Babar Azam explains shock declaration call
Pakistan declared late on day five with just about 15 overs of play left, setting New Zealand a target of 138. The shock declaration opened up the Test match with the visitors starting off all guns blazing to chase the target down.
However, play had to be called off early with bad light intervening in the eighth over. While Pakistan could only pick up one wicket before the Test ended in a draw, Babar stated the they wanted to take a "chance".
Saud Shakeel, who was in the middle having made a half-century, was a bit taken aback by the skipper's shock call.
"We said we'd go after a result," Babar said after the match. "We took a chance, you never know. It's cricket. Anything can happen.
"Saud and [Mohammad] Wasim Junior's partnership was vital for us because it brought us into the game. That put the idea in my head that we could declare.
The #WTC23 standings following Pakistan's draw against New Zealand in Karachi 👇
— ICC (@ICC) December 31, 2022
🏏 State of play: https://t.co/HMBv3B49lr pic.twitter.com/bYjy4fJ1aT
"You all will have enjoyed it as well, and it surprised everyone. It was in our mind we'd take a chance because anything can happen."
Pakistan couldn't get the early cluster of wickets they sought upon making the call. New Zealand, however, took the bait to make some quick runs and threatened to chase the target down before poor light interrupted play.
"At times you have to take brave decisions and take chances," Babar said.
Players shake hands as bad light forces a draw in Karachi. #PAKvNZ | #WTC23 | 📝 https://t.co/HdzZd87PUv pic.twitter.com/he76XGOulS
— ICC (@ICC) December 30, 2022
"As a team and captain, I try and do that. You plan for a result, even if you can't guarantee it."
Pakistan end the year with zero wins in home Tests, avoiding a fifth straight loss at home in Karachi, but the skipper acknowledged New Zealand for dominating the Test.
"It's not that we need to play different cricket," Babar said. "We need to take things session by session and day by day.
"We need to be positive and play with aggression. We're working on it. Everyone has a different game and mindset. We need to credit New Zealand with the way they played and dominated."