Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is keen on winning the upcoming ODI World Cup, scheduled to take place in India later this year.
Since July 2021, Babar has been holding the number one spot in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) ODI batting rankings.
In the last two years, the seasoned batter has won the ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year. He also won the Sir Garfield Sobers award for the ICC Cricketer of the Year for his impressive performance in 2022.
However, after winning several individual awards, Babar aims to emulate former Pakistan skipper and World Cup-winner Imran Khan and win the 13th edition of the ODI World Cup this year.
"The ambition is to be a part of the World Cup team and to win the tournament," Babar told ICC Digital on Friday. "The World Cup is coming up and my ambition is to perform well so that we can win it. You see lot of things individually too, but my goal right now is to win the World Cup."
Pakistan played nine ODI matches in 2022, losing only one of them.
The Men in Green have a lot of 50-over cricket scheduled in the coming months, which will help them prepare well for the World Cup.
Prior to the mega event, Pakistan are scheduled to play 2019 ODI World Cup runners-up New Zealand in a five-match 50-over series in April-May.
Pakistan will also host the ODI Asia Cup, which is set to take place in September.
"This year we have lot of white-ball cricket because of the World Cup...you need to take things step by step. You can’t really jump to your goal. You have to achieve it step by step," Babar said.
"The mindset is to go step by step, but yeah you have it in the back of your mind that you need to perform well. There is hard work and planning behind it," he added.
Before shifting his focus to the national side, Babar is now deeply invested in winning the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is scheduled to kick off on February 13. The batter will be leading his new side Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL 8.
To kick off their PSL campaign, the Yellow Storm will lock horns with Karachi Kings at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi on February 14.
- Babar Azam