Babar Azam credits hard work, self-belief for success
Source: X
Pakistan’s key batsman Babar Azam has attributed his success to hard work and unwavering self-belief, saying his efforts have finally been rewarded.
Speaking after Pakistan’s win at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Azam said, “Despite challenges, I continued to work hard and maintained my confidence. Allah has rewarded me for my efforts.” He credited fans for their support, saying it “gave me the motivation and confidence during difficult times”.
Azam admitted he had struggled to convert good starts into big scores in the past but was pleased to have played a significant innings in line with the team’s target. “Scoring a century after a long time has significantly boosted my confidence,” he said, while also thanking coaches Shahid Aslam and Mansoor Rana for their guidance.
"Alhamdulillah, everything came together." 🥳
An emotional Babar Azam after his much-awaited century, dedicating his success to the fans who supported him through a difficult period. pic.twitter.com/gDKWJxEwEYBabar Azam hit his first international century since August 2023 to lift Pakistan to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second day-night international on Friday.
Azam notched an unbeaten 102 for his 20th one-day international century to help Pakistan overtake Sri Lanka's 289-run target at Rawalpindi Stadium.
Read: Babar Azam ends century drought as Pakistan seal Sri Lanka ODI series
The win gave Pakistan a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series, with the final match on Sunday. Pakistan won the first match by six runs - all in Rawalpindi.
Arriving at the crease amidst a huge roar from the crowd after opener Saim Ayub fell for 33 in the 10th over, Azam played his famous cover drives to perfection.
Advising young cricketers, he added, “Consistency is key to success in sports. The support of family, friends, coaches, and teammates has been invaluable.” He reiterated that his focus remains solely on cricket, preferring to respond to criticism with performance.
Read More: Babar Azam likely to make T20I return for Pakistan against South Africa
Sri Lanka’s Sadeera Samarawickrama praised Azam’s century in the second ODI, calling him a “world-class player” and saying, “He got a good 100 and won the game for the team. It’s a brilliant knock.”
Samarawickrama also lauded Pakistan’s security arrangements, saying, “We are safe here, so it’s all about playing the game with a clear mindset. The environment was really nice.” Discussing Sri Lanka’s bowling strategy, he noted the pitch helped spinners like Abrar Ahmed and Muhammad Nawaz, but added, “We were trying to get a wicket from Charith Asalanka, and he created chances, but unfortunately, we didn’t grab those catches”.
He concluded by praising the wicket, calling it “good for spinners in the first part of the game”.