Hafeez Slams Babar Azam After Defeat to India
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has strongly criticized Babar Azam following Pakistan’s loss to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy on February 23 in Dubai. This was Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Babar Azam’s Underwhelming Performance
Babar Azam struggled in the high-pressure match, scoring only 23 runs off 26 balls before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the ninth over. Pakistan’s total of 241 runs wasn’t enough, as India comfortably chased it down, winning by six wickets.
Kohli’s Match-Winning Knock
During a discussion on Game On Hai, Hafeez addressed the growing comparisons between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. He dismissed Babar’s claim to the ‘king’ title, stating that Kohli had once again proved his dominance with an unbeaten century, his first in a Champions Trophy match. Kohli’s heroics guided India to their second consecutive victory in the tournament.
“We Must Accept Reality”
Hafeez was direct in his criticism, saying:
“Babar Azam isn’t the rightful king; that title belongs to Virat Kohli. His performances speak for themselves. It’s time to move beyond PR-driven narratives and focus on players who truly deliver on the field.”
He further emphasized the need to acknowledge Pakistan’s struggling form, stating that the team must give opportunities to domestic players who have been performing consistently.
India’s Dominance in Group A
With two wins from two matches, India now sits comfortably at the top of Group A, nearly securing a semifinal spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Pakistan faces an uphill battle to stay in the tournament.
