Babar Azam’s recent performances in the Champions Trophy have faced criticism, particularly from former cricketer Danish Kaneria. Azam’s struggles against stronger teams raise questions about his intent. Following early defeats, the Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed disappointment while remaining silent on team affairs until the tournament’s conclusion.
In the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has drawn criticism for his lackluster performance. He recorded a defensive innings of 64 runs off 90 balls in a 321-run chase against New Zealand, followed by an inability to convert a promising start against India. Former cricketer Danish Kaneria has highlighted Azam’s poor scoring history, noting that when he does score runs, they tend to come against weaker teams like Zimbabwe, raising concerns about his intent and skill level.
Kaneria further elaborated on the struggles within Pakistan’s batting lineup, pointing out the continuous underperformance of key players. He remarked, “There is no depth in the batting. Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah make some contributions sometimes. Saud Shakeel is a technically correct batter. But Rizwan’s bat seems to have stopped working.” As a result, Pakistan faced defeats in their opening matches against New Zealand and India, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed substantial disappointment regarding the team’s early exit, particularly in their matches against India. Despite internal frustrations, the PCB has opted for silence on team matters until the tournament concludes on March 9. Reports suggest that the PCB prioritizes the successful hosting of the Champions Trophy as a means to attract further international cricket events to Pakistan. Additionally, Kaneria critiqued the PCB’s focus on improving infrastructure at the expense of team selection efficiency.
Babar Azam faces significant scrutiny regarding his recent performance, especially against strong international teams. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s silence in response to the team’s disappointing showing reflects broader concerns about their future in international competitions. As the Champions Trophy concludes, stakeholders will likely push for both improvements in team selection and a focus on developing a competitive batting lineup.
Original Source: www.news18.com
