Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hailed on Sunday the premium batter, Babar Azam as the "backbone" of the team.
Expressing his thoughts at the Pindi Cricket Stadium after emerging victorious, Afridi thanked Allah Almighty for consecutive series wins. He termed all players as exceptional, saying that they played wholeheartedly for the nation. He expressed confidence that the team would strive for similar excellence in the forthcoming T20 tri-series.
Shaheen has credited teamwork for his side’s comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka in the One Day International series. ‘We had been waiting for Babar Azam's century for some time,’ he added. ‘Babar returned and proved his worth.’ Praising Rizwan Ahmed, Shah Afridi said he had performed admirably in his senior role. Wasim Junior was rested due to injury, but his comeback in the ODI series was outstanding. The captain emphasised that all bowlers were game changers and stated that the team would aim to perform in the tri-series, prepared for every challenge.
Sri Lanka batting coach Julian Wood acknowledged the quality of cricket in Pakistan. He said that the team’s performance had improved but admitted that the defeat was disappointing. ‘Preparation for the World Cup continues; we cannot dwell on disappointment,’ he said.
Wood added that playing in Rawalpindi had been a positive experience and praised the support of Pakistani fans. He said that early wickets in the final ODI had cost them the match. Commenting on the upcoming T20 tri-series, he stated that it required a new strategy given the different format.
