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Pakistan cricket is never short on debates, and the latest one revolves around the decision to promote Babar Azam to the opening slot in ODIs, drawing criticism from former all-rounder Imad Wasim, who doesnโ€™t seem too happy with the experiment.

Babar Azam: An Opener or a Middle-Order Anchor?

Babar Azam has been Pakistanโ€™s best ODI batter for years, playing a key role at No. 3. But for some reason, the team management decided to push him up the order, making him open alongside Fakhar Zaman in the recent tri-nation series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The results? Not great. Babar managed scores of 10, 23, and 29 in the tri-series and followed it up with 64 and 23 in the Champions Trophy. For a player of his caliber, these numbers just donโ€™t cut it.

Imad Wasim Questions the Move

Imad Wasim, known for his bold opinions, is the latest to question why Pakistan is fixing something that wasnโ€™t broken.

โ€œNobody has achieved what Babar has in ODIs. He was doing great at No. 3, playing long innings and anchoring the team. So why would you suddenly make him open?โ€ Imad asked.

And honestly, he has a point.

Babarโ€™s strength has always been building an innings, controlling the middle overs, and accelerating when needed. Pushing him to open means exposing him early to new-ball bowlers and changing the dynamic of Pakistanโ€™s batting lineup.

Do We Not Have Enough Openers?

Imad Wasim didnโ€™t stop there. He also questioned Pakistanโ€™s inability to find proper openers instead of forcing a middle-order batter into the role.

โ€œDonโ€™t we have any other opener in the whole country? Sometimes, I fail to understand the logic behind these decisions. Instead of moving forward, we are going backwards,โ€ he added.

Again, a valid concern. Pakistan has always produced quality openers, yet somehow, the management feels the need to experiment with a proven No. 3 batter instead of backing specialists for the job.

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