Legendary quick bowler and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has weighed in on Pakistan’s batting technique for the extremely anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Akram shared his ideas on the batting positions of stalwarts like that of Babar Azam and white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan. His remarks come at an important time as Pakistan finalizes its squad and batting strategy for the celebrated event.
Wasim Akram’s perspective on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
Sharing his ideas throughout a media interplay, Akram expressed confidence in Babar’s potential to excel as an opener and defined why he believes the star batter ought to tackle this important position.
“I want to see [Mohammad] Rizwan as a middle-order batter and perhaps ask Babar to open the innings. Babar has a superb approach. If he performs 50 overs and scores 100, the batting will revolve round him,” Akram was quoted as saying by The Specific Tribune.
Akram’s suggestion comes within the wake of Babar stepping up as an opener throughout Pakistan’s current Take a look at sequence towards South Africa, the place he changed the injured Saim Ayub and impressed with a well-compiled half-century alongside Shan Masood. Given his potential to anchor the innings whereas sustaining a strong scoring fee, many specialists now see Babar as an excellent candidate to accomplice Fakhar Zaman on the prime within the Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan’s squad announcement for the Champions Trophy 2025
On January 31, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally introduced the 15-member squad for the upcoming tri-nation sequence and Champions Trophy 2025. Probably the most notable inclusion was the return of aggressive opener Zaman, whose expertise on the prime shall be important for Pakistan. Nonetheless, younger left-handed batter Ayub was dominated out resulting from an ankle damage, creating a gap dilemma for the group.
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On the time of the squad announcement, chief selector Asad Shafiq indicated that both Babar or Saud Shakeel could possibly be promoted to open the innings with Zaman, relying on pitch circumstances and group necessities. Now, Akram has added his voice to the controversy, advocating for Babar Azam’s promotion to the opening slot within the Champions Trophy, citing his distinctive batting approach and skill to assemble lengthy innings as key benefits.
A uncommon ODI experiment within the white-ball cricket
Regardless of being a prolific batter in ODIs, Babar has hardly ever opened the innings on this format. Actually, he has finished so solely twice in ODIs, each in 2015, earlier than cementing his place at No. 3 and No. 4, the place he has constantly delivered robust performances.
Nonetheless, in T20Is, Babar has a wealth of expertise as an opener. For greater than two years, he and Rizwan fashioned Pakistan’s most profitable T20I opening partnership, accumulating runs at a powerful common. Whereas they have been among the many most constant opening pairs in T20 cricket, their conservative strategy and comparatively low strike charges usually drew criticism, resulting in their eventual demotion from the opening slot. Now, with the Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, there may be renewed debate over whether or not Babar needs to be reinstated as an opener in ODIs – this time alongside Zaman.