KARACHI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has revealed that he is putting in extensive work on his fitness as he aims to guide Pakistan to a long-awaited ICC World Cup title.
Babar, who made his international debut in 2015, has established himself as one of Pakistan’s greatest modern-era batters, amassing 15,259 international runs with 32 centuries and 105 fifties across formats.
The former captain has led Pakistan in multiple ICC events, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the final of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, narrowly missing out on the trophy. The same year, Pakistan also finished runners-up in the Asia Cup 2022, adding to the team’s frustration of falling short in crucial moments.
Pakistan’s last global title came in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed’s men famously defeated India in the Champions Trophy final. Their most recent T20 World Cup triumph dates back to 2009, under Younis Khan.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, Babar is determined to change the narrative.
Speaking on The Switch, a content platform launched by former England great Kevin Pietersen, Babar shared how recent heartbreaks continue to fuel his ambition.
“We want to win an ICC trophy. We reached the finals of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup, but we lost. That’s why I’m working hard on my fitness and everything,” he said.
The 31-year-old, who recently returned to Pakistan’s T20 squad after nearly a year, also opened up about the mental pressures of being the team’s leading batter. He explained that staying focused and blocking out external criticism helps him stay consistent.
“I’m also a human being. Sometimes you make mistakes. The main thing is focus. I stop listening to anyone. I talk to myself and to my coaches,” Babar added.
As Pakistan gears up for another shot at global glory in 2026, Babar remains committed to elevating both his performance and fitness to bring a long-awaited trophy home.
