Kamran Akmal: “He should win the Champions Trophy for Pakistan. He should perform in it and make the boys perform as well. He should finish the match, change the mentality of the other boys too. He should change the culture of the Pakistan team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal thinks Babar Azam can lead the national team to glory in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
He noted that it is pivotal for Azam to lead from the front throughout the tournament and be a match-winner by scoring big runs.
In addition to batting well, Akmal also wants the 30-year-old to change the mentality and culture of the Pakistan team, specifically eliminating the “selfish mindset” that has set in.
“He should win the Champions Trophy for Pakistan. He should perform in it and make the boys perform as well. He should finish the match, change the mentality of the other boys too. He should change the culture of the Pakistan team. The selfish mindset can be changed by the players like Babar,” he told PakPassion.
Azam was recently involved in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia and began by making 80 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80.
He then proceeded to score 47 runs in three T20Is at an average of 15.66.
After the Australia series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
He returned for the ongoing tour of South Africa and mustered 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
The Lahore native fared a lot better in the three-match ODI series as he finished with 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
Pakistan and South Africa will now play two Tests, with the first match getting underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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