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 doesn’t seem too happy with the experiment.
Babar Azam: An Opener or a Middle-Order Anchor?
Babar Azam has been Pakistan’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 don’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 wasn’t broken.
“Nobody 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?” Imad asked.
And honestly, he has a point.
Babar’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 Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Do We Not Have Enough Openers?
Imad Wasim didn’t stop there. He also questioned Pakistan’s inability to find proper openers instead of forcing a middle-order batter into the role.
“Don’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,” 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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