Former India cricketer and batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that the slow innings of star Pakistan batsman Babar Azam made his team expensive during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025’s initial match against New Zealand. Pakistan lost the match by 60 runs as they were out for 260 chasing a target of 321.
The hosts left for a disastrous start in Powerplay as openers Saud Shakeel (19 runs 19) and Babar Azam failed to leave after Kiwi bowlers. As a result, they decreased by 22/2 in the first ten overs as New Zealand managed to get the wickets of Shakeel and Captain Mohammad Rizwan (14 runs 14).
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However, Babur continued to build his innings, remained at the crease without trying to go for boundaries. After Pakistan’s loss, Bangar mentioned how Babur pressured his batting partners and allowed the New Zealand bowlers to dominate, as he did not try to break the hut.
“Burbar Azam, batsmen around him were trying to make an effort. There is no doubt that the bowling was very disciplined, he bowled the stretter lines, but did not try to do anything out of the normal to ensure that he harassed the bowler’s plan. So he allowed the bowlers to dominate, as they placed that chase in a hole in the first ten overs, ”Bangar said on Star Sports.
Babur scored half a century off 80 balls before fastering his innings at 64 (90). In addition, Bangar mentioned how Babur’s innings cost Pakistan, because the margin of defeat was not so much.
I was hoping that Babur would open after going to his 50: Bangar
“Well, he reached a 50, which was slow, at a very slow rate. And I was hoping that he would open after reaching his 50s, and he tried. But once you bat in the first 60 or 70 balls with that kind of intentions, you suddenly find a gear and, start adding the ball, it is definitely not so easy in the middle of the bat. So in that process, they had some limitations, but at the beginning of the innings, Pakistan can be a game of Pakistan with the right intention, because if you finally see that 60 runs were not a big difference. If he had got a partnership in the 3 or 4th wicket, it could have been a very close game, ”he said.
Meanwhile, after their loss, Pakistan’s net run rate has been largely affected, which is at -1.200They will face the hardcore rivals India in their next stability on Sunday, 23 February in Dubai and will be eager to bring their campaign back on the track in the Must-winning encounter. Pakistan won its first title by defeating India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017.
