Shoiab Akhtar Salams Babar , Questions His Intent .
Pakistan’s much-anticipated Champions Trophy campaign got off to a disappointing start as the team struggled for momentum against New Zealand at Karachi Stadium on Wednesday.
The Green Shirts endured a tough outing with the bat, playing a staggering 162 dot balls out of 284 deliveries—one of their slowest performances in recent times.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, only Khushdil Shah and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha showed some resistance. Star batter Babar Azam played 52 dot balls, while Fakhar Zaman endured an unusually slow innings, consuming 30 deliveries without scoring a run. Saud Shakeel and captain Mohammad Rizwan also found it difficult to accelerate, facing 15 and 11 dot balls, respectively.
New Zealand capitalized on Pakistan’s passive approach, maintaining pressure through disciplined bowling. The lack of momentum prevented any major partnerships, and the sluggish scoring rate ultimately proved costly, allowing the Black Caps to secure a commanding 60-run victory.
Adding to the disappointment, the defeat came on a historic occasion, as Pakistan was hosting the Champions Trophy after a long wait. The loss dampened the spirits of the home crowd, who had high hopes for a strong start. However, with the tournament still in its early stages, Pakistan has an opportunity to regroup and bounce back in the upcoming matches.
Babar Azam’s cautious knock in Pakistan’s recent ODI has come under heavy criticism, with former cricketers questioning his intent and approach. His strike rate of 71.11, coupled with a boundary-less phase between overs 15.3 and 32, has raised concerns about his adaptability in the format.
Shoaib Akhtar Slams Babar’s Approach
Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar was particularly vocal, stating:
“Babar Azam has become the product he had to become. There is no intention to improve. You can’t run a team by acting like Maula Jatt. T20 skills don’t work in longer formats; you need intelligence and game awareness.”
Former Cricketers Weigh In
Other cricketing figures also joined in the criticism. Basit Ali questioned whether Babar was playing for himself or the team, saying:
“He took 81 balls for his fifty, while Salman Ali Agha hit more boundaries than him.”
Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara also commented on Babar’s defensive mindset:
“In ODIs, you can’t just look to survive; you have to play to win the match.”
Pakistan Faces Must-Win Clash Against India
With Pakistan’s net run rate dropping to -1.20, their upcoming fixture against India on February 23 has become a must-win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. The pressure is mounting, and Babar’s approach in this crucial encounter will be under intense scrutiny.