Danish Kaneria, a former spinner from Pakistan, has criticised Babar Azam, saying that the great batsman plays for himself and concentrates on maintaining his ICC ranking and stats. When Pakistan was chasing 321 runs to defeat New Zealand in the inaugural Champions Trophy 2025 match, Babar came under fire for his slow batting. Pakistan ultimately lost the game by 60 runs, despite Babar scoring 64 from 90 deliveries.
Kaneria slams Babar
Following the game, Babar received harsh criticism from the commentators, and Kaneria is the most recent to weigh in. The former spinner thought the batter was happy with a fifty and wondered what his intentions were during the chase.
"If we talk about Babar Azam, he is playing for himself. When he is under pressure, he focusses on keeping his stats and ICC ranking intact. I have scored a fifty, I have done it. But where is the intent of winning the match for your side?", Kaneria told PTI Video.
Kaneria continued by praising Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha for their knocks during the game against New Zealand, saying they made sure Pakistan did not lose by a significant margin. According to the former spinner, players must prioritize their nation and play with some intention during games, something Babar failed to accomplish against New Zealand.
"Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah played great knocks, if those two boys hadn't scored quickly, then Pakistan would have lost by 100 runs, instead of losing by 60 runs. If you play, play for the country, the country comes first. Show a little intent...But unfortunately, Babar couldn't do that", he said.
Kaneria on IND vs PAK
Given the disparity in form between the two teams, Kaneria believes that there is not much excitement surrounding the India vs Pakistan match this time. Pakistan has lost their last two games, while India has won four straight.
"The scenario is crystal clear. I don't think there is much hype this time because Pakistan is not playing good cricket. India are playing excellent cricket," Kaneria said.