Babar Azam, the Pakistani batter, is under scrutiny for his sluggish performance in the opening match of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand. Numerous fans and analysts have criticized him for maintaining a strike rate of 71.11 while Pakistan pursued a target of 321 runs in Karachi. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also expressed his concerns, questioning the lack of "intent" in Babar's approach.

In a discussion on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin acknowledged Babar's considerable talent but expressed confusion regarding his decision-making during the innings, especially when other players like Salman Ali Afgha and Khushdil Shah were aggressively scoring runs.

Babar Azam opened the innings for Pakistan, managing to score 64 runs off 90 deliveries. Unfortunately, the team suffered a defeat in the tournament opener by 60 runs. After the first 10 overs, Pakistan found themselves at 22/2, indicating they were on the back foot from the outset of their innings.

“I hold Babar Azam in high regard. However, there are times when the desire to protect one's reputation can hinder performance. The team's success must take precedence over individual standing. Babar's innings was challenging to watch,” Ashwin remarked.

“Where was the intent? Did he leave it at home? I genuinely believe that Babar Azam did not prepare shot options for himself before the match. He lacks a variety of shots; there is no square cut, no sweep, no reverse sweep, and his bottom hand is restricted. His repertoire is limited. Such innings would not have been acceptable even in the 1990s,” he further elaborated.

'It was poor play'

Ashwin expressed his candid criticism of Babar's approach during the chase, highlighting a stark contrast with Fakhar Zaman, who, despite an injured muscle, was willing to take greater risks than the fully fit Babar Azam.

He remarked, "What was their performance yesterday? In the initial 10 overs, they managed a mere 20 runs without any sense of shame. Salman Ali Agha showcased an impressive batting display, and Tayyab Tahir also played aggressively, providing a solid foundation. Babar, on the other hand, was seen charging down the pitch merely to defend, resulting in numerous dot balls. For such a performance, he might as well have been dismissed."

Ashwin continued, "What troubles me is my acknowledgment of his current lack of form. He is eager to regain his rhythm, yet with only three matches in the Champions Trophy, losing even one could lead to near elimination. This is the same Pakistan team that successfully chased down 350 runs recently. How is it possible to score only 20 runs in the first powerplay? It was not a powerplay; it was a display of poor performance."

Currently, Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position in the Champions Trophy, necessitating a victory against India to maintain control over their destiny. A defeat against Rohit Sharma's team would leave Pakistan reliant on the outcomes of other matches. Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament, with Imam-ul-Haq stepping in as his replacement.

Ashwin further noted, "Later in the game, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips were bowling, and even Fakhar Zaman attempted to hit sixes, yet our player [Babar] was merely charging without making any significant contributions. At the very least, he could have displayed some aggression. After reaching 50, he finally hit a six. I am astonished that with such a talented team, he played with such a lack of intent. I found it difficult to watch the match; it was disappointing."

Read Also: Heartbreak in Pakistan Camp: Fakhar Zaman Breaks Down, Shaheen Afridi Looks On

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