Umar Akmal: “If he’s being trusted as an opener then he should live up to that trust”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Senior Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has called on Babar Azam to live up to the expectations as an opener if he is being trusted with the role.
Azam was promoted to the top of the order recently as regular opening batsman Saim Ayub is out of action with a fractured ankle.
The 30-year-old opened the batting in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and made 62 runs at an average of 20.66.
Azam continued to be an opener in the 2025 Champions Trophy and amassed 87 runs in two games, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
With only one notable score as an opening batsman, Akmal pointed out that Azam has to start contributing more.
“If he’s being trusted as an opener then he should live up to that trust,” he said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Geo Super.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the Champions Trophy, which led to them getting eliminated in the group stage.
Their final game against Bangladesh was washed out.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a limited overs tour of New Zealand, which will comprise five T20Is and three ODIs that will be held from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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