Pakistan suffered defeat in the final of the tri-nation series at the hands of New Zealand, just five days before the two teams square off again in the opening match of Champions Trophy 2025. It was Pakistan’s second defeat to New Zealand in the tri-nation series, and once again saw concern rise regarding Pakistan’s opening. In particular, former Pakistan cricketers have now spoken up about Babar Azam‘s new role as an opener. The likes of Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Hafeez – both members of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy-winning side – criticising the decision to make Babar open.

Babar has been promoted to open the batting following an injury to young 22-year-old opener Saim Ayub and the poor form of Abdullah Shafique. However, Babar hasn’t been able to fire either.

Babar has failed to cross 30 in each of his three innings in the tri-nation series, and the calls to send him back to No. 3 have only increased.

Former pacer Mohammad Amir has mentioned that Babar must be allowed to utilise his strengths.

“As I have said before, if I don’t get to bowl with the new ball, I won’t be able to utilize my strength. Similarly, Babar’s strength is at No. 3, where he knows how to construct an innings. The role of an opener in T20s is different from that in ODIs and Tests,” Amir told Pakistan-based outlet Geo News.

“He has to do it in phases. In 10 overs, you have to take a chance. In the next 10 overs, you have to build a partnership. The role is different. Babar, yes, he’s a big player. But I think he should have played at number 3. This is his strength. Yes, when you’re stuck, you try different things. Maybe I should take runs from here or there,” Amir explained.

Babar Azam became the joint-quickest man to reach 6,000 ODI runs in the tri-nation series final, but the bulk of his tally has come at No. 3.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez listed three names whom Pakistan should consider selecting so that Babar can play at his usual No. 3.

1- Shaan Masood

2- Imam-ul-Haq

3- Abdullah Shafique

Take any one as opener & let Babar Azam play at no 3 in Champions trophy. Make things easier for everyone.

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) February 14, 2025

“Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique. Take any one as opener and let Babar Azam play at No. 3 in the Champions Trophy. Make things easier for everyone,” pledged Hafeez, in a post on X.

Pakistan begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 19 against New Zealand, before taking on arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai. The final group game against Bangladesh is on February 27.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Mohammad Hafeez did not hold back his feelings as Pakistan completed a stunning comeback and sealed a 2-1 home series win against England. Pakistan rode on the performances of spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali — two players who had been brought back into the side in the middle of the series — to defeat England. Hafeez made a tweet that was cryptic in nature as he spoke about ‘exposing faces’. While it is unclear as to whom the tweet was directed at, fans interpreted that it may be something to do with star Pakistan batter Babar Azam, who was dropped mid-series.

“Two faces, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, with star impactful performances brought home series win for Pakistan after more than three years. More importantly, their performances exposed many faces,” posted Hafeez on X.

Two faces Sajid khan & Noman Ali with star impactful performances brought home series win for Pakistan after more than 3 years. More importantly their performances exposed many faces… pic.twitter.com/rioe1uFXnm

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 26, 2024

After losing the first Test in Multan, Pakistan dropped Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah from the Test side. In their place, Kamran Ghulam, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali were brought in. While Ghulam scored a century on debut, Sajid and Noman have taken a combined 39 out of the 40 wickets in the two Tests, leading Pakistan to victory.

Some fans took Hafeez’s tweet as a shot at Babar Azam, whose dropping came with a lot of criticism.

exposed many faces and the fact that hyping selfish players for stats and PR is wrong, it should only be for their passion for country. pic.twitter.com/1RaoafUNbc

— \o/era (@LoyalAfridian10) October 26, 2024

Hafeez had served as Pakistan’s team director and interim coach between November 2023 and February 2024, before he was removed due to Pakistan’s poor results.

Pakistan bundled out England for just 112 on Day 3 of the third Test. Their final target was merely 36, which they chased down in 3.1 overs. It is their first home series win since February 2021.

The win takes Pakistan up to seventh spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle table, while England fall to sixth.

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has hit back at critics after Pakistan registered a thumping 152-run victory over England in the second Test at Multan. Pakistan had come under immense scrutiny following the decision to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the Test squad ahead of the second Test. However, all three of their replacements starred. Kamran Ghulam, Babar’s replacement, notched up a century on Test debut, while spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali picked up all 20 England wickets between themselves.

“Surely not PR agencies,” controversially tweeted Hafeez after the game, in a post possibly aimed at Babar Azam and co.

Pakistan cricket need impactful performances like Kamran Ghulam , Salman Agha 50, Sajid khan 9 wickets & Noman Ali 11 wickets for winning cause. Surely not PR agencies……

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 18, 2024

Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test: As it happened

It was Pakistan’s first home win since February 2021 and came after they were thumped by an innings in the first Test on the same Multan pitch.

The third and final Test starts in Rawalpindi on October 24.

Noman finished with a match haul of 11-147 while Sajid had figures of 9-204, only the second time in Pakistan’s history that two bowlers took all 20 wickets in a Test.

Pakistan’s last Test win at home came against South Africa in Rawalpindi more than three years ago. It was followed by 11 home Tests without a win.

This also becomes Shan Masood‘s first win as skipper after getting the job last year, including 3-0 and 2-0 whitewashes at the hands of Australia and Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s ploy of dropping ace batsman Babar Azam in one of four changes after the first Test and playing on a reused pitch with three spinners paid off handsomely.

Azam’s replacement, debutant Kamran Ghulam, made a century to anchor Pakistan’s first-innings 366.

Masood praised his side for their character.

“The first one (win) for me and long awaited for the team is always special,” said Masood.

“This has come after some rough times and the boys stepped in after a lot has happened this past week.”

The captain, who like his team had been under fierce pressure in cricket-mad Pakistan, added: “We came up with a strategy to get 20 wickets and we made it happen.

“We were never afraid of taking risks. Three years and 11 months creates hunger, so it’s good to win at home.”

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez showered praise on Team India’s leadership in the T20 World Cup and said that the Men in Blue deserve to win the marquee event. India are in good form in the T20 World Cup and have not lost a match. Rohit Sharma‘s side clinched a thumping 27-run win over Australia in their previous match. India skipper played a 92-run knock in 41 balls at a strike rate of 224.39. He slammed 7 fours and 8 sixes during his time on the crease. The 37-year-old was unlucky to miss his century for just eight runs after he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the 12th over of the first inning.

In a video shared on his official X account, Hafeez hailed India skipper Rohit Sharma’s knock against Australia.

“When you set big goals then your pedigree increases. If I talk about Rohit, India’s leadership deserves to win the World Cup. The way he played unconditional cricket like a champion player. He didn’t care if there was any seam or swing,” Hafeez said.

“Special effort and you can’t praise anyone enough when you weigh their performances with Rohit, others efforts would only look smaller. Rohit is the only person at the moment who deserves to win this World Cup for India,” he added.

The former Pakistan cricketer said Rohit’s knock was one of best innings from a captain.

“It was a Rohit show. We witnessed one of the best innings from a captain. If you speak about leading from the front, he changed just one thing, there was no doubt about his quality. One thing, he changed within himself was the selfless approach,” he said.

Rohit Show ( selfless personify ) @ImRo45 #INDVSAUS #GameOnHai pic.twitter.com/mL4w3BN2v6

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) June 25, 2024

India will take on England in their semi-final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday.

The last time India and England faced off in a Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final was 19 months ago in Adelaide when a remarkable opening partnership between Jos Buttler and Alex Hales saw England cruise to 10 wicket win that forced a complete rethink in India’s T20 strategy and move away from more established superstars to younger blood.

Meanwhile, India has not won the T20 World Cup 2024 since 2007, and is searching for its first World Cup win in any format since 2011’s 50-over tournament. The Men in Blue’s last ICC trophy was in 2013 when they captured the ICC Champions Trophy in England.

File photo of Jos Buttler© AFP

Representative image© AFP

Pakistan cricket is going through a great turmoil.© AFP

Mohammad Hafeez expressed his concern over Babar Azam’s form at ICC events.© AFP

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez took a sly dig at the team after they crashed out of the ongoing T20 World Cup in the group stage. Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament after USA’s match against Ireland was washed out due to bad weather conditions in Florida. Both USA and Ireland were awarded a point each, with the former joining table-toppers India in the next round from Group A. Following Pakistan’s exit from the tournament, Hafeez took to social media and shared a cryptic post.

“Qurbani Kay Janwar Hazir Hon (Time to present the sacrificial animals),” Hafeez wrote in the post with a Pakistan cricket hastag.

Qurbani Kay Janwar Hazir Hon… ….. #PakistanCricket

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) June 14, 2024

USA’s draw against Ireland took them to five points, meaning Pakistan can only reach four points if they beat the same opponents on Sunday.

Ground staff spent hours working to dry the wet outfield at Lauderhill but shortly after the umpires had inspected conditions a huge downpour ended any hope with the field quickly under water once again.

The USA reach the last eight in their debut appearance in the T20 World Cup largely thanks to their shock win over 2009 champions Pakistan.

A USA defeat to Ireland would have handed Pakistan the chance to leapfrog into the top two when they face Ireland at the same venue on Sunday.

Instead, the early exit is a bitter disappointment for Pakistan, who were beaten finalists in the tournament two years ago.

This is the earliest Pakistan have exited T20 World Cup, having played just three games with a defeat to India and their sole victory coming against Canada.

Pakistan were knocked out in the group stage in 2014 and 2016, but on every other occasion made it to the last four of the tournament.

The spot in the last eight also means that the USA have qualified automatically for the 2026 World Cup.

“As a cricketer, you don’t want to leave home and not play cricket, you want to play but at the end of the day there was nothing that we could control,” USA stand-in skipper Aaron Jones said after the match was washed out.