Prime goal is to win two World Cups in the next 18 months: Babar Azam

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that his prime goal is to help Pakistan win two World Cups in the next year and a half, adding that his runs would be worth gold if the team achieved that. The right-handed batter mentioned that it was his dream as a schoolboy to play for his country and help the team win all titles.

The 27-year-old further said that he wants to take the challenge as the captain and lead the team from the front, and inspire his teammates to score runs. Azam, one of the best batters of the modern era, feels that he has to improve on his finishing skills, which he feels is important as a skipper. Notably, Australia is set to host the T20 World Cup later in the year, and the ODI World Cup will happen in the next year in India.

If I am in front, only then my team will follow: Azam

“No doubt I am enjoying my form. But with this form, my prime goal is to win the two World Cups for Pakistan in the next one-and-a-half years and if that happens I will feel that my runs are worth gold,” Azam was quoted as saying by India Today. Meanwhile, Pakistan last won a World Cup in 2009 in the shortest format after beating Sri Lanka in the final.

“When I started playing cricket as a schoolboy the target was to play international cricket for Pakistan, become the world’s top batsman in such a manner that it helps my team to win all the titles,” added Azam. The Pakistan skipper also said that he was “crazy” about cricket in his childhood and his father backed him upon noticing his love for the sport.

Azam averages almost 60 with the bat in ODIs, scoring 17 centuries and 19 fifties in 87 innings. In 2022, he has scored 457 runs at an average close to 100, which includes three tons in the last six games. “If I am scoring runs then other batters will follow and get inspired, but there is always room for improvement so I want to improve my finishing and that is important as captain,” said the 27-year-old.