Babar Azam has been facing significant criticism lately due to his inconsistent performances in all three formats of the game.
However, during the recent ODI series victory against Australia, he provided a glimpse of his former brilliance and skill. He scored only 80 runs in three innings, but he got out only once and struck the winning boundary in both of Pakistan’s victories.
Despite his performance in ODIs, Babar’s struggles in the T20 format have drawn renewed scrutiny. In three T20I matches, he could muster only a mere 47 runs, raising concerns about his form and consistency.
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Shoaib Akhtar, while talking to a local news channel, warned that the star batter needs to regain his form and score heavy runs during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to retain his place in the Pakistan cricket team.
“He’s our star, I’ll back him up. But the thing is, with the new management, with a new mindset, he has to create a change in his ‘neurological wiring,’ otherwise, the new management might not consider him in T20Is and even ODIs,” Akhtar said.
The former pacer emphasized that a few good innings are not enough; Babar must score match-winning centuries.
“The Champions Trophy is the time and place where Babar needs to be at the forefront for Pakistan. He needs to dominate and score three centuries in the Champions Trophy that too in a match-winning cause,” he added.
“If he does that then definitely he can come back. But if not, then the path is going to be very difficult,” Akhtar concluded.
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