Pakistan cricket has made a surprising decision. Babar Azam, their best ODI batter, has been asked to open the innings. This change has raised concerns among experts. Basit Ali, a former cricketer, has strongly opposed this move.
- Babar Azam is a natural number-three batter, not an opener.
- Pakistan lacks a specialist opener after Saim Ayub’s injury.
- India’s team management handled a similar situation wisely.
- Basit Ali suggests Pakistan should learn from India and not make unnecessary changes.
Babar Azam’s New Role as an Opener
Pakistan played against New Zealand on February 8 in the ongoing tri-series. In that match, Babar Azam opened the innings. This was only the third time he faced the new ball in an ODI.
Basit Ali was shocked by this decision. He questioned why the management was making drastic changes. “Is this some kind of book cricket?” Basit asked. He criticized Pakistan for not picking a specialist opener.
Pakistan was forced to make this change because Saim Ayub is injured and ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, experts believe this is not the right solution.
India’s Smart Approach: A Lesson for Pakistan
Basit Ali compared Pakistan’s mistake to India’s smart planning. When Virat Kohli was injured, India brought in Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But when Kohli returned, India benched Jaiswal and restored the original batting order.
Shubman Gill returned to his opening role. Shreyas Iyer remained at number four because he performed well. Even a star player like Rishabh Pant was benched due to team balance.
Basit Ali believes Pakistan should follow India’s example. He argues that Babar Azam should not be an opener. The team should find a specialist for the role.
Why Babar Azam Should Stay at Number Three
Babar Azam has played 104 out of 121 ODIs at number three. He has built his career in this position.
Opening requires a different skill set. Facing the new ball is a challenge. It swings and moves unpredictably. This role needs a batter with natural opening skills. Babar is best suited for number three.
Pakistan should not weaken their batting order by making unnecessary changes. A stable lineup is crucial for Champions Trophy 2025.
The Importance of Specialist Openers
A specialist opener is trained to handle new-ball conditions. Their role is to provide a solid start and protect middle-order batters.
If Babar Azam opens, Pakistan’s middle order will become weak. A strong middle order is essential for chasing big totals.
Instead of changing Babar’s position, Pakistan should find a backup opener. They can look for options in domestic cricket or upcoming leagues.
How Pakistan Can Fix Their Batting Order
Pakistan’s batting lineup needs balance. They should make changes based on performance, not emotions.
Here are some steps Pakistan can take:
- Find a specialist opener instead of making Babar open.
- Use a backup player from domestic cricket.
- Stick to a stable batting order for Champions Trophy 2025.
- Avoid picking players based on BPL performances, as Basit Ali suggests.
Lessons from Other Teams
India is not the only team that follows a structured batting approach. Other successful teams do the same.
- Australia keeps their top-order fixed, allowing players to play in their natural positions.
- England trusts their openers, even when they fail in some matches.
- New Zealand backs their key batters, keeping stability in the team.
Pakistan should learn from these teams and avoid unnecessary experiments.
Final Thoughts: A Smart Approach for Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan has a golden chance to prepare well for the Champions Trophy 2025. But for that, they need a well-balanced team.
Babar Azam is a world-class batter. He should not be forced to change his role. Pakistan should focus on team balance and not take unnecessary risks.
The team management should think long-term. Instead of short-term fixes, they must plan wisely for future success.
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ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Matches
Pakistan vs New Zealand - 1st Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs India - 2nd Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs South Africa - 3rd Match, Group B | Australia vs England - 4th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs India - 5th Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs New Zealand - 6th Match, Group A | Australia vs South Africa - 7th Match, Group B | Afghanistan vs England - 8th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs Bangladesh - 9th Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs Australia - 10th Match, Group B | England vs South Africa - 11th Match, Group B | New Zealand vs India - 12th Match, Group A | TBA vs TBA, 1st Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, 2nd Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, Final |
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Teams
PAKISTAN | NEW ZEALAND | BANGLADESH | INDIA | AFGHANISTAN | SOUTH AFRICA | AUSTRALIA | ENGLAND
