LAHORE: Pakistan’s newly appointed Test captain Babar Azam said he is confident of leading the national team and outlined his plans for his third stint as captain.
Speaking exclusively to former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, Babar said it was an honour to lead the national team.
“Whenever you get the opportunity to captain Pakistan, it is always an honour,” Babar said on Straight Drive.
The ace batter was reappointed as captain of the national team, having previously led Pakistan on three occasions.
“I have learnt a lot from my previous experience as captain and also from the time I played as a player. With time, you gain maturity and clarity. I am confident that this time, with good planning and a positive mindset, I will lead the team well,” he added.
Babar revealed that he was in a better position to captain the side this time, thanks to the experience and perspective he has gained.
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“As captain, you make good decisions, and sometimes you feel you could have done better. When you sit down and reflect, you get a clearer picture. I have rebuilt my mindset, brought more clarity into it, and taken things positively.
The 31-year-old also backed his players while stressing the importance of discipline and fitness, expressing hope for positive results on the upcoming tours.
“My main focus is on three things: discipline, fitness and performance. These will matter a lot for me as captain and for the team going forward,” Babar said.
“Whenever I get the opportunity to lead, I always try to back the players, but I will not compromise on these three things.”
“We prepared according to the conditions we expect in the West Indies and England. The West Indies tour will be challenging, but we have prepared for it. In England, many of our players have county experience and understand the conditions, which will help us,” Babar concluded.
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