Champions Trophy: Sarfaraz Lauds Babar Azam’s Growth

February 13, 2025: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led his team to victory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, shared his thoughts on how Pakistan can defend their title in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which begins on February 19. Sarfaraz emphasized the crucial roles of openers Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam in their title defense, as both players bring a wealth of experience and form to the table.

Pakistan will kick off their campaign with a match against New Zealand at Karachi. This time, Fakhar Zaman, who played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s victory over India in the 2017 final, will open the batting alongside Babar Azam.

Sarfaraz, speaking to ICC, expressed confidence in Pakistan’s chances, highlighting that the team still has some key players from the 2017 squad, with Babar Azam being a standout. Sarfaraz praised Babar for his growth as a player, noting that he has become a more mature and dominant figure in world cricket. He also pointed out the importance of Fakhar’s aggressive batting style, which often takes the game to the opposition from the very first ball.

Although Babar has faced scrutiny over his recent form, particularly his lack of centuries since August 2023, Sarfaraz remains optimistic. Babar’s consistency has still been valuable, with two half-centuries in his last eight ODIs. Fakhar, however, has been in exceptional form since 2023, scoring nearly 1,000 runs in 22 ODIs with four centuries, showing his ability to play aggressively and take the game forward.

Sarfaraz also mentioned Pakistan’s pace attack, praising Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf for their strong performances. He noted the significance of Mohammad Rizwan, the current captain and wicketkeeper-batter, and how Rizwan’s role has parallels to his own successful leadership during the 2017 tournament.

Looking ahead to the high-pressure clash against India on February 23 in Dubai, Sarfaraz stressed the importance of staying calm under the intense pressure of a Pakistan-India encounter. He advised the team to block out the external hype and focus on playing with the same intensity they would against any other team.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which marks the return of the tournament after an eight-year hiatus, will see Pakistan compete as both the host nation and defending champions. Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, India, and New Zealand. The tournament’s group stage will see each team play three matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Pakistan’s fixtures in the tournament include matches against New Zealand (February 19 in Karachi), India (February 23 in Dubai), and Bangladesh (February 27 in Rawalpindi).

With the squad full of experienced players, including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and the seasoned Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan will aim to defend their title and make the most of their home advantage in the 2025 Champions Trophy.