Babar Azam continues to captivate audiences. On one side, his extensive fan base ardently wishes to see him included in the Fab Four discussion, yet his recent performances suggest otherwise. Having struggled with his form for over two years, Babar's sluggish innings against New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 validate the criticisms directed at him. How can one rationalize the actions of the so-called 'best batter' in Pakistan, a former captain, who faced an astonishing 52 dot balls while chasing a target of 321 runs? It is simply indefensible.

The absence of Fakhar Zaman due to injury meant that Babar would not have batted unless Pakistan lost two wickets. With one of their key power hitters effectively sidelined, Babar should have adopted a more aggressive strategy. Regrettably, apart from an early boundary, he retreated into a defensive mindset and failed to break free, even as New Zealand escalated the required run rate to nearly 10 runs per over.

Babar eventually reached his half-century, but at what expense? It took him 81 balls to do so, marking his fifth-slowest fifty in One Day Internationals. By the time he achieved this milestone, Pakistan was nearly out of contention, and New Zealand's victory was all but assured. Babar's laborious batting style left many cricket analysts and former players perplexed. A particularly scathing critique came from former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who opined that Babar's approach was reminiscent of the 1980s. "Babar still plays ODI cricket from the 1980s. Just two boundaries against part-time spinners, accumulating runs in the middle overs. This strategy is ineffective in contemporary cricket," he remarked.

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Even the esteemed Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden, who has previously been involved in the coaching staff for Pakistan, found himself at a loss for words. "My question is, where has this level of intent been from the beginning? We are 33 overs into the innings, and the required run rate exceeds 10. This is the first instance throughout the innings where we have witnessed genuine intent," he remarked during his commentary.

Pakistan lost the game inside first 10 overs itself

Earlier in the day, Babar Azam relinquished his position as the top batter in the ICC ODI rankings to India's Shubman Gill, and his performance just hours later did little to rectify the situation. More critically, Babar's innings contributed to Pakistan's defeat. Opening the innings alongside Saim Ayub, Pakistan required their most seasoned batter to provide a strong start. However, rather than achieving a rapid beginning, the team struggled to reach 22/2 by the end of the first ten overs. Pakistan faced a staggering 162 dot balls, which is equivalent to 27 overs. Even an extraordinary turnaround would not have salvaged their performance.

Babar's innings ultimately became a pivotal factor in the match, as it was at this juncture that Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips accelerated their scoring, with one reaching a century and the other a fifty, following Will Young's solid foundation with his second ODI hundred.

The 60-run defeat places Pakistan in a vulnerable situation. As defending champions, they must secure a victory against India on Sunday to remain in contention for the tournament. A win against Bangladesh may not suffice, as only two teams from Group A will advance to the semi-finals. However, if Bangladesh manages to defeat India, as they did during the 2023 Asia Cup, Pakistan may find themselves in a more favorable position.

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