• Source:JND
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JE Sports Desk:  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been topping the headline charts for the past few months which won't be affecting the team's performance in the ODI World Cup or in other important matches or tournaments believes skipper Babar Azam.

While addressing a press conference, Babar said that his team is looking at the World Cup as a collective challenge and not just the high-profile game against arch-rivals India.

The skipper also denied that the change in the PCB leadership and selection committee will be affecting the players.

“We don’t focus on what is happening in the PCB. We just focus on cricket. We have the entire schedule of our coming matches before us and we know what needs to be done to win matches as professionals,” Babar said.

“We are not thinking only about playing and winning against India in the World Cup. We are looking at doing well in every match if we are to win the ICC title.

Considering all the importance of the upcoming World Cup, the Babar-led side is also focused on the other assignments as well in the build-up to the tournament or the ones after that.

“We are going to play the World Cup, not just India in India,” Babar said the players are preparing for the back-to-back assignments lined up for them.

The 28-year-old also opened up on the preparations and the pressure team must be feeling knowing that they have to go to India for the World Cup.

“We have to play the World Cup wherever it is held and we are excited about the challenges ahead of us,” he said.

He said that his team is keen on sticking to their plans, keeping in mind their strengths and the conditions ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup.

Pakistan will kick off its next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle from the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Skipper Babar finds the series quite challenging as he aims to do well in the third edition of the elite championship.

“We will be guided by Mickey Arthur in Sri Lanka as he had also remained their coach and knows the conditions there well,” he said.

Babar also felt that the Test series in Sri Lanka would help Pakistan in their preparations for the 50-over Asia Cup and World Cup.

“The formats are different but playing in conditions like Sri Lanka will help us prepare well,” he further said.

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