LAHORE: Captain Babar Azam hopes to keep Pakistan’s winning momentum going against a virus-hit West Indies in the limited-overs series, starting tomorrow (Monday).
“We will try to carry the momentum which started in the T20 World Cup,” Babar told reporters while addressing a pre-match virtual press conference ahead of Pakistan’s T20 series against the West Indies on Sunday.
The No.1 white-ball batter further said, “We are not going to take West Indies easy because they didn’t bring their best players. They have played in the Caribbean Premier League and international games, so you have to give your 100 per cent to beat them.”
Three West Indies players — left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell, allrounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers — have tested positive for coronavirus in Karachi and were ruled out of the Twenty20 series. They will be in isolation for 10 days in Karachi and will be monitored by the team physician until they return negative tests.
West Indies Twenty20 squad already misses several top performers for the three-match Twenty20 series. The notable absentees include white-ball skipper Kieron Pollard, who will miss out due to hamstring injury he sustained during the T20 World Cup, while Andre Russell is playing in the Big Bash League in Australia.
Babar sympathised with West Indies for losing three players due to coronavirus and believed it’s tough for cricketers to spend time in isolation. “It’s a difficult time for a team when your player tests positive for Covid,” he said.
“It’s difficult to live in isolation, our team has gone through this. Lots of negative things do come in your mind when you are alone in the room and the team combination also gets affected,” he added.
The three T20Is will be played on December 13, 14 and 16, while the ODIs will take place on Dec 18, 20 and 22 at Karachi’s National Stadium.
Meanwhile, a reporter asked the skipper about various videos doing the rounds on the internet in which him and Kohli can be seen involved in discussions during the high-octane World Cup clash.
Babar, however, refused to share what the two stellar batters discussed. “I cannot reveal the discussion with Virat Kohli in front of everyone,” Babar responded.
In response to a question, Babar Azam once again raised the issue of the absence of permanent coaches for the Men in Green, saying the team must have batting and bowling coaches. He said that having people in the management team was as important as having players in the squad.
