Babar Azam became the fastest Pakistani batter to reach 12000 runs in international cricket during the first ODI against New Zealand on Thursday at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
When asked about his achievement and how excited he was, Babar Azam humbly replied that he has never focused on individual milestones.
“I have never focused on individual milestones. My focus has always been to deliver for the team and give such performances that win matches for my team. When you play with that goal, you achieve milestones along the way. The aim should always be to give impactful performances. These milestones and records are byproducts of that mentality,” Babar said in an interview with a local website.
“I do not have any personal ambition. What I want is to strive for the country’s success. I have never focused on achieving one record or the other. These things come with performance. But my main aim has always been to win the matches and tournaments for the country and make my performance count,” he added.
When asked about Fakhar Zaman’s compliments on his and Mohammad Rizwan’s accomplishments for Pakistan, the Pakistan captain responded that Zaman’s words were indicative of genuine team camaraderie.
“What Fakhar has said is a reflection of our team culture. We back and encourage each other. We spend time with each other a lot more than we do with our families and to become a well-bonded unit, it is important to stand by your teammates and enjoy each other’s success. We back each other in an effort to get the best results for the team and for the country,” he said.
The second ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place on Saturday at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
