Learning from legends in a shared dressing room
For Babar Azam, the journey from an aspiring youngster to Pakistan’s most consistent modern-day batter owes much to the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Speaking at the HBL PSL London Roadshow at Lord’s on December 7, he opened up about how the tournament introduced him to the professional world of cricket and gave him invaluable access to global icons.
“Journey has been really good, and also the experience. As a youngster, when I played [in the PSL], the only thing on my mind was that ‘I should learn from the top players as much as I can’. And, I shared dressing room with many big players, and it helped me a lot as a person and as a cricketer,” he said.
Those early seasons exposed him to not just big games, but bigger mentors. He fondly recalled the opportunity to learn firsthand from players he once watched on TV. “I used to try to go and talk to established cricketers at that time like [Kumar] Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, [Andre] Russell, and Mahela Jayawardene. To share dressing room with them, observe the way they talk and what they teach us, helped me a lot because they have a long journey behind them and plenty of experience,” he noted.
A fan moment that became a turning point
One particular highlight in Babar’s PSL journey remains etched in his memory—not for a match-winning innings, but for a personal milestone. “The main thing was that I met my idol because of the PSL, as he came to play in it. I asked him [a lot of things], and that was like a fan moment for me,” he shared, speaking of his interaction with AB de Villiers, the South African maestro he had long admired.
These moments, Babar said, weren’t just emotional highs—they were pivotal experiences that helped shape his outlook as a cricketer.
From mentee to mentor
Years later, Babar has emerged not only as the face of Pakistan cricket but also as a mentor to emerging talents in the league that nurtured him. “Senior players guided me throughout, and now I try to pass on my experience to young players,” he said, reflecting on the full-circle evolution of his career.
He emphasised his pride in representing his country: “It is always an honour to play for Pakistan,” he stated, linking his national passion to the foundation PSL helped solidify.
PSL’s ongoing legacy in Babar’s eyes
The batter, who started his PSL career with Islamabad United and later went on to represent both Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi, firmly believes the tournament remains a critical platform for the country’s cricketing ecosystem. From his own perspective, it marked the transition from promising potential to professional consistency.
“Means a lot. As a youngster, it was a platform for me. Now, as a senior player, having been through a long journey, I advise youngsters to take this as an opportunity, groom themselves as players, and learn as much as they can,” Babar concluded.
