The Champions Trophy 2025 is a chance for Pakistan to prove that they have yet to be written off as one of the strongest teams in world cricket. In recent times, the word ‘success’ has probably slipped out of Pakistan’s dictionary. Back-to-back paltry performances across World Cups, frequent change of the captain, coach and selectors had unsettled the team. With injuries creeping in, especially that of the first-choice opener, Saim Ayub, the team is not in a good position to enter the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Pakistan would have to produce some kind of magic if they are to repeat their Champions Trophy 2017-winning feat in the 2025 edition. In light of this, Pakistan may try something interesting. Captain Mohammad Rizwan has hinted that Babar Azam will open for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. Former captain Babar Azam comes in regularly at No. 3.
Rizwan responded with a cheeky comment when asked to reveal the opener for Pakistan in Champions Trophy: “The answer is there was a line ‘King kar lega.'”
Babar’s numbers at No. 3 are good: he has made over 5,416 runs at an average of 60.17, but like most others, he has struggled at the top of the order, where he has batted only twice for just 26 runs.
As reported in PTI, it seems that Pakistan selectors may have taken a leaf from Indian cricket in contemplating the idea of Babar Azam opening the batting in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The master began opening after 69 matches lower down the order, with his first match as an opener against New Zealand in Auckland in 1994, and he scored a scintillating 82 off just 49 balls; the rest is history.
“The selectors informed Babar that they felt he could also replicate what Tendulkar had done as an opener, given that he had opened many times for his side in T20 cricket.”
Coincidentally, it was round that time that Babar and Shan Masood were told to open in the Cape Town Test by virtue of Saim’s injury, from which they went on to form a decent partnership.
“Babar, after due consideration, agreed to the challenge,” the source went on to say.
