Danish Kaneria Critiques Babar Azam’s Performance in Champions Trophy 2025
Danish Kaneria criticized Babar Azam for his poor form in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, highlighting his struggles against stronger teams like India. Babar scored just 23 runs in a pivotal match, raising questions about his intent and ability against top opposition. Pakistan’s batting depth has also faced scrutiny, especially regarding captain Mohammad Rizwan’s performance, culminating in the team’s early exit from the tournament after losses to New Zealand and India.
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar Azam following his lackluster performance in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. In a disappointing match against India, Babar scored only 23 runs, exacerbating concerns over his form, particularly against stronger teams. His earlier innings of 64 against New Zealand raised questions due to its defensive nature, as Pakistan struggled to chase a 321-run target.
Kaneria asserted that Babar tends to perform better against lesser teams, such as Zimbabwe, stating, “Babar has not scored runs for so long. But when he scores, it is against Zimbabwe or against smaller teams. If he scores against big teams, there is no intent at all.” The player’s performance continues to fall short, with a record of only 241 runs in eight innings against India, averaging 30.12.
Additionally, Kaneria has expressed concerns about the broader batting lineup, specifically questioning the form of captain Mohammad Rizwan. He remarked, “There is no depth in the batting. Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah make some contributions sometimes…but Rizwan’s bat seems to have stopped working.” This negativity comes as Pakistan has already lost significant matches to New Zealand and India, leading to their early elimination from the tournament. Thus, Kaneria predicted the team’s struggles were evident when the Champions Trophy squad was announced.
As Pakistan prepares for its final game against Bangladesh after being knocked out of the tournament, there is pressure to perform and provide some glimmer of hope for their supporters, despite the growing discontent surrounding key players’ performances.
In conclusion, Babar Azam’s recent performances, particularly in the Champions Trophy 2025, have drawn significant criticism from former players like Danish Kaneria. The player’s struggles against stronger teams have raised doubts about his form and intent. Furthermore, the Pakistan team’s overall batting depth has been called into question, contributing to their early elimination in the tournament. As they head into their last fixture against Bangladesh, the team aims to end on a high note amid rising scrutiny.
Original Source: www.indiatoday.in
