Babar Azam Leads Aakash Chopra’s Picks for Pakistan’s 2025 XI

Former Indian cricket star Aakash Chopra has shared his insights regarding the anticipated Pakistan playing XI for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. He has made a significant decision to position Babar Azam at the crucial No. 3 spot in the batting order, a strategic choice that reflects Pakistan’s potential strengths. In a detailed video on his YouTube channel, Chopra elaborated on Pakistan’s tactical advantages and the strategies they might employ throughout the tournament, which is scheduled to kick off in Pakistan and Dubai on February 19.

Aakash Chopra’s Strategic Prediction for Pakistan’s Playing XI

Chopra’s predicted lineup features Saud Shakeel teaming up with Fakhar Zaman as the opening pair, followed by Babar Azam at the No. 3 position, and Mohammad Rizwan taking the No. 4 slot. The remaining players include Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed. This lineup reflects a notable shift, with Babar—who has recently batted as an opener—now positioned lower in the order, allowing Saud Shakeel to take the lead at the top of the batting lineup.

“What will their predicted XI be like? I am thinking Saud Shakeel with Fakhar Zaman as Saim Ayub is not there now. Babar Azam at No. 3, Mohammad Rizwan at No. 4, and then Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed,” Chopra articulated during his analysis.

Crucial Insights into Pakistan’s Batting Lineup

Babar Azam’s Impact on Team Performance: Chopra underscored the critical role of both Babar and Mohammad Rizwan as the foundational elements of Pakistan’s batting order. He pointed out that the team’s overall success heavily relies on Babar’s performance, who has impressively amassed over 6,000 runs in ODIs with a remarkable batting average. His ability to anchor the innings will be vital for Pakistan’s aspirations in the tournament.

“They are still reliant a lot on Babar Azam – 6000 ODI runs and the speed at which he has reached this far. Babar Azam’s performances and Pakistan’s wins are close-knit to each other. He and Mohammad Rizwan are their batting mainstays,” the former Indian opener further elaborated.

Introducing Saud Shakeel as an Opener: Chopra’s selection of Shakeel as an opener is a progressive decision, suggesting a new direction for Pakistan’s top-order batting strategy. This change brings a fresh dynamic to the team, potentially enhancing their performance in the crucial opening overs of matches.

Also READ: Ahmed Shehzad Criticizes Pakistan Captain Mohammad Rizwan for Poor Decision-Making Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Focus on All-Rounders for Enhanced Team Depth: Chopra highlighted that Pakistan is likely to field multiple all-rounders, aiming for batting depth that extends up to the No. 8 or 9 positions in the lineup. He anticipates that their batting strategy will primarily revolve around the reliable performances of Babar and Rizwan, allowing flexibility in the middle order.

Key Players to Monitor During the Champions Trophy

Chopra identified three pivotal players whose performances will be under close observation throughout the Champions Trophy:

Saud Shakeel: Fans are eager to see how he performs in a significant role.
Khushdil Shah: A key focus will be on whether his T20 all-rounder skills can effectively transition into the ODI format.
Abrar Ahmed: Often considered underrated, many are curious to see his contributions as he steps into the spotlight.

“There will be a little extra focus on three players – Saud Shakeel because we will properly see him playing for the first time, Khushdil Shah because he is a proven all-rounder in T20s, he has a golden arm as well, but can he do that job in ODIs, and Abrar Ahmed as he is slightly underrated and not many people have seen him or played against him,” the former cricketer added.

Chopra also expressed his belief that if Pakistan performs to their full potential, they could reach the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025. However, he warned that to make it to the knockout stage, they would need to secure victories against formidable opponents like New Zealand and India, as he does not foresee Bangladesh winning any matches against them.