The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is approaching, and Pakistan’s team management has made a surprising decision. They promoted Babar Azam to open the batting in a home tri-series against New Zealand. This move sparked criticism from former player Kamran Akmal and raised questions about Pakistan’s strategy.
- Babar Azam was promoted to open in the tri-series against New Zealand.
- He struggled, scoring only 10 runs off 23 balls.
- Kamran Akmal criticized the move, calling it a disruption to team balance.
- Babar’s record as an opener is poor, averaging only 12.
- His best performances have come at No. 3, where he averages 60.17.
- Pakistan must decide whether to continue with this experiment before the Champions Trophy 2025.
Babar Azam as an Opener: A Strategic Shift or a Gamble?
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batter, was pushed into an opening role due to Saim Ayub’s injury. This forced the management to find a new partner for Fakhar Zaman at the top. Babar, known for his consistency at No. 3, struggled in his new role. He scored only 10 runs off 23 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand. His slow innings contributed to Pakistan’s 78-run defeat while chasing 331 runs.
Former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal criticized this decision. He believes that moving Babar disrupts the team’s balance and affects his confidence. Akmal stated that Babar’s past record as an opener has been poor, making this experiment a high-risk strategy before the Champions Trophy.
Babar Azam’s Past Performance as an Opener
Babar last opened in ODIs back in 2015 against England. In that series, he scored 4 and 22 runs in two innings. His overall stats as an opener are concerning:
- Matches Played: 3
- Runs Scored: 36
- Batting Average: 12
- Strike Rate: 61
Compared to his dominant record at No. 3, where he has amassed 5,416 runs in 104 innings at an average of 60.17, this shift seems risky.
Pakistan’s Opening Dilemma Before Champions Trophy 2025
With Saim Ayub injured, Pakistan is struggling to find a stable opening combination. Fakhar Zaman is an aggressive player, but his ideal partner remains uncertain. If Babar continues opening, his impact on Pakistan’s middle order could weaken.
Possible solutions for Pakistan:
- Revert Babar to No. 3, his most successful position.
- Try Abdullah Shafique or another young batter as an opener.
- Stick with Babar and give him more time to settle in the opening role.
Champions Trophy 2025: A Crucial Tournament for Pakistan
The Champions Trophy 2025 is a major ICC event, and Pakistan must finalize its batting lineup. The opening pair is a key concern. If Babar struggles at the top, Pakistan may suffer against stronger teams.
With limited matches before the tournament, Pakistan’s management must make a firm decision. Will they continue with Babar as an opener or bring him back to No. 3? The coming matches will provide clarity.
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
