Every player in this team is hungry for success: Babar Azam | Cricket News

Exuding confidence, Pakan skipper Babar Azam on Monday said the team’s players are driven a strong “hunger” for success as they set their sights on clinching the coveted Asia Cup and World Cup titles.
Fresh from their 4-1 home series win over New Zealand, Pakan are currently in pursuit of the top spot in ODI rankings. They may very well dethrone Australia as the world’s No 1 side with a 3-0 whitewash over Afghanan in their Asia Cup build-up series beginning in Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
“Every player has a hunger to perform in this team. Every player wants to give match-winning performances,” Azam said in Hambantota on the eve of their three-match ODI series against Afghanan.
The series will be a prelude to their Asia Cup campaign.

Skippers pose with the trophy 🤩🏆#AFGvPAK ODI series begins tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Z4JskirJfn
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 21, 2023
“Recently we have had different player of the match award winners, which is a good sign for any team. When you perform in big tournaments, it boosts your morale as a team and as individuals and this team has performed well in the recent past. Bowlers win you big tournaments and I have faith in them to win us big tournaments,” he said.
Pakan may never have been defeated Afghanan in ODIs, but Azam acknowledged that the upcoming series could be challenging as their opponents would be coming from a 2-1 away victory in Bangladesh.
“We are focused in our preparations as we have big events in the Asia Cup and the World Cup coming up,” said Babar, under whose captaincy Pakan have won 17 out of 26 ODIs. “But, at the same time, we want to take one series at a time… It is always beneficial for a team to get such a series ahead of major events.

.@SalmanAliAgha1 in focus: Getting in the groove 🎯#AFGvPAK pic.twitter.com/kF7eoIsZS4
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 21, 2023
“That we are playing in Asian conditions will definitely provide us an edge and help us get in the rhythm. The Afghanan team is on the rise and they have some good bowlers. The fans will get to see some exciting cricket.” On current form, the Babar Azam-led Pakan are favourites to lift the Asia Cup and the cricket showpiece ODI World Cup, according to Zaka Ashraf chairman of the Pakan Cricket Board’s management committee.
“I have great hope that with your efforts and hard work, Pakan will win the Asia Cup,” Zaka Ashraf told Azam and Co after meeting them over lunch on the eve of the series at Hambantota.
“After securing victory, I am sure you will carry this momentum and confidence in the World Cup, bringing the trophy back home.” “This team under our great captain is performing really well. He has a talented team, and they are all performing in their respective roles. We have world-class batters and bowlers on the side. We have a good combination and I don’t find any reason why we should not win this trophy,” he said.Most Read
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The series will conclude on August 26 before the team travels back to Pakan to play the opening match of the Asia Cup against Nepal four days later.

Pakan are looking to gain momentum from the series against Afghanan who had lost to Sri Lanka at the same venue 1-2 in June.
Since the start of 2022, Pakan have won 13 out of 17 matches and in May, they, for the first time in hory, topped the ICC rankings for ODI sides.