 "Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan coach backs Babar Azam as opener, expects him to play 'big innings in important matches'")
Pakistan’s interim head coach Aaqib Javed his defended the team’s decision to back Babar Azam as an opener despite the star batter’s low scores ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Babar, who has primarily batted at the No 3 position for Pakistan in ODIs, scored 62 runs in the recently-concluded triangular series against New Zealand and South Africa at an average of 20.66. That included a 34-ball 29 in the final against the Black Caps in Karachi that the Mohammad Rizwan-led hosts ended up losing by five wickets .
Babar was moved to the top of the order alongside Fakhar Zaman for the tri-series as well as the Champions Trophy in the absence of Saim Ayub, who suffered an ankle injury during Pakistan's recent tour of South Africa that has put him out of action ever since.
And Javed, for one, felt that former captain Babar was still the “best batter” for the Men in Green and that allowing him to make full use of the powerplay was in the team’s interest, especially in the Champions Trophy where Pakistan will be competing as the defending champions.
“Our rationale behind the change was that if you look at the away series against South Africa, Babar Azam had to bat in the first over in all games. Then Saim got injured, and he had to open in Tests too.
“These (home) pitches are not troubling the batters at the start, we wanted our best batter to make good use of the powerplay, that suits us more. So, I think, in these conditions, Babar should open and I am hopeful that he will play a big innings in important matches,” former Pakistan pacer Javed said in the press conference after the conclusion of the tri-series.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt’s not just Babar though who finds himself opening for Pakistan in ODIs after a lengthy gap. Fakhar too was drafted into Pakistan’s squad for the tri-series and the Champions Trophy after the team management and selectors ran out of patience with Abdullah Shafique, especially after he was dismissed for a duck in each of the three ODIs in South Africa.
Fakhar, who had starred in Pakistan’s epic triumph in the 2017 Champions Trophy by smashing a match-winning century in the final against India at The Oval, had recently been excluded from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s central contracts list due to his public criticism of the selection committee on social media. However, welcoming him back into the side for the recently-concluded series as well as the ‘Mini World Cup’ the PCB appears to have forgiven the southpaw.
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