Shoaib Akhtar: “The Champions Trophy is the time and place where Babar needs to be at the forefront for Pakistan. He needs to dominate and score three centuries in the Champions Trophy, that too in a match-winning cause”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has challenged Babar Azam to score three match-winning centuries in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held from February to March.
He noted that he wants to see the 30-year-old dominate with the bat and lead from the front in order to boost Pakistan’s chances of lifting the coveted trophy.
Akhtar pointed out that if Azam fails to have an impact in the tournament, it could spell the end of his time in the team in limited overs cricket.
“The Champions Trophy is the time and place where Babar needs to be at the forefront for Pakistan. He needs to dominate and score three centuries in the Champions Trophy, that too in a match-winning cause. If he does that, then definitely he can come back. But if not, then the path is going to be very difficult,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Azam was recently involved in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia and struck 80 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80.
He then proceeded to make 47 runs in three T20Is at an average of 15.66.
After the Australia tour, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Azam was rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
The men in green then headed to South Africa and Azam returned to feature in the three-match T20I series, where he mustered 31 runs in two games at an average of 15.50.
In the ODI series that followed, he accumulated 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
As for the two-Test series, Azam finished with 193 runs, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 48.25.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, which will take place in Karachi and Multan from January 16 to 28.
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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