Let’s call it what it is: Babar Azam doesn’t look fit for T20 cricket. A batsman who repeatedly struggles to find boundaries and fails in crucial matches can no longer be termed as tailor-made for the format. Recently, he has been a pale shadow of the player he once was. But that’s not entirely his failure – the responsibility lies with Pakistan cricket as a whole.
Babar was consistently mistreated by the management. Rather than treating him as one of their most experienced batsmen, they seem unsure of how to handle him, creating confusion and instability that has clearly affected his confidence.
This is the same player who was once a run machine at the top of the order with an average over 50. Yet he has faced chaos over the past year and a half. Babar lost his place for nearly a year due to form and was thrown into limbo upon his return.
Instead of trying to give him some stability, the team shuffled him through the batting order, endlessly experimenting and putting relentless pressure on him. Without a defined role, assurance, or long-term plan, it is unreasonable to expect any batter to perform consistently.
Pakistan is hurting itself and Babar at the same time. While he did not perform to the standard expected of a T20I batter, the team management made the problem worse. This half-hearted, confused approach does no one any good.
If management no longer believes in him, the decisive step would be to drop him completely and end the lingering uncertainty. Constant fluctuation and indecisiveness week after week only erodes a player’s confidence and limits the team’s potential. Babar deserves clarity and Pakistan cricket deserves results.
DISASTER #4
Pakistan made an absolute blunder – or should we say, a monumental brain fade – ahead of the FIFA World Cup! Just before the tournament, they were playing a three-match series against Australia at home and decided to experiment by sending Babar Azam to bat at No. 4. Let me explain: before this series, Babar had only batted at No. 4 once in T20Is – and that was in 2017.
Babar usually fits in the top three, but Pakistan had the audacity to stuff him into a position that is completely foreign to him. And the result? Total failure. In seven games at No.4, he scored 185 runs at an average of 30.83 and a strike rate of 118.58.
What else could they do? Take the tough call! Tell Babar you are a top three batsman but with Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub and Salman Agha playing well, there is no place for him in the side at the moment. It would be difficult, yes, but it was necessary for the good of Pakistan cricket.
But no, common sense is clearly in short supply in Pakistan cricket. They moved Babar to No. 4 and that strategy has now failed spectacularly. This isn’t just a minor slip–it’s a glaring lapse in judgment that cost the team and affected Babar a lot. Unreal.
MORE CONFUSION
Babar has only batted at No.5 once in his entire T20I career, in 2018 when he was not yet an established name in world cricket. In 2020, as captain in Rawalpindi against Zimbabwe, he is not even batting in the top four. Aside from those rare exceptions, there are essentially no instances where he’s been pushed out of the top three—or should we say, top four.
On Thursday, Pakistan lost three wickets against Namibia, yet Babar was not given a chance to bat. He was even in danger of not starting at No.6, with the likes of Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz – batsmen who play much more fluently than Babar – still awaiting their arrival.
The decision can be justified logically: Pakistan started strong and needed players who could step up from the start. Babar is someone who takes his time to build an inningsand Pakistan could not afford to waste time. While this strategy seems reasonable, it also raises a serious question: is Pakistan losing faith in their prime minister?
Babar has gone from a top-order stalwart to someone who can be shuffled up and down the line-up. Has Pakistan lost faith in their ability to perform big and adapt to match situations? Thursday’s match leaves little room for doubt – a worrying signal for both Babar and Pakistan cricket.
THERE IS STILL TIME FOR PAKISTAN
Pakistan have already advanced to the Super 8 despite their ongoing problems with Babar in the lineup. He didn’t do well at all, but Pakistan still found a way to advance – something they couldn’t manage in 2024, even when Babar failed as an opener.
The good news is that Pakistan have advanced to the second round. But if they don’t realize where they are going wrong, they will find themselves in deep trouble. The Super 8s will present tougher competition and Pakistan cannot afford these continued mistakes.
If the team realizes that Babar doesn’t fit in the top three, they should make a tough decision to leave him out from the next game. Fakhar Zaman is waiting in the wings, ready to strike.
Pakistan took a similar tough call with Shaheen Shah Afridi against Namibia and the results justified the move, Salman Mirza returning figures of 2-0-11-1.
Now is the time for a similar decisive approach with Babar – not only for the good of the team, but also for Babar himself. He has looked completely adrift against top bowling attacks of late, and further shuffling up and down the order only hurts both him and the team.
It is time for Pakistan to stop hesitating and take a bold decision for the sake of clarity, trust and results.
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Published on:
February 19, 2026