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Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam, who is currently playing in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka, faced a decision between playing there or in Canada's Global T20 League. Babar's father, Azam Siddiqui, has revealed that it was at his suggestion that Babar decided to continue in Sri Lanka despite a comparable financial offer from Canada.
Babar's father disclosed on Instagram that during the ongoing Test series in Sri Lanka, Babar had informed him about a tempting offer from the Canadian T20 league. Interestingly, Babar would have earned the same amount of money for playing just 10 days in Canada as he would for playing 25 days in the Lanka Premier League.
Furthermore, the weather in Canada is currently delightful, contrasting with Sri Lanka's summer season, which made the offer even more enticing. Confused, Babar sought his father's advice.
Azam Siddiqui advised his son to stay in Sri Lanka. The rationale behind this advice was that the upcoming Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30. Prior to this event, Pakistan will also play a series of three ODIs against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka. Hence, staying in Sri Lanka would allow Babar to familiarise himself with the local conditions and wickets, which could prove advantageous.
"Babar asked me during the test that I am getting the same amount of money for ten days of the Global T20 League and 25 days for the Lanka Premier League. The weather is very nice there and it is very hot here, so what should I do? Asked him to play in Sri Lanka because the Asia Cup is also here and perhaps the series will be held here with Afghanistan and the difficult wicket experience will be useful in the World Cup as well.
"They played ten days in the best cold days. I rest at home during the day, but everything is present for my country. Today, I sat twice in the match, and told my questions that I can't breathe properly in this heat. I just want to tell you that the goal is to do anything for Pakistan, just to raise my name. Pakistan, I am also praying, I have a better assumption than you," he wrote on Instagram.
Emphasising the ultimate goal of contributing to Pakistan, Babar's father advised him to remain in Sri Lanka. Accepting his father's advice, Babar decided to continue with the Lanka Premier League. Prior to the auction, the Colombo Strikers had already included him in their team. Media reports suggest that Babar received approximately $ 60,000, or about Rs 50 lakhs, for his participation in the Lanka Premier League. Babar has, to date, scored a cumulative total of 66 runs in two matches of the league.
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