Pakistan cricket team’s star batter Babar Azam has expressed his excitement about shouldering the responsibility for his team during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to be played on home soil. As the defending champions, Pakistan will aim to retain their title, with Babar’s presence providing a crucial link between the 2017 triumph and the upcoming campaign.
For the first time since 1996, Pakistan will host an ICC event, adding further significance to their Champions Trophy defense. While only a handful of players remain from the squad that lifted the trophy in England eight years ago, Babar believes the team’s approach and self-belief remain strong.
“As a player, I am very excited, and all the fans are excited,” Babar stated while speaking to the ICC. “A lot has changed since 2017. We have new players, only three or four from that winning team, but the belief, confidence, and execution are the same.”
Pakistan heads into the tournament after a turbulent period that included multiple coaching changes and early exits in their last two ICC tournaments. Their most recent disappointment came at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they suffered a shocking loss to the USA. However, Babar Azam is confident that past struggles will not define their Champions Trophy campaign.
“There is no pressure of anything. What has happened in the past is behind us. We have discussed our mistakes and worked on them,” he emphasized.
As the world’s top-ranked ODI batter, Babar sees the extra responsibility as a motivating factor. “When you have a responsibility as a senior player, and the team relies on you, I take it in a positive way,” he added.
Babar also expects the home-field advantage to play a significant role in the outcome of the tournament. “When you play at home, you have that edge because you know the conditions,” Babar explained. “You understand how the pitch will behave in both innings, but you still have to play good cricket because all other teams are among the best.”
As the first game of the 2025 Champions Trophy draws closer, Babar Azam’s contributions could directly correlate to Pakistan’s success in the tournament. With expectations sky-high from the home supporters, Babar has the chance to define his legacy in a way that may never come again.