• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has confirmed that Babar Azam will continue to open the batting for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025, expressing his faith in the team's star batter and backing him to regain his form despite recent struggles.

On the eve of their opening match against New Zealand on Wednesday, February 19, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Rizwan dismissed the reports suggesting that Saud Shakeel might open with Fakhar Zaman.

Rizwan stated that Babar is the ideal candidate to lead the charge as an opener for Pakistan.

ALSO READ: Champions Trophy 2025, PAK vs NZ: Karachi Weather Forecast And National Stadium Pitch Report For Pakistan vs New Zealand Clash

“It’s not that we don’t have options, we do have. But if you look at the conditions, Babar is the right man to open. We are not sure about reports of Babar not opening the batting. We want genuine openers, but given the needs of the team, we thought that Babar should open as he is a technically strong batter. He is our opener,” Rizwan said in the pre-match press conference.

Rizwan said every member of the side is a “captain” in the team and added, “But yes, as seniors, we all need to lead from the front.” Rizwan, meanwhile, admitted that his team was not able to show consistency due to not being able to perform in pressure situations.

“I think we lack that one or two per cent needed to win matches under pressure because unfortunately, we tend to crack under pressure and lose close matches as we have seen in recent games,” he said.

Update On Haris Rauf's Availability

After suffering a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during the tri-series, Haris Rauf was forced to sit out Pakistan's last two matches. However, Rizwan said the pace bowler has now regained full fitness and is eager to make a strong impact in the Champions Trophy.

ALSO READ: MI-W vs GG-W, WPL 2025: Gujarat Giants Women vs Mumbai Indians Women Head-To-Head Stats

“He is around 80 percent fit and bowled six to eight overs yesterday. Prior to that, he was 60 percent and today, he is in his full rhythm. He worked hard in the gym, bowled his heart out and said that he hasn’t had any issues. So, we hope that he’s fully fit,” Rizwan added.

Rizwan said Pakistan have learnt a lot from their defeats to New Zealand in the tri-series and would try not to repeat the mistakes again in the Champions Trophy opener.