The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) put out a throwback video from cricketer Babar Azam’s debut in a 50-over match as he prepares to play in his 100th One Day International (ODI) of his career at the National Bank Cricket Arena against New Zealand.
Babar, one of the most successful batters in recent memory, has had a brilliant career since making his debut for Pakistan in a one-day international match against Zimbabwe in Lahore over eight years ago.
After being selected for the national team, the talented right-hander made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe. He got a remarkable fifty, needing just 54 runs from 60 balls.
Since then, the 28-year-old has accomplished several remarkable things, like holding the top ODI batter rating, becoming the fastest to accumulate 5,000 ODI runs, and recently becoming the first skipper to take his country’s team to the top of the ODI world rankings.
PCB posted a video of all 60 deliveries that Babar faced in his maiden ODI match in honor of his 100th ODI game.
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1654833394847744003
Babar claimed that “it was a different feeling” when asked about being chosen for the national squad in an interview with PCB Digital on Saturday.
“My family and I were sitting down and it made them happy. When I first arrived at the Gaddafi Stadium as a Pakistani player, I recalled back to the days when I had come here as a ball picker and as a net bowler in preparation for Inzamam-ul-haq’s final Test match, which was against South Africa.”
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1654738697622020097
The captain credited his focus, sound technique, consistency, and cool-headedness to the pure effort, noting that he has been working hard to ensure that he gives the game his best since his first experience with official cricket at the under-15 regional level.
Pakistan must win today’s fifth One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand in the five-match series to maintain their position atop the standings.
