Babar Azam says a lot has changed since last Champions Trophy, but Pakistan belief remains same
KARACHI: Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has said that a lot has changed since they last played the Champions Trophy, but his side's belief was still the same.
The statement by the former Pakistan skipper came a day ahead of defending champions and hosts Pakistan's opening match against New Zealand in Karachi.
Babar hit 46 from 52 balls in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India that helped Pakistan on their way to a 180-run win at The Oval.
However, the right-hander refuses to live in the past and wants to make more memories in front of the adoring Pakistani public in the coming weeks.
'I am very excited. My primary memories of the 2017 final are Fakhar Zaman's innings [of 114], the spell of Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali's spell and the winning moment,' Azam was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
'Playing against India, that excitement and the nervousness was there but when we won, we enjoyed and celebrated. [But] a lot has changed since the Champions Trophy was held in 2017. We have new players coming, we only have three or four players who were part of that winning team. But the belief, confidence and execution is the same.'
Pakistan-New Zealand clash on Wednesday will include two of biggest names in the competition, with Azam set to go head-to-head with Kiwi star Kane Williamson.
Joe Root, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli are part of the respective England, Australia and India squads but Azam stands in a league of his own in ODI cricket, heading into this competition as the world's top ranked batter in the 50-over format.
'When you have responsibility as a senior player in any team and the team relies on you and has belief in you, then I take it in a positive way,' he said.
'I try to give my best in every match. I try to perform so that Pakistan win and I enjoy my cricket.'
His form will be crucial if Pakistan are to improve on their recent tournament record. They have been knocked out in the group stage at the last two ICC Men's Cricket World Cups and suffered the same fate at last year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup after losing to co-hosts USA.
But Azam said he does not have any 'pressure.'
'What has happened in the past is beyond us. We have discussed mistakes we have made and we have worked on them. So we will try not to do what we have done in the past,' he was quoted as saying.
Azam's home city of Lahore is among the three Pakistani cities hosting matches and he believes local knowledge will help his side thrive.
'When you play at home you get that edge as you know the conditions,' he said. 'You have a knowledge of how the pitch will behave, both in the first and second (innings), but still you have to play good cricket because all other teams are among the best.'
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