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5 PAKISTANI PLAYERS WHO DON'T DESERVE TO BE IN THE ODI SQUAD
Cricket Today
|March 2025
Once hailed as Pakistan's most reliable batsman, Babar Azam has witnessed a concerning decline in both form and intent. After stepping down from captaincy, Babar seems to have lost his hunger to dominate opposition bowlers...
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Pakistan's ODI squad has been under fire following their dismal performances in the ongoing international circuit. The team was virtually eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy after suffering consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India. Their historical record against India in ICC events now stands at a staggering 4 wins in 22 matches, highlighting their continued struggles on the big stage. The current squad selection has raised numerous questions, with many players failing to deliver when it matters the most. Several players have been given ample opportunities but have consistently underperformed, either due to lack of form, fitness issues, or poor attitude. Here, we analyze five Pakistani cricketers who do not deserve to be in the current ODI squad based on their recent performances and overall contribution to the team.
1) BABAR AZAM - THE FALLEN STAR
Once hailed as Pakistan's most reliable batsman, Babar Azam has witnessed a concerning decline in both form and intent. After stepping down from captaincy, Babar seems to have lost his hunger to dominate opposition bowlers. His fitness has also become a concern, as he has visibly put on weight, affecting his agility and stroke-making ability. In 2025, Babar has played five ODIs and managed to score only 149 runs. What's even more alarming is that 64 of those runs came in a single innings, which means he has contributed just 85 runs in the other four matches combined. This lack of consistency and impact raises serious doubts about his place in the squad. A player of his stature and experience should be leading from the front, but instead, he has become a liability in the middle order.

This story is from the March 2025 edition of Cricket Today.
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