Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has raised concerns regarding Babar Azam's performance, suggesting that the right-handed batsman seldom excels against stronger teams in crucial matches. He further criticized the former captain, asserting that his runs primarily come against teams like Zimbabwe or other lesser opponents.

Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan faced elimination from the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 after losing their first two matches to New Zealand and India. The situation became dire when New Zealand easily overcame Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday, rendering any mathematical hopes for Pakistan moot.

In the Champions Trophy, Babar Azam scored 64 and 23 against New Zealand and India, respectively. He faced significant backlash for his perceived "lack of intent" during the match against New Zealand, particularly while chasing a target of 321 runs.

Kaneria has joined the chorus of former cricketers criticizing Babar, questioning his ability to perform against top-tier teams.

"Babar has not been scoring runs consistently, and when he does, it is typically against Zimbabwe or weaker teams. His performances against stronger opponents lack any real intent," Kaneria remarked to the news agency ANI.

"There is a noticeable lack of depth in the batting lineup. While Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah occasionally contribute, Saud Shakeel is the only one who appears technically sound. However, Rizwan's bat seems to have lost its effectiveness. The announcement of the Champions Trophy squad indicated that elimination from the tournament was likely to happen soon," he added.

‘Fakhar Zaman should be the next captain’

Kaneria believes that Fakhar Zaman possesses the potential to become the next captain of the Pakistan cricket team due to his distinctive X-factor. It is important to note that the left-handed batsman was sidelined from the Champions Trophy following an injury sustained during the opening match against New Zealand.

“He exhibits a fearless attitude and poses challenging questions to opponents. His presence adds an X-factor to the team. In the recent match against India, Pakistan missed his contributions,” Kaneria remarked.

“It must be acknowledged that he is indeed an X-factor player. Unfortunately, he does not receive the support he deserves, as it could jeopardize the positions of Babar and Rizwan. Nevertheless, he is a dedicated and brave cricketer,” he continued.

Kaneria further expressed concern that mediocrity is being rewarded within the current framework, emphasizing the need for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to implement strict measures to achieve better outcomes.

“If they fail to deliver results, they should be held accountable and asked to leave. There must be stringent guidelines in place. However, decisions are often made based on personal relationships and public relations rather than merit. When selecting a team for the nation, self-interest should not be a consideration,” Kaneria stated.

“Currently, it seems that individuals are more focused on maintaining their positions, scoring minimal runs, and continuing their routines. This approach is ineffective. If one operates in this manner, the results will reflect that, as evidenced by Pakistan's exit from the Champions Trophy,” he concluded.

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