Wasim Akram: “I don’t want 60 off 90 balls from my main player. I’d rather have him getting 35 off 30 balls and get out instead of getting 64 off 90 balls. It’s not on in this day and age”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram has slammed Babar Azam for his slow batting in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Wasim was particularly frustrated with Azam’s performance in the opening match against New Zealand, where he made 64 runs off 90 balls, which included six boundaries and a six.
Considering that New Zealand went on to win the match by 60 runs, the Sultan of Swing admitted he would have preferred if Azam got dismissed for 35 runs off 30 deliveries.
“I don’t want 60 off 90 balls from my main player. I’d rather have him getting 35 off 30 balls and get out instead of getting 64 off 90 balls. It’s not on in this day and age,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
In addition to losing to New Zealand, Pakistan were also beaten by India, which led to them getting eliminated in the group stage of the Champions Trophy.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Next up for Pakistan will be a limited overs tour of New Zealand, where they will play five T20Is and three ODIs 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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