'Wondering if he simply lacks ...': R Ashwin criticises Babar Azam's intent ahead of India vs Pakistan clash

NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam for his lack of intent during the team’s opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand in Karachi. Chasing a daunting target of 321, Pakistan had a sluggish start, managing just 22 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first 10 overs.
Babar, who played a key role in the slow approach, struggled to find momentum early in his innings. He scored only 12 off his first 27 deliveries and eventually finished with 64 off 90 balls. The lack of acceleration saw Pakistan fall well behind the required rate, ultimately losing by 60 runs.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel ahead of Pakistan’s crucial clash against India, Ashwin did not hold back in his assessment of Babar’s performance.
"I want to say one thing — Babar Azam is a very talented cricketer. But people should not get angry that I have criticised him. Yesterday also, he played a fantastic cover drive. But the result of the entire game cannot be decided by just one cover drive. Cricket is played over an entire innings,” Ashwin said.

Expressing disappointment over Babar’s approach, Ashwin questioned his shot selection.
"There were two off-spinners bowling, and Babar Azam did not try to step out even once. He came forward on the wrong ball. When Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips were bowling with a short square leg in place, he did not even attempt a lap sweep. I was wondering if it was a confidence issue or if he simply lacks shots like the sweep, reverse sweep, or cut," he added.
Ashwin was also surprised by injured opener Fakhar Zaman’s aggression compared to Babar’s conservative approach. Fakhar, batting at No.4 instead of his usual opening spot, was dismissed for 24 off 41 balls. However, he was willing to take risks despite his injury. Fakhar has since been ruled out of the tournament, with Imam-ul-Haq replacing him.
"Till the time Fakhar was at the crease, Mitchell Santner did not even come on to bowl. Zaman was playing with an injured muscle but still took risks, while Babar was overly cautious. I don’t know if it was the team’s strategy or Babar’s personal approach to play the anchor role, but I was genuinely disappointed. Despite all this, Pakistan still managed 260, and all credit goes to Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah," Ashwin concluded.
Pakistan, now facing elimination, must win against India in their next group-stage match in Dubai on Sunday to keep their semi-final hopes alive.