Danish Kaneria questioned Babar Azam’s recent performance in the Champions Trophy, stating his runs come primarily against weaker teams like Zimbabwe. He criticized Babar’s intent and highlighted the batting depth issues in the Pakistan lineup. The team was eliminated after losing to New Zealand and India, with one final match against Bangladesh remaining. The PCB has expressed disappointment but remains silent on team matters until the tournament concludes.
Danish Kaneria, a former cricketer, has raised concerns regarding Babar Azam’s performance during the Champions Trophy 2025, particularly criticizing his intent at the crease. Babar’s recent innings included a defensive 64 runs off 90 balls against New Zealand during a challenging 321-run chase, which prompted Kaneria to question whether the star batter is capable of delivering against stronger teams, as his runs seem to come only against lesser opponents like Zimbabwe.
Babar Azam recently lost his top position in One Day Internationals to India’s Shubman Gill, despite accumulating 1,442 runs over 35 innings in the past two years, with an average of 45. His strike rate of 82.49 is noted as the third-lowest among players scoring over 1,000 runs in that span. Kaneria highlighted the lack of depth in the overall batting lineup, mentioning that while certain players contribute occasionally, such as Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, others like Mohammed Rizwan appear to be struggling significantly.
The Pakistan national team experienced disappointment following their elimination from the Champions Trophy, having lost their first two matches against New Zealand and India, and they have one remaining match against Bangladesh scheduled for February 27 in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly in key matches, and has decided to refrain from commenting until the conclusion of the tournament on March 9. Reports indicate that PCB officials are disappointed with the outcomes but remain focused on hosting international events in the future. Kaneria previously criticized PCB for neglecting team selection while concentrating on enhancing their infrastructure.
In summary, Danish Kaneria has voiced his worries over Babar Azam’s lack of impactful runs, particularly against prominent teams. With Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy and concerns over the depth of the batting lineup, the PCB faces scrutiny regarding team management. As they prepare for their final match against Bangladesh, the PCB remains reticent about the team’s performance until post-tournament evaluations.
Original Source: www.news18.com
