Rawalpindi, November 15, 2025: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam expressed gratitude to fans, teammates and coaching staff after breaking his two-year century drought in the second ODI of the three-match home series against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Babar, who last reached triple figures in international cricket against Nepal during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023, finally ended the 807-day wait and 83-inning gap with a match-winning unbeaten 102 off 119 balls. His knock helped Pakistan chase down Sri Lanka’s 289-run target with eight wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare. He was named Player of the Match for his performance.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the former captain admitted the drought was a challenging period but said he remained focused on self-improvement.
“It was a tough time, but I tried to back myself,” Babar said. “I worked on a lot of things that I felt needed improvement, including my fitness. In the end, it was all about belief.”
Babar acknowledged the mental challenges associated with extended lean patches. “Negative thoughts can come during a rough phase, but staying committed to working on your skills eventually rewards you,” he added.
He also thanked those who supported him throughout the difficult period, particularly praising the encouragement he received from his teammates.
“When you’re part of a team, your teammates back you — and that’s what happened with me. Everyone supported me, even the youngsters like Saim Ayub and Haseebullah. Their confidence in me was a big morale-booster,” he said.
Most importantly, Babar credited the fans for standing by him when he was struggling.
“Fans don’t abandon you in bad times — that’s when you see who is really with you,” he said.
