Babar Azam sets sights on all-format success after PSL triumph

Babar Azam has reaffirmed his commitment to playing all three formats for Pakistan after leading Peshawar Zalmi to the HBL PSL 11 title on Sunday. The 30-year-old finished as the tournament's top scorer with 588 runs, including two centuries, after a difficult spell of international form that drew widespread scrutiny.

What did Babar Azam say about playing all formats after PSL 11?

Speaking after the final, Babar said his focus remains firmly on Test, ODI, and T20 cricket. He argued that red-ball cricket builds patience and teaches batters to construct long innings, skills that carry directly into the shorter formats. He has no intention of limiting himself to white-ball cricket.

How did Babar Azam rediscover his form in HBL PSL 11?

Babar's PSL 11 campaign marked a clear turnaround after inconsistent performances, including a quiet T20 World Cup earlier in 2026. He scored 588 runs across 11 matches, equalling Fakhar Zaman's record for the most runs in a single PSL season, set in 2022. He also became the first player to surpass 500 runs in four separate PSL editions.

The former Pakistan captain acknowledged that he had not met his own standards before the tournament. He used the PSL to address technical issues and return to his natural game, a process he described as both necessary and rewarding.

"I feel a batter should play all cricket and should not limit himself to white-ball cricket," Babar said. "Red-ball cricket teaches you the art of batting long and instils patience in you. It helps you to understand how you can score big runs."

What does Babar Azam's form mean for Pakistan's upcoming Test series?

Pakistan are scheduled to face Bangladesh in a two-match away Test series beginning Friday. The series forms part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, giving Babar an immediate opportunity to translate his PSL form into the longest format.

Babar's HBL PSL 11 triumph, Peshawar Zalmi's second title overall, also earned him the Hanif Mohammad Cap as the tournament's leading run-scorer. He arrives at the Test series as one of Pakistan's most experienced batters, with plenty of motivation to carry his resurgence into the international arena.