Babar Azam Responds Calmly to Critics After Stunning Century Against Sri Lanka

Islamabad:Pakistan cricket star **Babar Azam** has avoided responding to critics who questioned his performance over the past two years, saying his focus remains solely on playing cricket and performing on the field.
Speaking at a press conference after Pakistan’s emphatic **8-wicket victory** in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, Babar said, *“It was a tough phase, but I worked hard on my fitness, batting and fielding. Whenever you go through difficult times, you must trust yourself.”*
He added that fans stood by him during his toughest period. *“The support from fans gave me immense motivation. I batted according to the team’s target, and scoring a century has restored my confidence. I believed I could score a hundred.”*
Babar Azam’s outstanding century not only guided Pakistan to victory but also helped him **equal Saeed Anwar’s national record**. Saeed Anwar scored **20 ODI centuries in 244 innings**, while Babar reached the same milestone in just **136 innings**.
With this achievement, Babar Azam has become the **third-fastest batter in cricket history** to reach 20 ODI centuries in the least number of innings.
Pakistan currently leads the three-match ODI series after their dominant performance in the second game.