Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for February 23, when India and Pakistan will face off in a high-voltage match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of this much-anticipated game, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a dig at Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam.
In Pakistan’s first match of the tournament, they suffered a 60-run defeat. Babar Azam, despite being the team’s key player, played a slow innings, scoring 64 runs off 94 balls. His strike rate became a major talking point, with many questioning his intent while chasing a target.
Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his outspoken views, as he mocked Babar’s approach on his YouTube channel. He sarcastically questioned whether Babar had left his intent at home, highlighting his lack of aggression. With the India-Pakistan clash approaching, Ashwin’s remarks have added extra spice to the already intense rivalry.
Ravichandran Ashwin Criticizes Babar Azam’s Batting on YouTube Channel
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has criticized Babar Azam’s slow batting performance in Pakistan’s recent match. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin mocked Babar’s intent, saying, “Where was the intent? Did he leave it at home?” He further analyzed Babar’s innings, stating that the Pakistani captain lacked shot options and failed to play aggressively. Ashwin pointed out that Babar neither played shots square of the wicket nor attempted sweeps or reverse sweeps. He even remarked that such innings were rare even in the 1990s. According to Ashwin, Babar seemed to focus more on protecting his reputation rather than playing for the team, which is not ideal.
Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand has already put them under pressure. If they lose against India on February 23, their chances of reaching the semi-finals will be slim. This makes the upcoming match a do-or-die situation for Pakistan.
Pakistan Suffered a Humiliating Defeat
Pakistan had to chase a target of 321 runs against New Zealand. Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel opened the innings for Pakistan. Babar stayed at one end but played very slowly, which put pressure on the other batsmen. As a result, Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Pakistan’s Team struggled to keep up with the required run rate, and in the end, they suffered a humiliating defeat. New Zealand’s strong bowling and Pakistan’s slow batting led to their disappointing loss in the match.
