“I couldn’t sleep whole night:” Babar on losing first-ever ODI to Afghanistan

Pakistan white-ball captain Babar Azam expressed his deep regret over the team's loss to Afghanistan in the Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, revealing he was unable to sleep that night.

In a second upset victory following their win over England in the World Cup, Afghanistan pulled off a surprising eight-wicket victory over Pakistan on October 24, 2023.

It was the first-ever loss for the Green Shirts to Afghanistan in a One Day International (ODI) match.

Babar Azam recently appeared on a podcast, where he recounted his experience at the Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, last year. 

He highlighted his team’s strong performance in several matches Pakistan played, but admitted the defeat against Afghanistan was particularly tough to swallow.

“It was a painful match for me,” he said. 

"Despite our good score, credit goes to them for their impressive improvement in cricket. It was a hard day for me, and I couldn’t sleep the whole night,” the ace batsman added.

When asked about handling overwhelming stress, Babar Azam explained it takes time to develop coping mechanisms. 

"You don't sleep much from excitement after a good performance, and stress keeps you awake after a bad one. The more you play, the more you learn to manage yourself in these situations," he stated. 

"After a bad day, it's crucial to move forward with a positive mindset," the 29-year-old star player observed.

The skipper furthered on, "You can't dwell on the past; there are always new matches and performances ahead. Everyone makes mistakes, but the key is to learn from them. That's how you overcome stress and keep improving."

He maintained that while others can offer guidance, ultimately, one's preparation and mental approach are crucial for moving forward. 

Babar emphasised reflecting on the steps a person took to overcome past struggles; "those lessons will be invaluable in the future."