Ricky Ponting: “Babar has been a bit up and down in recent years, but if he and Rizwan can bring their A-games, that’s when Pakistan becomes incredibly dangerous”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting has admitted that Pakistan limited overs skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have to “bring their A-games” in the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy.
He noted that both of them can’t afford to falter in the tournament as the men in green need them scoring big runs.
If they do perform well, Ponting pointed out that this is when Pakistan “becomes incredibly dangerous”.
Azam has struggled to score runs consistently as of late and in the recent ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, he wasn’t anywhere near his best as he mustered 62 runs in three matches at an average of 20.66.
Rizwan, on the other hand, had a great campaign in the tri-series as he amassed 171 runs, which included a top score of 122 not out, at an average of 85.50.
“Babar has been a bit up and down in recent years, but if he and Rizwan can bring their A-games, that’s when Pakistan becomes incredibly dangerous,” Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review.
In the opening game of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 60 runs.
Azam scored 64 runs off 90 balls, which included six boundaries and a six, while Rizwan made three runs.
Pakistan’s next match will be against India on February 23 in Dubai.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
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