PAK vs NZ: Suresh Raina Mocks Babar Azam for His Turtle Knock in Champions Trophy Opener

Babar Azam is once again facing trolling on social media for his slow batting. He struggled in Pakistan’s chase against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener at Karachi’s National Stadium.

Babar Azam’s Struggle at the Crease

Chasing 321, Pakistan needed a solid start. Babar Azam opened the innings but never found his rhythm. He reached his half-century in 81 balls, playing a slow knock that put pressure on the other batters. He failed to rotate the strike and was unable to hit boundaries regularly.

His struggle forced Salman Ali Agha to play aggressively. Salman scored 42 off 28 balls before getting out while trying to increase the run rate. Babar was eventually dismissed for 64 off 90 balls, hitting six fours and one six.

Suresh Raina’s Take on Babar Azam

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina was not happy with Babar’s approach. Speaking on Sports 18, he said:

“The intent is missing, and he is hardly trying to play shots. If he had batted with some responsibility, Salman Ali Agha wouldn’t have played that shot.”

Raina further added:

“Even ChatGPT will not have an answer for Babar Azam’s slow batting against New Zealand.”

He also joked that if Pakistan loses the match, fans might even file complaints against their players in Karachi’s police stations.

Pakistan’s Position in the Match

Earlier, New Zealand scored 320 for 5 in 50 overs. Will Young and Tom Latham scored centuries. Pakistan struggled to keep up with the required rate and were 185 for 6 in 38.1 overs at the time of writing.

Babar Azam’s batting approach has become a concern. If he continues to play slow knocks in crucial matches, criticism from fans and experts will only increase.