Follow UsFormer Pakistan captain and star batter Babar Azam is facing scathing criticism from all corners of the cricket world after his detrimentally slow knock of 64 off 90 in a 321-run chase in the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Karachi.
Babar’s slow start made it really hard for the other Pakistani batters to chase the big total down, as Pakistan were just 22/2 at the end of 10 overs. Fakhar Zaman, the key powerplay hitter for Pakistan, was injured in the first few overs of the game, and the New Zealand bowlers made full use of that by keeping the Pakistani top order quiet.
Eventually, despite Salman Agha’s 42 off 28 and Khushdil Shah’s 69 off 49, Pakistan fell short of the target by 60 runs.
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“I don’t want 60 off 90 balls from my main player,” Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said on the Ten Sports Network show “Dressing Room.”
“I’d rather have him getting 35 off 30 balls and get out instead of getting 64 of 90 balls. It’s not on in this day and age. Babar was the set batter but Salman was taking the risk,” the Pakistani bowling legend said.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad didn’t mince his words while criticising Babar’s innings.
“He was extremely under pressure,” Shehzad said on the Geo News show “Haarna Mana Hai.”
“There is so much investment in Babar Azam. Where is he? Mulk ko unki jaroorat hai (The country needs him). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has invested a lot on Babar. He was given a free hand as a captain for four and five years.
“You have played 52 dot balls. In the first 13 overs, Pakistan has played 60 dot balls. You lost the game there only,” said Shehzad.
“As a senior player Babar and Rizwan added 14 runs in 38 balls. You know that ball was turning and it was a double-paced wicket. So scoring with new ball was easy and your chance to put pressure on New Zealand. Babar didn’t show any intent.
“For the past three years, he has not performed. In the T20 his game lagged behind. In 59 Tests he has played, Babar has only one player of the match award. The then coach Mickey Arthur did all in his power to establish him in the Test side.”
Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who is also part of the show “Dressing Room”, felt that Babar’s approach to playing spin lacked intent and footwork.
“There was no intent,” Pujara said.
“Babar’s footwork against the spinner was not good. He was not using his feet. He was not reaching to the ball. He was waiting for the ball to come to him. He was not committing. He was trying to flick the ball to get a single, but there was a square-leg fielder.
“He didn’t tried to play any sweep shot or a paddle sweep. Nowadays, reverse sweep is also an option to disturb the length of a spinner. It looks like there is a mental pressure on him. In one-day cricket, you need to bat with freedom. He is a natural stroke player. He needs to bat with more freedom. He needs to rotate strike and hit those odd boundaries. In the present time, the strike rate of 70 and 80 are not good enough.”
The Indian right-hander lambasted the Pakistani batter for saving his own wicket and putting extra pressure on the other Pakistani batters.
“You don’t need to play for your own runs,” Pujara said.
“In one-day cricket, you can’t be looking to save your own wicket; instead, you go to win the match. He was trying not to get out. But the dot balls added pressure on the batters, who came next.”