Babar Azam has underperformed in the 2025 Champions Trophy, facing criticism from Danish Kaneria for only scoring against weaker teams. His defensive play and inconsistency have raised concerns, coinciding with Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. The PCB is frustrated with the team’s performance, especially against India, and plans to reassess strategies post-tournament.
Babar Azam has struggled in the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy, appearing out of form. He posted a defensive innings of 64 runs from 90 balls against New Zealand during a daunting chase of 321 runs, which raised concerns about his batting intent. Despite beginning strongly against India, Babar was dismissed after edging a delivery to slip, highlighting his inconsistency in crucial matches.
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar’s batting performance, suggesting that he only seems capable of scoring against weaker teams like Zimbabwe. Kaneria emphasized, “Babar has not scored runs for so long. But when he scores, it is against Zimbabwe or smaller teams. If he scores against big teams, so there is no intent at all,” indicating doubts about Babar’s capabilities in high-pressure situations.
Currently, Babar Azam has lost his top ODI rank to Indian player Shubman Gill. In his last two years, Babar has averaged 45 runs across 35 innings, with a strike rate ranking amongst the lowest of those surpassing 1000 runs. Kaneria pointed out the lack of depth in the Pakistan batting order and mentioned that key players like Rizwan have also struggled to contribute effectively.
Pakistan’s early defeats to New Zealand and India led to their elimination from the Champions Trophy after Bangladesh’s match against New Zealand. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed disappointment over team performances but has opted for silence regarding management decisions until the tournament concludes on March 9.
Reports indicate that PCB officials are frustrated with the team’s display, particularly in the high-profile match against India, and have noted that infrastructure improvements were prioritized over team selection. Kaneria previously commented on the PCB’s focus on conditions rather than fielding a competitive side, emphasizing the need for better strategic decisions moving forward.
Babar Azam’s form has come under scrutiny, particularly after a disappointing start to the Champions Trophy 2025. Danish Kaneria has pointed out the lack of significant runs against stronger teams, raising questions about Babar’s batting mindset. Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament has led to frustrations within the cricket board regarding team performance and selection strategies. The team’s last outing against Bangladesh will be critical for assessing their standing moving forward.
Original Source: www.news18.com
