Babar Azam Teases Indian Fans by Recalling Pakistan 2017 Champions Trophy Triumph Ahead of 2025 Opener

Ahead of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, Pakistan’s Babar Azam reflected on the 2017 final victory over India. In that match, Pakistan secured a dominant 180-run win, with Fakhar Zaman scoring 114, Mohammad Amir delivering a lethal spell, and Hasan Ali sealing the triumph. Babar, then a young player, contributed 46 runs off 52 balls and recalled the excitement of playing against India. He said:

My primary memories of the 2017 final are Fakhar Zaman’s innings (of 114), the spell of Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali’s spell and the winning moment. For me, it was a new journey as I was a young player. Playing against India, that excitement and the nervousness was there but when we won, we enjoyed and celebrated. A lot has changed since the Champions Trophy was held in 2017. We have new players coming, we only have three or four players who were part of that winning team. But the belief, confidence, and execution are the same.

Since 2017, Pakistan’s squad has undergone significant changes, with only a few players remaining from the victorious team. However, Babar emphasized that the belief and confidence remain intact. He enters the tournament as the world’s top-ranked ODI batter, a position he has held since 2021.

Pakistan has struggled in recent ICC tournaments, exiting early in the last two World Cups and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Babar insisted there is no pressure from past failures, as the team has learned from its mistakes. With matches being held in Pakistan, including in Babar’s hometown, Lahore, he believes home advantage could boost their campaign. He also highlighted the nation’s passion for cricket, expressing hope that the team will deliver strong performances in front of home crowds.