

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The Pakistan Super League (PSL) provided Baig with valuable exposure to top-tier cricket. "PSL is a very big league, and then getting the chance to share the dressing room with a big team like Karachi Kings, where there are international players, of course, I felt very good. Shoaib Malik, Keiron Pollard, and many other players were there from whom I got the chance to learn from their experience. Shoaib Malik taught me a lot about how to play against spin, what shots to play. I learned a lot there, which will benefit me in the future," he recounted.

Reflecting on key moments, Baig highlighted two significant matches against Bangladesh. "At two points, I felt that winning the match was necessary and moving forward from there. One was against Bangladesh when they defeated us on our home ground. Then, when we toured there, it was in my mind that we had to win against them, and we won all our matches there, losing only one. So, for me, as a captain, it was an achievement. The second time was also a match against Bangladesh in the World Cup. That match was such that if we lost, we would be out of the tournament. So, that match was very thrilling, but for me, it was an achievement that we reached the semi-final," he stated.

Before heading to the World Cup, Baig sought advice from former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed. "Before going to the World Cup, I had a conversation with Saifi Bhai [Sarfaraz Ahmed]. He told me how he played during his World Cup journey and gave me tips because he was also a captain. I learned a lot from him; he always backs me. After the World Cup, he taught me a lot and gave advice. So, as a captain, I like him very much. I like a bit of aggressiveness on the field, which he has, and I also want to be a captain like him and lead my team to victory," Baig said.

Despite his achievements, Baig's goal remains clear. "The goal is always the same, to win and perform, most importantly, to perform for your team. So, my goal from the beginning has been that my performance benefits the team," he concluded.