Pakistan batter Babar Azam’s recent struggles with the bat have sparked debate about his position in the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin on February 19. Interim head coach Aqib Javed has backed the decision to promote Babar to the opening spot despite concerns over his recent form.
Following Pakistan’s five-wicket loss to New Zealand in the tri-nation ODI series final, Javed explained that the management’s decision was strategic.
He noted that, during the series against South Africa, Babar often had to face the new ball and was forced to open due to an injury to Saim Ayub. Javed emphasized that the conditions in the upcoming tournament, coupled with the need to maximize the powerplay, made Babar’s promotion a logical choice.
“Our rationale behind the change was that if you look at the away series against South Africa, the right-hand batter had to bat in the first over in all games.
These pitches are not troubling batters at the start, so we wanted our best batter to make good use of the powerplay,” Javed said. “I am hopeful that Babar will perform well in this crucial role in the upcoming tournament.”
Despite Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the tri-nation series, where they won only one out of three matches, Javed remains confident in the team’s ability to excel at the Champions Trophy, believing the squad is well-prepared for the challenge ahead.
However, Babar’s recent performances have drawn criticism from some quarters. In the tri-nation series, he scored just 10 (23), 23 (19), and 29 (34) in three matches, including the final. Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir expressed doubts about Babar’s effectiveness as an opener in ODIs, suggesting the No. 3 position would be a better fit for the batter.
Amir argued that Babar is best suited to anchor the innings from the No. 3 spot, where he has historically thrived. “Babar’s strength lies in constructing an innings at No. 3. The roles of an opener in ODIs and Tests are different, and I think he should bat at No. 3,” Amir stated.
Ex-captain Mohammad Hafeez also voiced his opinion, recommending that Pakistan consider using Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, or Shan Masood as openers, thereby allowing Babar to return to his preferred position.
Former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs, who worked with Babar during his time at Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), also weighed in on the issue.
Gibbs highlighted a language barrier as a factor in communicating effectively with Babar and noted that the batter’s approach has remained largely unchanged, despite the evolving demands of international cricket.
“Babar’s style and tempo haven’t changed. He still plays with the same approach and shot selection,” Gibbs remarked.
Babar’s performance at No. 3 in ODIs has been stellar, with 5,416 runs in 104 matches, averaging 60.17 with a strike rate of 88.33, including 19 centuries.
His success in this position has made the discussion over his promotion to the opening spot a point of contention, with many questioning whether this move could potentially disrupt his rhythm in key matches at the ICC Champions Trophy.
