Babar Azam under fire as Sanjay Manjrekar questions his intent after Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand

Pakistan’s disappointing performance in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand has sparked major criticism, with former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar questioning Babar Azam’s intent. The defending champions suffered a 60-run defeat in Karachi, and Babar’s slow batting has become a major talking point.  

Manjrekar expressed doubts about whether Babar’s struggle was due to a lack of intent or an overall inability to play aggressive cricket. The Pakistan captain scored 64 runs off 90 balls at a strike rate of 71.1, failing to provide the momentum needed to chase 321.  

Babar’s innings included 52 dot balls, and he took 81 deliveries to reach his fifty. With just six boundaries and one six, his cautious approach put additional pressure on Pakistan as the required run rate kept rising.  

Pakistan’s chase got off to a poor start, managing only 22 runs in the first 10 overs—one of the lowest powerplay scores in Champions Trophy history. This was also their worst-ever powerplay total at home in ODIs, breaking their previous record of 31/2, which also came against New Zealand in Karachi in 2023.  

With Fakhar Zaman unavailable due to injury, Babar was expected to lead from the front. However, his inability to accelerate made him the main target of criticism after the loss.   

After the match, Manjrekar openly criticized Babar’s approach. He believes Pakistan’s upcoming games will reveal whether their struggles are due to a mindset issue or a deeper flaw in their batting ability.  

“Babar Azam clearly showed poor intent in the first game,” Manjrekar posted on social media. “But in the next couple of matches, we will know if intent is an issue with Pakistan or inherent ability. If it’s ability, then that can’t be easily resolved.”  

Babar has been under fire from both fans and former players for his performances in Tests and ODIs. Many have questioned whether he has the skills to succeed at the highest level.    

Pakistan’s next game is a high-pressure clash against India in Dubai. If they lose, their hopes of defending the Champions Trophy title will be in serious danger. With criticism mounting, all eyes will be on Babar to see if he can silence his doubters and lead Pakistan to victory.