Babar Azam targets all formats after PSL success

Pakistan batter Babar Azam has set his sights on delivering across formats after a successful PSL 11 campaign, making it clear that his ambition remains to represent the country in all three formats of the game.

The former Pakistan captain rediscovered form during PSL 11, where he led Peshawar Zalmi to the title and finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, registering two centuries across 11 matches.

PSL form sparks renewed confidence

After a difficult run leading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he struggled to make a significant impact, Babar’s performances in PSL 11 marked a strong turnaround.

His output with the bat not only played a central role in Zalmi’s title-winning campaign but also re-established his presence as a consistent run-scorer after a period of inconsistency.

That resurgence now shapes his immediate outlook, with Babar aiming to carry the same momentum into international cricket.

Clear focus on all three formats

Speaking after the tournament, Babar reaffirmed his commitment to playing across formats, highlighting the importance of red-ball cricket in shaping a batter’s overall game.

“My focus is on all three formats,” Babar said.

“I feel a batter should play all cricket and should not limit himself to white-ball cricket.

“Red-ball cricket teaches you the art of batting long and instils patience in you. It helps you to understand how you can score big runs.

“And all the learnings from the red-ball game help you in white-ball cricket.”

Opportunity awaits in Test cricket

Babar is likely to get an immediate opportunity to extend his improved form when Pakistan face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series away from home, beginning on Friday as part of the ICC World Test Championship.

However, his recent record in Test cricket highlights the challenge ahead. His last Test century dates back to December 2022, underlining the gap between his established standards and recent returns.

Addressing recent struggles

His struggles have not been limited to red-ball cricket. Prior to PSL 11, his only half-century this year came in a T20I against Australia in early February, just before the T20 World Cup.

Babar acknowledged that the run fell short of his own expectations and outlined the approach he took to address the dip in form.

“I was not up to my own expectations, but it is normal for a batter to struggle with his execution,” he said.

“You have to take a few steps back and assess where you are going wrong and correct it. You need support in such times, and my family and close friends kept me motivated. I discussed the areas of improvement with the coaches who are close to me and worked on them.

“Life is like a rollercoaster, and things never stay the same. You learn from your good and bad experiences. That is how life goes.”

Babar’s PSL resurgence and renewed emphasis on all formats place clear focus on his next phase, with the upcoming Test series offering an immediate measure of whether that momentum can translate back to the international stage.

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