Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is seen on this picture launched on February 17, 2025. — ICC
As Pakistan prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, cricket legend Ricky Ponting has weighed in on the workforce’s ongoing efforts to revive Babar Azam’s type.
Talking in a video shared by the ICC on Instagram, Ponting dissected Pakistan’s technique, highlighting the changes made to Babar’s function within the batting order.
“I think at the moment, Pakistan are trying everything they can to get Babar back into some form,” Ponting stated.
“And they’re moving him, you know, left him out of a couple of games, moved him up and down the order, but not so much down the order. I think opening the batting to give him more time to settle against the new ball and put up big scores.”
Babar Azam, known as one of the finest batters in world cricket, has been struggling with inconsistency in recent months. Pakistan’s decision to push him up the order appears to be aimed at maximizing his time at the crease and allowing him to rediscover his touch.
The move comes as a result of young opener, Saim Ayub’s absence from the squad due to injury, with selectors experimenting to find the best opening pair.
Ayub, one of Pakistan’s mainstays in the batting order, suffered an ankle injury while fielding on the first day of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town in January.
Ponting acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s strategy, saying: “I actually don’t know which method they’ll go together with that. I do know he’s [Babar] is a top quality participant. We’re all ready for him to bounce again.”
The previous Australian captain additionally speculated that the Champions Trophy, being held on dwelling soil, may present the proper stage for Babar’s resurgence. “Maybe it’s this tournament… maybe it’s a really big tournament at home in Pakistan that gets him back at the front of everyone’s minds when you’re talking about the best players in the world.”
With the event about to begin, Pakistan faces a vital choice dilemma — whether or not to stay with Babar on the prime or alter their batting mixture additional. The choice may have a big affect on Pakistan’s title hopes within the marquee occasion.
The opening match will happen on the Nationwide Financial institution Cricket Stadium in Karachi, the place Pakistan will face New Zealand.
The eight-team event will likely be performed throughout three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in addition to in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 19 February to 9 March.
The opening match will happen on the Nationwide Financial institution Cricket Stadium in Karachi, the place Pakistan will face New Zealand.
Pakistan enter the event because the defending champions, having overwhelmed India within the ultimate of the 2017 version.
Within the group stage, three matches apiece will likely be performed in Dubai, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The primary semi-final will likely be performed on March 4 in Dubai. The newly upgraded Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the second semi-final on March 5.
If India don’t qualify, the ultimate will happen on the Gaddafi Stadium on March 9, nonetheless, in the event that they qualify, it will likely be held on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
