Pakistan has finalized its opening pair for the upcoming tri-series and ICC Champions Trophy, with star batter Babar Azam set to open alongside Fakhar Zaman.
According to reports, the team management has assigned this role to Babar, and he has accepted the challenge of opening in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Pakistan recently announced its 15-member squad, with Fakhar Zaman being the only designated opener. Chief selector Asad Shafiq had previously stated that the second opener would be decided before the matches.
Reports suggest that the decision was influenced by young opener Saim Ayub’s injury. Saim sustained an ankle injury during the Cape Town Test, and the coaching staff quickly realized that his recovery would take around two to two-and-a-half months.
As a result, team management, including head coach Aaqib Javed, batting coach Shahid Aslam, and senior players like Mohammad Rizwan, held discussions with Babar Azam. They convinced him to take on the role of an opener in both Tests and ODIs.
Babar was told that selectors envision him playing a role similar to Sachin Tendulkar, who transitioned from a middle-order batter to a full-time opener in 1994-95, becoming a key figure in India’s ODI success.
The management has advised Babar to aim for playing through the full 50 overs in ODIs. After careful consideration, he has agreed to open in the upcoming tri-series and Champions Trophy.
The 30-year-old batter has played 123 ODIs for Pakistan, amassing 5,957 runs at an impressive average of 56, including 19 centuries and 23 half-centuries. While he is a regular opener in T20s, he has primarily played at No. 3 or No. 4 in ODIs.
Babar last opened in ODIs in 2015 against England, featuring in two matches as an opener. However, in recent years, he has been Pakistan’s key batter at No. 3.
With this shift, Pakistan’s management believes Babar can play a pivotal role in the ODI squad, much like Tendulkar did for India. His performance at the top will be crucial for Pakistan’s success in the upcoming tournaments.