Pakistan's Champions Trophy 2025 campaign got off to a terrible start when their batting lineup fell apart when they had to chase 321 runs quickly. But the most talked-about part of the game wasn't just the loss; it was captain Babar Azam's frustratingly slow innings that made everyone angry.

Babar had the right chance to lead from the front when he stepped in early after a rough start. But he didn't seem to take charge. Instead, he seemed to go into survival mode. The crowd didn't even respond when he turned fifty, which is usually a reason to celebrate. Why? It took him an amazing 81 balls to make the mark, which is very slow for a team that is trying to beat a big score.

Pakistan's problems began with the power play. Because Fakhar Zaman was hurt and couldn't start, Saud Shakeel was put in, but he didn't do much. Pakistan had scored only 22 runs in the first 10 overs, which was one of their lowest powerplay scores ever. Babar was supposed to keep the scoreboard going while keeping the games steady, but he got stuck at the stump. At one point, he had played 49 "dot balls," which put a lot of stress on the middle order.

When Salman Ali Agha came to bat, the game briefly went back in Pakistan's favor. His aggressive style, which helped him score 42 off of 28 balls, gave the innings much-needed energy. But Babar kept playing carefully and only scored 16 runs off of 31 balls in their partnership.

Fans were hoping that once Babar calmed down, he would speed up. That time never came, though. Even his first six didn't come until he was fifty years old. His innings did more harm than good as he was eventually out for 64 off 90 balls.

Pakistan's chances of making a return were almost gone as soon as he walked back. In an effort to make up for the slow start, the middle order fell quickly, which led to a crushing loss.

Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram was among the most vocal critics. Speaking in the post-match analysis, he didn’t hold back. "I said before the game that Babar should take his time and anchor the innings. But this was just too slow. He played way too many dot balls, and in a 320-run chase, that’s unacceptable," Akram said.

After Pakistan's loss, there was a lot of anger thrown at Babar. There were a lot of responses on social media, and many fans questioned his goal and plan. Others who used to play cricket also spoke out.

Pakistan didn't get any points from the loss, and their net run rate went down a lot as well. Their next game is in Dubai against their biggest foes, India. This time, the pressure is twice as high. If they lose again, their whole Champions Trophy quest could be in danger.