‘My focus is on all three formats’ - Babar Azam’s message to selectors after PSL triumph

Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has reiterated his ambition to represent the Pakistan side across all three formats, following a successful stint in the Pakistan Super League 2026 that saw him return to form in style.

The 31-year-old, who has been a cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting lineup for years, endured a lean patch recently, including an underwhelming outing in the T20 World Cup 2026 co-hosted by Indian and Sri Lanka. However, Babar bounced back emphatically by leading Peshawar Zalmi to a title-winning campaign. He amassed two centuries in 11 matches and finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, smashing 588 runs at an average of 73.50.

Riding high on confidence, Babar emphasised his commitment to all formats of the game, highlighting the importance of red-ball cricket in shaping a batter’s temperament.

“My focus is on all three formats. I believe a batter should not restrict himself to white-ball cricket. Red-ball cricket teaches patience and the art of building big innings, and those lessons help in limited-overs formats as well,” Babar was quoted as saying by ICC.

The right-hander is expected to carry this momentum into the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Notably, Babar’s last Test century dates back to December 2022, while his white-ball form earlier this year was also below par, with just one half-century, coming against Australia in a T20I prior to the World Cup.

Reflecting on his dip in form, Babar admitted he fell short of his own expectations but viewed the phase as part of a cricketer’s journey.

“I wasn’t meeting my own standards, but such phases are normal. It’s important to step back, analyse mistakes, and work on them. The support from my family, friends, and coaches helped me stay motivated,” he added.

With renewed confidence and form on his side, Babar now looks set to make a strong impact for Pakistan across formats in the upcoming international assignments.