KARACHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has raised concerns over the decision to promote Babar Azam to the opening position in ODIs, questioning the availability of specialist openers in the country.
Babar, who has not scored a century since his 151-run knock against Nepal in August 2023, has been under scrutiny for his inconsistent performances across formats. The right-handed batter was pushed up the order to open alongside Fakhar Zaman during the recent tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa. However, he struggled to make an impact, managing just 10, 23, and 29 in his three outings.
Struggles in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Despite his underwhelming performances in the tri-series, the team management continued to back Babar as an opener in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, hoping he would find form in the new role. However, his struggles persisted, as he managed only 64 and 23 in Pakistan’s matches against New Zealand and India, respectively.
Imad Wasim Criticizes the Move
The decision to shift Babar up the order has drawn criticism from various cricket experts and former players, with Imad Wasim being the latest to voice his discontent. The former all-rounder questioned the logic behind altering Babar’s batting position in a format where he had already excelled.
“Nobody has achieved what Babar has in ODI cricket so far. You had one player who could bat for 40 overs and was already performing well. Why would you suddenly make him an opener?” Imad questioned.
“Do we not have any other openers in the whole country? Sometimes, I fail to understand the reasoning behind such decisions. Instead of progressing, we seem to be moving backward,” he added.
With growing criticism and Babar’s struggles as an opener, it remains to be seen whether the team management will reconsider its approach ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming ODI assignments.
