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Champions Trophy 2025: Babar Azam© AFP
Babar Azam bore the brunt after Pakistan’s 60-run loss towards New Zealand within the Champions Trophy 2025. After Pakistan bowlers conceded 320/5 in 50 overs, the onus was on the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam to guide the powerful chase. As a substitute Pakistan misplaced the momentum proper initially as they scored simply 22/2 within the first 10 overs. Babar Azam was notably sluggish scoring 12* (27b) in that length. In 15 overs, Pakistan reached 49/2 with Babar on 22* (37b) and in 20 overs, they scored simply 66/2. The run-scoring tempo solely picked up when Salman Agha got here to the crease.
Babar Azam’s efficiency was criticised by former Pakistan participant Basit Ali.
“Paanch chauke maare apne 50 mey (you have hit only five boundaries in his knock). Usse badhiya toh Salman Ali Agha kehla hai (Salman Ali Agha showed more intent than Babar Azam). Social media mey hume log gaddar bolte hai kyunki hum Babar Azam ko criticise karte hai (On social media fans call me traitor for criticising Babar Azam).”
Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar also criticised star batter Babar Azam for his slow and conservative knock against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy opener, saying that the batter has “no intention to enhance”. Babar’s sluggish approach in ODIs made headlines as he made a 90-ball 64 against NZ while chasing 321 in the Champions Trophy opener. His strike rate was extremely underwhelming at 71.11, leaving Pakistan 60 runs short of a win and their net run rate slipped to -1.20. Their next match against arch-rivals India on Sunday has become a virtual knockout.
Speaking in the post-match analysis show ‘Game On Hai’ as quoted by Wisden, Shoaib said, “Babar Azam has develop into the product he needed to develop into; it’s seen; what can I debate about it?. You noticed it (towards New Zealand). There isn’t a intention to enhance.”
“You can’t run a workforce by appearing like Maula Jatt (violent Pakistani fictional character) – ‘Carry this, do that, try this’ and so forth. You are not enjoying T20. You’ll be able to play T20 cricket with T20 expertise, however in longer codecs you want consciousness, intelligence and methodology as effectively. How do you create this bundle?”
“They used to show us method again within the 80s and 90s in membership cricket learn how to play run-a-ball. Even us tailenders knew that we have now to play run-a-ball,” he concluded.
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