Pakistan captain Babar Azam was asked if he, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi should play only two formats to reduce workload. Pakistan will play three ODIs in the Netherlands beginning August 16. This is Pakistan's last white-ball match before the August 27 Asia Cup. In the pre-departure press conference, a reporter said fatigue and injuries among Pakistan's top cricketers likely contributed to their second Test loss to Sri Lanka. Babar replied that all Pakistani cricketers can play all three formats.
This was Babar's press conference conversation with the reporter.
You, Rizwan, and Shaheen are Pakistan's stars. We lost the second Test against Sri Lanka; why don't you know we're depressed? What's your workload like? (Don't you think players were depressed, with more work?) So shouldn't you stick to two formats?
It depends on your fitness. Abhi jis tarha hamari fitness hai, abhi aisa socha nahi hai ki hum do format mein aa jaye. Aapko kya lagta hai main budha ho gaya hu? ya hum budhe ho gaye hai? (The kind of fitness that we have, I don't think we should limit ourselves to two formats. Do you think I have become old?)
Kia main Boorhaa ho gia?? 🙊
— H A M Z A 🇵🇰 (@HamzaKhan259) August 11, 2022
I am not thinking about 2 Formats, it depends on your fitness, Says Babar Azam ❤️✨ pic.twitter.com/LCTqvYC5hq
Load zyada par raha hai na (The workload is much more)
Babar Azam: I don't think so. Agar load zyada hai toh us hisab se fitness badhayange hum (If load is more then we will increase our fitness levels)
Babar Azam has been great in all three formats. He's the only cricketer to rank in the top three in all three formats. He's number one in ODIs and T20Is and third in Tests behind Joe Root and Marnus Labuschagne.
Babar said his only goal is to win for his team against a weak Netherlands side.
"I never go out to bat thinking about records. My only aim is to contribute and win matches for Pakistan," he added.