ICC Champions Trophy 2025: With Babar Azam struggling, will Mohammad Rizwan lead Pakistan to defend their title? | Cricket Information

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. (AP Picture)

NEW DELHI: Practically three many years after the 1996 ICC World Cup graced Pakistani soil, the nation stands on the precipice of one other historic second. With the palms of the clock glued to the well-known tower of Faisalabad ticking quick, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is all set to carry the roar of packed stadiums, the joys of last-over finishes, and the hope of a nation eager for the much-awaited cricketing pageant.
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Pakistan final hosted an ICC occasion 29 years again, when the ICC World Cup was co-hosted alongside India and Sri Lanka. The match noticed Pakistan bowing out within the quarter-finals after a troublesome loss to their neighbours in blue. Nonetheless, the grand finale in Lahore belonged to Sri Lanka, who claimed their maiden World Cup title with an awe-inspiring seven-wicket victory over the mighty Australians.

Twenty-nine years later, cricket fever is about to brush throughout Pakistan as soon as once more, regardless of the nation’s struggles with monetary and political turmoil.
With renovated stadiums and upgraded infrastructure — the stage is finally prepared for a wedding of bat and ball, with your entire world holding a detailed eye.
“It is a large factor for your entire nation of Pakistan. After such a very long time, such an enormous occasion is occurring, and nearly all the large groups that play cricket are coming to Pakistan. That is going to be a large pageant in Pakistan,” former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir informed TimesofIndia.com in an unique interview. “Each single sport goes to be a full home.”

The house benefit: Pakistan hosts ICC match after 29 years

Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, enter the competitors because the defending champions, having claimed the title in emphatic trend within the 2017 version in England.
However the query stays: Can Rizwan encourage his workforce to a profitable title defence, or will the burden of expectations show too heavy?
Pakistan within the final 5 ODIs: W-W-L-W-L
Pakistan have by no means been wanting match-winners, and this version isn’t any completely different.
The workforce boasts an explosive batting lineup able to dismantling one of the best bowling assaults on their day. Fakhar Zaman, the hero of the 2017 closing, is again within the ODI setup, and his means to show video games round in a matter of overs makes him a key asset.
In the meantime, if Babar Azam, whose final ODI century got here in a 151-run knock in opposition to Nepal in August 2023, rediscovers his golden contact, Pakistan’s possibilities of posting mammoth totals will skyrocket.
The center order, that includes skipper Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Ali Agha, has been in elegant kind in current occasions.
Rizwan’s means to anchor the innings whereas shifting gears when wanted makes him an important cog in Pakistan’s batting wheel.
But, Pakistan’s actual power lies in its tempo assault.
A well-oiled machine spearheaded by the deadly Shaheen Shah Afridi, the bowling unit additionally options Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf (topic to availability), and the ever-improving Mohammad Hasnain.
On dwelling pitches, the place reverse swing and uncooked tempo will play a major position, this tempo assault shall be one thing value monitoring.

Why Pakistan needs to be involved forward of the marketing campaign

Regardless of the presence of star gamers, Pakistan have notable chinks in its armour. The opening mixture stays a priority.
Most runs for Pakistan in ODIs – final one yr

With Saim Ayub sidelined as a consequence of an ankle fracture and Abdullah Shafique dropped for poor kind, the duty falls on Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.
Babar Azam’s final 10 ODI innings

Nonetheless, this duo has struggled to fireplace persistently in current occasions, leaving Pakistan weak within the essential powerplay overs.
Fakhar Zaman’s final 10 ODI innings

One other questionable choice determination has been Pakistan’s spin division.
With just one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed — who has had damage considerations — the workforce seems to be strolling a tightrope.
Most wickets for Pakistan in ODIs – final one yr

The absence of a seasoned campaigner like Shadab Khan and even Sufiyan Muqeem raises doubts about Pakistan’s means to include opposition batsmen within the center overs, particularly on slower tracks.
The decrease order additionally lacks confirmed firepower.
Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, and Khushdil Shah haven’t delivered substantial performances on the worldwide degree, making the workforce closely reliant on the highest order.
In crunch conditions, the shortcoming of the decrease order so as to add fast runs might damage Pakistan’s possibilities.
Pakistan below Mohammad Rizwan – Matches: 12 | Gained: 8 | Misplaced: 4
Management in Pakistan cricket has typically been a high-stakes drama, and Rizwan now finds himself on the centre of it.
Since turning into the white-ball captain in October final yr, he has proven the right temperament to information Pakistan by means of the pressures of a house match.
Nonetheless, main Pakistan in such a high-profile occasion isn’t any small activity, and he might want to guarantee his workforce stays mentally robust amid the burden of expectations.
Citing Pakistan’s triumphant away excursions, Amir stays optimistic. “I’ve excessive hopes as a result of Pakistan has lately gained each away collection. And I believe this can be a large achievement for Pakistan, to win in Australia in opposition to Australia after which in South Africa in opposition to South Africa. Because the Champions Trophy is in Pakistan, will probably be a bonus for Pakistan, so I believe Pakistan can do rather well.”
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
With a praiseworthy tempo assault, an eye catching batting lineup, coupled with the benefit of dwelling situations, Pakistan have all of the substances to make a deep run within the match.

Nonetheless, cricket is a sport of wonderful margins, and far will depend upon the skipper’s means to rally his troops when it issues most.
Will Mohammad Rizwan be the captain to guide Pakistan to the consecutive title, or will historical past repeat itself with a heartbreak on dwelling soil? Now, the eyes flip in the direction of Faisalabad’s clock tower; it’s going to inform the true story when the time comes.