Rawalpindi: Babar Azam reflected on his challenging phase and thanked fans for their unwavering support after ending his 807-day century drought in international cricket, scoring his 20th ODI hundred in the second match against Sri Lanka on November 15 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Babar expressed heartfelt gratitude to fans for standing by him during tough times, saying the nationwide support boosted his confidence. He admitted that although he had been getting starts in recent series, he struggled to convert them into substantial scores.
“The amount of support I received, not just in Islamabad but across Pakistan, was incredible. Fans never abandoned me in my hard times. I got starts in previous series but couldn’t turn them into big runs,” Babar said.
Sharing advice for young players facing poor form, he stressed the importance of self-belief. Motivation may fluctuate, he said, but consistent hard work and discipline are essential.
“My advice to any youngster stuck in bad form is to believe. Hard work and dedication must be there every day. I backed myself, focused on areas of improvement, worked on my fitness, and trusted the process,” he added.
Babar said scoring runs naturally elevates confidence, and even during the long stretch without a century, he never stopped trusting his abilities. He acknowledged that difficult periods bring doubts and a flood of suggestions, but the real task is figuring out what truly works.
“Whenever you score runs, your confidence reaches a different level. I never compromised on hard work. Many thoughts—and lots of advice—come your way, and you have to assess what really helps,” he said.
Thanking those who have supported him since childhood, Babar emphasized that ultimately, self-belief is the key. “People and coaches can guide you, but you have to do it yourself.”
In the second ODI of the three-match series, Pakistan opted to bowl first and restricted Sri Lanka to 288/8. Steady contributions from Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, and Wanindu Hasaranga powered Sri Lanka to a competitive total.
Chasing 289, Pakistan started strongly with a 77-run opening stand between Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub. Babar then anchored the chase, adding 100 runs with Fakhar and an unbeaten 112-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan. His 115-ball century guided Pakistan to victory in 48.2 overs.
