Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 has been announced, but uncertainty looms over their opening pair due to injury concerns. With the tournament approaching, the biggest question for Pakistan cricket fans is: Who will open the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman?
The injury to Saim Ayub has left a gap at the top, and the management is now looking at different options. While Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel are strong contenders, each choice comes with its pros and cons.
Fakhar Zaman – The Aggressor at the Top
Fakhar Zaman is Pakistan’s most experienced opener in ODIs. Known for his aggressive stroke play, he can dominate bowlers early on, especially in powerplay overs. His ability to take on pacers makes him an ideal choice to provide fast starts.
For a successful opening partnership, Pakistan needs a balanced approach. While Fakhar Zaman excels with his aggressive style, a stable partner is crucial to provide a solid foundation and enable him to thrive.
Option 1: Babar Azam Opening the Innings
Babar Azam is Pakistan’s best batter and has experience batting in the top order. He has opened in T20 matches before but usually plays at No. 3 in ODIs. If he moves up to open, it will provide stability at the top and ensure that Pakistan doesn’t lose quick wickets.
Pros of Babar Opening:
✔️ Technically sound and can handle new-ball swing.
✔️ Can rotate the strike while Fakhar attacks.
✔️ Has experience playing long innings.
Cons of Babar Opening:
❌ Pakistan might lose their strongest No. 3 batter, which could weaken the middle order.
❌ Not an aggressive powerplay batter, which could put pressure on Fakhar.
If Babar opens, Pakistan will have to find someone reliable to take his No. 3 spot, possibly someone like Kamran Ghulam or Saud Shakeel.
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Option 2: Mohammad Rizwan as an Opener
Mohammad Rizwan has opened in T20Is but rarely in ODIs. He is a busy player who can keep the scoreboard ticking with quick singles and occasional boundaries. His experience as a wicketkeeper also helps in reading the pitch conditions better.
Pros of Rizwan Opening:
✔️ Quick runner between the wickets, reducing dot balls.
✔️ Good against both pace and spin.
✔️ Has experience handling pressure situations.
Cons of Rizwan Opening:
❌ Has been more effective in the middle order.
❌ Strike rate in ODIs isn’t as high as ideal openers.
Rizwan is better suited to finish games rather than start them, so shifting him to the opening slot might create another problem in the middle order.
Option 3: Saud Shakeel as an Unexpected Choice
Saud Shakeel is known for his solid technique and ability to anchor an innings. He has been a key performer in Test cricket and has the potential to adjust to ODIs as well. While he hasn’t opened regularly, his ability to play long innings makes him a dark horse candidate for the role.
Pros of Saud Opening:
✔️ Left-handed batter, which can unsettle bowlers.
✔️ Has shown the temperament to play long innings.
✔️ Can absorb pressure if Pakistan loses an early wicket.
Cons of Saud Opening:
❌ Lack of experience in the role.
❌ Not a naturally aggressive batter.
If Pakistan wants to play an extra aggressive middle-order batter, they might consider Saud as a makeshift opener to strengthen other areas of the team.
Final Verdict: Who Should Open?
Pakistan has to make a tough call. If they want stability, Babar Azam is the best option. If they want a mix of stability and aggression, Rizwan could be the right pick. However, if they want a long-term investment, they might experiment with Saud Shakeel.
For now, the most balanced choice seems to be Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, with Babar adjusting his game to play more freely in the powerplay. This combination gives Pakistan a left-right opening pair and ensures that their best batter faces as many balls as possible.
With the Champions Trophy being played in home conditions, Pakistan needs to finalize their strategy quickly. The success of their campaign may depend on how well their openers perform against top-quality bowling attacks.