“No tenía otra opción: la ex estrella de Pakistán asume el campeón de la copa de la copa con copa enviada

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has shared his views on Babar Azam’s position in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. He believes that no matter how Babar performs, his spot in the team remains secure. With the tournament just two weeks away and opener Saim Ayub ruled out, the hosts, Pakistan, might need Babar to step up as an opener.

“Babar’s place in the team will remain unaffected, irrespective of his performance in the Champions Trophy,” said Basit Ali on his YouTube channel. He thinks Babar has a response ready for any situation.

Performance vs pressure for Babar Azam

Even if Babar Azam fails as an opener, Basit Ali feels he will justify his performance either way: “If he performs, he will say ‘I played for Pakistan’. If he doesn’t perform, he will say I was forcefully made to open,” Ali pointed out.

In 2024, Babar may not have played many ODI matches but had decent outings with 228 runs in just six games, averaging 57. Despite his temporary exclusion from the Test side that year, his ODI form seems stable.

Pakistan’s recent ODI form

Pakistan’s ODI team has been performing well, led by their new white-ball captain, Mohammad Rizwan. The team has bagged series wins against Australia and South Africa, boosting their confidence going into the Champions Trophy.

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Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule

Pakistan begins their Champions Trophy campaign against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. Fans eagerly await the high-voltage showdown against India on February 23 in Dubai. Their last league match will be against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27. As the tournament draws near, the spotlight will remain on Babar Azam to see how he handles his role and contributes to the team’s success.