LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is eyeing a perfect start against South Africa with the first Test match between the two sides coming up at the Karachi National Stadium on Tuesday.
“I am very confident that our week-long preparations went really well,” Babar said in a virtual press conference ahead of first Pakistan-South Africa Test. Babar said that the players will give their all to produce a positive result in the series opener.
“We are all delighted to see a top-notched international team playing a full Test series on our home soil. I am sure the players will do all they can to produce a positive result,” the right-handed batsman added.
Green Caps’ have a far inferior record against the Proteas in the five-day format where they’ve won only four matches and suffered 15 defeats. When asked about the past record, Babar said that players are focused on what they can achieve in the present.
“I believe we should not think about what has happened in the past,” he said, adding, “I know the record suggests that they South Africa have a better record against us but our focus is to do well in the present.”
The 26-year-old said he was satisfied with the players being selected for the upcoming series. “We know that we cannot take an opposition like South Africa easy. However I am satisfied with the team’s strength. We should not forget that the conditions also favour our players,” he added.
Babar also dismissed Proteas’ batsman Faf du Plessis’s statement that the Pakistan team is mostly dependent on him. “I don’t think that’s the case as other players are also performing well. Azhar Ali and Mohammad Rizwan are outstanding, Fawad Alam performed well in New Zealand. We always try what’s best for the team and everyone contributes” he added.
