Babar confirms commitment to all formats after PSL triumph

After leading Peshawar Zalmi to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) title on Sunday, captain Babar Azam has ruled out any intention of limiting his participation to selected formats of the game.

Speaking at the post-match press conference following Zalmi’s five-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL 11 final, Babar interrupted a question about format selection and firmly responded that he would continue playing all three formats.

“Don’t stress, I will play in all three formats,” he said, adding that it is not for players to decide which format to skip. “A player’s job is to play.”

Babar stressed the importance of red-ball cricket in developing batting skills, saying it helps build patience, temperament, and the ability to construct long innings--qualities that also benefit white-ball cricket.

“In my opinion, every player should play every form of cricket,” he said. “Red-ball cricket gives immense experience. It teaches you how to build an innings and gives you patience.”

Reflecting on Zalmi’s title win, Babar said: “Better late than never—sometimes things come to you late, and sometimes they happen quickly.”

The batter was the standout performer of PSL 11, scoring 588 runs in 11 matches and finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. He was also the only player to score two centuries in the season.

Despite his strong performance, Babar admitted he had not fully met his own expectations with the bat.

“I definitely couldn’t deliver according to the expectations I had for myself,” he said. “But these things happen. You try everything, but sometimes things don’t go your way.”

He added that support from family, friends, and coaches helped him regain confidence after a difficult phase following the T20 World Cup.

Looking back, Babar said he focused on correcting mistakes, refining his technique, and returning to his natural game during the short preparation window before the PSL.

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