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.
