Babar Azam here, ask according to Peshawar Zalmi and PSL.
Ask according to Peshawar Zalmi and PSL.
On Momentum and Mistakes
Babar, there was very good momentum before this match, and your form also came back.
The whole crowd was cheering for your fifty against Lahore.
What mistakes or shortcomings do you see that were repeated in this match?
These were happening in previous matches too, but when runs came for you, your momentum and confidence must have built up.
So how are you feeling right now? What one thing do you take ahead for the next matches?
Look Qadir Bhai, when you don’t execute what you've planned here, it shows.
In the first six overs—both in batting and bowling—we didn’t execute.
Like in the last match, we nominated the hard length that we hit, and we were getting momentum through that hard length.
We missed that a little, and the momentum shifted to their side.
Then when the momentum came back to us, we had stuck to it.
But when it started, you could see it...
But after that, our bowlers came back to their plans.
Fielding matters a lot—it really does.
And we didn’t field the way we should have.
In batting, early on, again—it’s all about the start.
When you start well and get momentum, things look easy.
But we didn’t get that.
We charged in two overs, but then back-to-back wickets fell.
And for the new batter, it became a bit difficult.
But the conditions weren’t so tough that we’d lose wickets like that.
We’ll have to discuss this on the bat, and we’ll try to give our 100% in the upcoming matches.
We have that kind of talent and combination that we can perform well.
On Team's Key Batters Underperforming
Babar Bhai, Peshawar Zalmi relies on your batting, on Saim and on Mohammad Haris.
In most of the matches, these four who are the backbone of Zalmi's batting, they are not performing.
Is this the reason Zalmi is losing?
No, that’s not the reason Saim isn’t doing it.
Look, see it this way too—Saim is making a comeback after three months.
He came back from injury.
When such a break comes, and his form was like he was Saim...
But when you have a break or something like that, a lot of things come into the mind.
The kid is still a youngster; it takes some time to come back—give him that margin.
And when you know how Saim plays, he plays a different ball game.
So it takes some time.
And yes, even I’m not playing the way Zalmi and the people are expecting.
And Haris too—see, his form is such, but not so bad either.
He can turn it around.
Because whenever he has gotten out, he’s gotten out early.
Or he got out at a crucial time.
What I feel is that game awareness—some of those key points—he has been missing.
There were 2–3 such matches where he was batting really well, but the next shot selection—
These things you learn with time.
On Bowling and Fielding Standards
Just like we have youngsters, and overall our bowling...
It performs in and out—sometimes it does well, sometimes it doesn’t.
We will have to be consistent.
We’ll have to field better, bat better, and bowl better
On Toss Decision and Conditions
Salam Babar, Abu Bakr from Trackweek.
Babar, today’s changes in your team and then the toss decision—how do you rate them looking at the conditions?
Secondly, Aamir has dismissed you twice in this PSL.
He’s a very experienced bowler.
Last time too, the ball held up.
So what were today’s conditions when he was bowling with the new ball?
He’s very experienced, and you’re an experienced batter.
Look, in the last two matches played here, there was no dew.
In our match, there was dew.
There wasn’t yesterday, and today I wasn’t expecting it.
We had just planned this—that if we win the toss, we will bowl first.
Because our momentum in bowling has been very good.
And keeping that in mind, we bowled.
And again, same thing—if you don’t execute,
Whether you bowl first or bat first, it doesn’t matter.
Then it goes against you.
And look, when you don’t play properly, you’ll get out, sir.
No matter which bowler it is—if you make a mistake, these things will happen alongside.
On Personal Form and Struggles
Babar, your patch—where you're not playing consistently—it’s been a bit long.
But the kind of two innings you’ve played in this PSL, it looked like you were in really good nick.
Where do you think, personally, over the past year or so, where the flaws have been?
That consistency which used to be your hallmark—you’re not able to achieve it.
Look, there are a lot of things—
You try, you make an effort, but you’re not able to do it.
But my belief and confidence always come from the nets and my practice.
I prepare myself well in that.
I’m very confident there.
But in the match, those things don’t always come out.
Sometimes it might even be bad luck.
But I try every day to give my 100%.
Whatever my skills are, whatever confidence I have—I stick with that.
I try not to do something new.
I’ve tried a lot of big things before, but now I just try to keep it simple.
Message for the Fans
Babar, a large number of fans come to watch you.
Even today, many came.
Allah has blessed you with a lot of respect.
Some fans get disappointed when you don’t perform consistently.
What message do you want to give them—
How will the old Babar return and live up to their expectations?
Look, it’s their love,
And I get confidence from that.
Every day when I see these things,
I also have that hope that I perform in every match.
But look, we are human, and mistakes happen.
You give your best,
You try to say, “Today I’ll do it,”
But you can’t always do it.
This is cricket.
You can’t think that today you’ll score a hundred or fifty.
There are lots of thoughts behind it—
How you’ll play the first six overs,
How to build the innings after that,
What the team requires,
How to play responsibly.
All those things matter.
Yes, I also feel disappointed when people are disappointed.
But I try that whatever I do,
It gives people happiness.
On Team’s Lowest Total and Current Situation
Babar bhai, today was the lowest total for Peshawar Zalmi in this PSL, and overall in PSL as well.
So what do you think about this total?
You weren’t able to execute?
Also, people were expecting Faheem to take a fifer against Zalmi today.
And also add that now the prayers have started, because you've lost four matches, won only two,
And your net run rate is quite down.
Sir, prayers are happening a lot—and not just us, other teams too.
Because these situations arise.
Look, it’s not just in this season.
In every season it happens—
Two or three teams end up in these situations.
This team has to lose from here,
That one has to win from there—
That one has to win from here...
These things—this is the beauty of it.
Sometimes teams get stuck in it.
It’s about which team plays with more character.
Which team is stronger.
I believe the stronger team—
The one that makes fewer mistakes—
You’ve seen that half the tournament has gone.
We’ll talk about the mistakes we’ve made.
We’ll sit down and discuss.
We’ll talk about combinations.
What do we need moving forward.
Now we’ve got some idea of conditions.
So you have to plan yourself accordingly.
And the other question—
Look, Faheem too—
When your wickets fall like that,
Then any bowler can dominate you.
And I think Faheem was getting a bit of extra bounce,
Which is why the batters got deceived.
Thank you everyone, thank you.
Thank you ji.
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