KARACHI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has dispelled the impression that he is under any sort of pressure after the recent changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s top hierarchy, saying his sole focus is on the field rather than the developments happening outside.
“A lot has been changed in the last three to four days, but as a professional, you’ve to face these things,” he said in a scheduled pre-match press talk on Sunday.
“Our job is to put our efforts in the field’ he added. “These are off-field developments while our sole focus is on the ground”
With Pakistan set to engage in a two-match Test series against New Zealand commencing tomorrow, Babar said the final XI for the opening Test has not been finalized.
“The decision on the final XI will be made after consultation with the selectors,” he told.
Pakistan captain informed that he was taken on board on the last-minute changes made in the Test squad, saying he had a discussion with the newly-appointed interim chief selector Shahid Afridi about the selection of the new players.
On Saturday, the interim selection committee Shahid Afridi added Mir Hamza, Sajid Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani to the Pakistan Test squad for the Test series against New Zealand.
While conceding that his team did not perform up to the mark in the recently-concluded Test series against England that ended in a disappointing 3-0 home series whitewash, Babar hoped that his team would make a comeback in the upcoming home assignment.
“I accept that we didn’t play good cricket against England, but we are sure to make a comeback in this series.”
“We played our best eleven against England but obviously when the results do not come in your favour, you face such type of criticism,” he added.
