Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Made some tactical changes to my game, focus more on power hitting, says Babar Azam

Karachi: Pakistan batsman Babar Azam has said he has made some tactical changes to his game in order to hit more boundaries in the white-ball formats. Babar, 24, scored his 11th ODI hundred in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_3515459” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Babar Azam. AFP[/caption] “There is some tactical switch because I think I need to charge more and I am focussing more on power hitting during practice these days,” he told reporters. The youngster, who became the fastest Pakistani to reach 1000 runs in a calendar year, has already got 11 centuries and 15 fifties in 73 ODIs. Babar, who was also a standout performer for his country in the World Cup, admitted that his long stint in English county cricket helped him improve a lot. “Playing in English county cricket has made a big difference to me. I have gained confidence as a batsman and I am able to give 100 percent in every match,” he said. Babar played a total of 14 matches in different formats in English county after the World Cup. “My focus is on the given match and I want my team to win because of my batting,” he added. Babar said he felt no pressure playing his first ODI in Karachi in 10 years time as he had already experienced the atmosphere at the National Stadium having played in the Pakistan Super League and the T20 series against West Indies last year. “We all have missed playing at home and I am excited to be playing and scoring a hundred in front of my crowd,” he said.