Pakistan’s batter Babar Azam has urged fans and the media to refrain from calling him "King," shifting the focus back to his performances and the team's success rather than personal titles.
Speaking candidly to reporters after the match, Babar said "Please stop calling me King. I am not King, I am not there yet. There are new roles for me now".
Babar was quick to commend his teammates for their match-winning contributions. He praised Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman, whose record-breaking partnership of 261 runs for the fourth wicket guided Pakistan to a record chase, ensuring they reached the target with one over to spare.
“The team had a plan, and I stuck to it. Agha and Rizwan played brilliantly today,” Babar remarked.
Babar, who has been in and out of form in recent matches, stressed the importance of moving past personal challenges and focusing on the team’s progress. “Whatever I have done before is in the past. Every match is a fresh challenge, and I must focus on the present and future,” he added.
Babar Azam's last century, the 31st of his international career, came on August 30, 2023, in Multan, where he blasted 151 runs off 131 balls against Nepal.
Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha cracked centuries to guide Pakistan into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win over South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.
Rizwan led Pakistan's highest successful chase in all one-day internationals of 353 in 49 overs with a magnificent 122 not out while Salman slammed 134 for his maiden century at the National Stadium.
Pakistan will now face New Zealand at the same venue on Friday in the final of the event which is a key warm-up for the Champions Trophy which starts next week.
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