The humorous response that Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, provided in response to a question on whether the team’s best players should give up one format to better manage their workload caught everyone’s attention. He said that they are not “aged” yet and are still physically capable of participating in all of the game’s formats.
Over the last several months, the topic of workload management has generated a significant amount of discussion in international cricket. Ben Stokes, an all-rounder for England, has revealed that he will withdraw from one-day internationals to concentrate on the other two formats. Also on Wednesday (August 10), New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced that Trent Boult had been freed from the central contract that he had been under before.
During a press conference that took place before Pakistan’s departure for their tour of the Netherlands, Babar was questioned whether experienced players like himself, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan would ever think about retiring from one of the game’s formats.
Preps! 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/K1wSsy6Kz5
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) August 10, 2022
What did Babar Azam say?
The Pakistan skipper replied: “It all relies on your fitness. We (Rizwan, Shaheen, and I) haven’t discussed the possibility of playing just two of the three options available. Aapko kya lagta hai, hm budhe ho gaye hain? Fitness mein lagta hai? (Are you of the opinion that we have become older? Are we not physically capable enough?).
Babar added: “If there is more workload, then we need to increase our fitness following it. The lads are powerful and are making progress in this area. Everything is being attended to at this time.”
Babar Azam is asked if he should leave one format to manage his workload. his reply “aap ko kya lagta hai main boorha ho gya hun?” 😂
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 11, 2022
In recent years, Pakistan has placed a significant amount of reliance on Babar, Rizwan, and Afridi to come through with the goods. On the other hand, the captain of the Pakistani team said that, in his opinion, every one of the eleven players who played in the match is a trump card.
Pakistan will compete in the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates after they have finished their series in the Netherlands. They will kick off their campaign on August 28 in Dubai by playing against India.
