Pakistan’s head coach, Aaqib Javed, has thrown his full support behind Babar Azam, expressing confidence that a match-winning innings from the star batter is imminent. Addressing concerns over Pakistan’s opening combination in a press conference, Aaqib dismissed the notion that a full-time opener would have significantly changed the team’s fortunes.
Babar Stepping Up in Challenging Situations
“The primary role of an opener is to provide a solid start in the first 5-6 overs,” Aaqib explained. “In the recent series against South Africa, Babar had to walk out to bat in the first over of all three games. Even in the Test series, when Saim Ayub got injured, he had to open up. But in these conditions—where there is no seam, swing, or bounce—our thinking was clear: let our best batter maximize the powerplay.”
Aaqib firmly believes that Babar is the right man for the job. “A player of his caliber should be opening on such pitches, where he can fully utilize the first 10 overs and give Pakistan a strong foundation.”
Though Babar hasn’t converted his starts into big scores lately, Aaqib remains upbeat. “These are the signs that something special is coming. It’s just a matter of time before Babar plays a defining knock, and what better occasion than when Pakistan needs him the most?”
With high-stakes matches ahead, the stage is set for Babar Azam to silence the critics and remind the world why he is one of the finest batters in the game. Pakistan will kick off its campaign against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, followed by the highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai. Their final group-stage match will be against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi, where fans will be hoping for Babar to rise to the occasion.
Pakistan will need to win at least two of their three matches to qualify for the playoffs, making every game a must-win encounter.
Also Read :
“Agha Salman & Khushdil Shah Can Deliver with the Ball” – Aaqib Defends All-Rounder Strategy
When questioned about Agha Salman and Khushdil Shah’s ability to take wickets despite not being specialist bowlers, Aaqib Javed backed their inclusion, emphasizing the importance of all-rounders in modern cricket.
“Most teams have opted for just one specialist spinner, with the rest being all-rounders,” Aaqib explained, citing New Zealand’s approach with Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner as an example. He reiterated that Pakistan’s strategy aligns with current trends, where teams rely on multi-dimensional players to provide balance and depth.
