KARACHI: World’s top ranked T20I batsman Babar Azam, while holding a teleconference call with 15 international and emerging women batters on Tuesday, revealed that he makes it a point to watch all the top batsmen in the world to understand their batting approach in different circumstances.

He also added that watching different batsmen helps him understand the game better. Babar spoke about the importance of having a positive attitude and said that negative thought-process results in a failure most of the times. “I am unable to perform 99 per cent of the times when I have a negative thought in my mind that I might fail,” said Babar.

He also spoke at length about how it is important to not change batting approach altogether because of failure in one innings. “It is very important that you don’t change your batting approach altogether because of failure in just one innings, but try to identify how you could have done better,” said Babar.

Speaking from a personal experience, he said he talks to himself at the crease whether in an international game or during the practice as it helps him calm down. “There’s a lot going on when you are at the crease. In that situation, it is better to talk to yourself.”

He also spoke about how he watches his own videos to identify the areas that can be worked on. “I watch even those innings of mine in which I have scored centuries, not to gloat, but to identify where I could have done better. It is very important that we stay away from complacency.”

Babar, in a bid to help the women cricketers stay focused during Covid-19 lockdown, said: “I had set a goal that I have to become the best player in the world. I analysed myself and identified the areas where I needed to work hard. I spoke to the coaches, seniors and worked extremely hard.

“It is very important that you help each other. Sometimes we are unaware of where we are going wrong and our teammates help us identify them. I still ask my younger brother while I am knocking whether I am doing well. I have been doing knocking with him from my young days so he knows me. Or I ask Imam [ul-Haq], and he asks me, because we know each other.”

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2020