Babar Azam cannot wait to take to the field on home soil for the first time as vice-captain of Pakistan on Friday.
Cricket is ‘coming home’ to the country in what is the biggest international tour since the 2009 terror attack in Lahore, that targeted the Sri Lankan team’s bus.
Now, a full decade later, Sri Lanka are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20s in the country, starting on Friday with the first ODI at the National Stadium in Karachi.
A full generation of cricketers have come and gone since regular international cricket was last held in Pakistan, and Babar is a leading light of the current youth movement in the team.
The star batsmen – who averages a superb 53.55 in the ODI format – has many memories of watching Pakistan play in Karachi, and now he can’t wait to make his own for the millions of fans who will be watching on Friday.
“I can’t thank enough for the love and respect I have received from all my fans in the early days of my career,” said Azam, who has played just one prior ODI in Pakistan. “Friday will be one of my biggest days when I will take the field as Pakistan vice-captain. I will want the entire country as well as the National Stadium crowd to make this a day to remember for me.
“As a youngster, I have seen on television packed-to-capacity National Stadium for ODIs and the two matches that immediately come to my mind are the 2004 and 2008 ODIs against India. In 2004, Pakistan lost by five runs despite Inzamam-ul-Haq’s brilliant century but four years later, Younis Khan’s belligerent 123 not out steered us to eight wickets victory,” said Babar.
“As professional athletes, we need our fans to be behind us to motivate and inspire us.”