Published: Aug 02, 2023, 05:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 02, 2023, 06:04 PM (IST)
PAKISTAN captain Babar Azam is one of the top players in the Lanka Premier League. The ace batter is plying his trade for the Colombo Strikers, led by Niroshan Dickwella.
The conditions in Sri Lanka are challenging and the pay Babar Azam is getting is also not great. Babar could have earned more had he agreed to play in the Global T20 Canada, however, he decided to opt for the Lanka Premier League.
Babar Azam’s father opened up on his son’s decision to prefer Lanka Premier League over Global T20 Canada and said that Babar took a tough call to let go of a great opportunity in Global T20 Canada keeping in mind the Asia Cup and World Cup. Babar’s father, Azam Siddique, said that his son felt playing in LPL will help him prepare for the marquee events.
“Salaam [Hello] Pakistan, Babar told me during the Sri Lanka Test series that he would be receiving the same amount of money for the Global T20 Canada league, which is for 10 [16] days, and the Colombo League [Lanka Premier League], which is for 25 days. The weather in Canada would also be very good, while it is intensely hot in Sri Lanka.
“I suggested playing the Sri Lanka League, also mentioning that the Asia Cup would also be held in the country. Pakistan could also play Afghanistan in Sri Lanka as well, and the experience of handling difficult wickets will also help in the World Cup,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Azam Siddique further wrote that Babar is willing to do everything for the country, even if it is giving up on lucrative deals.
“Those ten days of playing in the best weather and then ten days of rest at home are tempting, but he was prepared to do everything for the country. During a match recently in Sri Lanka, he had to sit and rest twice and he could not breathe properly in the heat,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Babar Azam led Colombo Strikers to their first win of the tournament after scoring 59 against B-Love Kandy. He was awarded the Man of the Match for his stunning show.
