ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar criticised Babar Azam’s lethargic innings during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand on February 19.
While calling Babar a “finished product,” Akhtar expressed his disappointment over Babar’s slow-paced half-century, where he scored 64 runs off 90 deliveries in pursuit of a daunting target of 321.
With a strike rate of just 71.11, Babar’s performance drew sharp criticism as Pakistan succumbed to a 60-run defeat, leaving their hopes of reaching the semi-finals hanging by a thread with a net run rate plummeting to -1.20.
The cricketing community has voiced its dissent, with many viewing Babar’s innings as detrimental to the team’s chances. Akhtar, among the critics, lamented the former captain’s apparent lack of desire to evolve as a player.
Babar is a finished product
“Babar Azam has become the product he had to become, it is visible, what can I debate about it?” Akhtar remarked during a post-match analysis on a state TV channel. “Just look at his performance against New Zealand; there’s a lack of desire to evolve.”
“You can’t lead a team with a Maula Jatt (violent Pakistani fictional character) mentality, Do this, fetch that. This isn’t T20 cricket. Sure, you can wield T20 skills for that format, but when it comes to longer formats, you need awareness, intelligence, and strategy. So, how do you cultivate that comprehensive skill set?” Shoaib Akhtar remarked.
Akhtar said, “Back in the 80s and 90s, we learned in club cricket the importance of playing a run-a-ball. Even as tailenders, we understood the significance of that approach.”
How sluggish was Babar Azam against New Zealand?
In the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy, Babar’s innings of 64 runs off 90 balls marked his fifth-slowest half-century in One Day Internationals.
The top order around him crumbled, with Saud Shakeel (6 off 19), Mohammad Rizwan (3 off 14), and Fakhar Zaman (24 off 41) failing to inject any pace into the innings.
However, the lower middle order found their rhythm, with Salman Ali Agha blasting 42 off 28 and Khushdil Shah chipping in with a brisk 69 off 49. Despite this support, Babar never found his groove, and when he was finally dismissed at 153-6 in the 34th over, Pakistan’s chances of victory had all but evaporated.
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Babar’s start was particularly sluggish during the initial powerplay, where he managed a mere 12 runs off 27 balls, playing it safe without taking any risks. He found a bit more rhythm with 20 runs off 20 balls between the 11th and 20th overs but failed to capitalize on that momentum, adding only 32 runs in the next 43 balls.
Notably, from the 15.3 to the 32nd over, he didn’t strike a single boundary, leaving fans longing for the explosive hitting they know he’s capable of.
Pujara, Basit Ali criticise Babar
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali raised eyebrows over Babar’s approach, asking, “Was he playing for his own sake? Taking 81 balls to reach just fifty—was he prioritizing personal milestones over national pride? Shouldn’t the nation come first? Does he consider himself above the team? With just five boundaries, Salman Ali Agha outperformed him in that department.”
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara said, “In one-day cricket, the focus should be on securing victory rather than merely protecting your wicket. It seemed like he was more concerned about his own survival than leading the team to triumph.”
