In Champions Trophy opener, Pujara & Wasim Akram blasts Babar Azam was slow knock
Pakistan's ICC Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand ended in disappointment, with the hosts suffering a 60-run defeat. A significant point of criticism has been directed at former captain Babar Azam, who scored 64 runs off 90 balls, a performance deemed too slow for the format. His innings included just six boundaries and one six, failing to provide the necessary momentum for Pakistan's chase of 321 runs.
Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara criticized Babar's lack of intent, stating, "There was no intent... he was waiting for the ball to come to him." He emphasized that in One Day Internationals (ODIs), players should bat with freedom and aggression, which Babar did not demonstrate. Pujara noted that Babar's cautious approach added pressure on subsequent batters, as dot balls accumulated.
Wasim Akram echoed these sentiments, expressing disappointment in Babar's strike rate and suggesting he would prefer fewer runs scored more quickly. The overall consensus among analysts is that Babar's performance hindered Pakistan's ability to recover from an early collapse, ultimately impacting their chances in the tournament