Pakistan may have escaped with a three-wicket victory in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 against the Netherlands, but a familiar shadow dominated the post-match discourse: the batting pace of Babar Azam. Despite a flawless day on the field, Babar’s 15 off 18 balls reignited the fierce debate about his suitability for the modern T20 game, especially after the dramatic collapse of the middle order almost upset the Dutch in history.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif’s sharp take on Babar’s inability to accelerate has gone viral on social media.
“Having sixes is not his strength. You said he will hit a six. Yes, he tried, but look what happened, he got out. His style is not about hitting sixes; he doesn’t have that power,” he said on air, doing commentary in Hindi for official broadcasters.
Mohd Kaif: “Babar Azam does the batting. Hitting sixes is not his strength. You said he will hit a six, yes he tried but look what happened, he got out. His style is not about hitting sixes, he doesn’t have that power.”
— Vipine Tiwari (@Vpintiwari952) February 7, 2026
Under the scorching Colombian sun at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) on Saturday 7 February, Pakistan initially looked as fans of the ‘tidy’ outfit had hoped. After captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bowl, Pakistan’s attack – led by Salman Mirza’s 3 for 24 – restricted the Netherlands to 147 all out. Babar himself was the star of the first innings, he pulled off a breathtaking relay catch with Shaheen Afridi recall Michael Levitt and set a high bar for standards in the field.
However, the pursuit was far from simple. While Sahibzada Farhan (47 off 31) provided a flying start to take Pakistan to 98 for 2, Babar Azam’s entry saw the momentum grind to a screeching halt. Between the 10th and 15th overs, Pakistan managed a paltry 21 runs.
Babar’s failure to find the boundary – coupled with a boundary drought of 29 deliveries – piled up huge pressure at the other end.
When Babar was eventually bowled out for 15 (with a strike tally of 83), it triggered a typical Pakistani collapse. The men in green slumped from 98 for 2 to a shaky 114 for 7, leaving the Dutch smelling blood. It took a heroic unbeaten 29 off 11 balls from Faheem Ashraf, including 24 runs in the 19th over, to drag Pakistan over the finish line with just three balls to spare.
The backlash was immediate. On social media and in the comment box, analysts questioned why a veteran batsman of Babar’s stature was trying to pivot the attack against the spin attack of the associated nation.
IS BABAR NOT SUITABLE FOR T20Is?
Many have argued that Babar’s anchor role is increasingly becoming a shackle that drags the team down rather than holding it together. In a chase where the required rate hovered at barely seven per minute, his 18-ball stay sapped the momentum and forced the lower order into high-risk strokes that nearly turned the game into disaster.
Babar was dropped from Pakistan’s T20 set-up after Mike Hesson took over as head coach last year. However, he was recalled ahead of the T20 World Cup, even as the former captain continued to struggle to establish himself in the shortest format. Screengrab by X
Since the start of 2025, Babar has scored 297 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 114.67. His first stint in the Big Bash League only added to the fears, giving away 202 runs from 11 matches at a strike rate of 103.06. Babar’s limitations in power-play were exposed during his time with the Sydney Sixers, most notably when Steve Smith repeatedly denied him a strike in a telling moment of tactical distrust.
WHAT DID CAPTAIN PAK SAY?
While fans expressed their frustration, captain Salman Ali Agha remained protective of his predecessor, attributing the tension to the pitch conditions. “We did it the hardest way,” Salman admitted during the post-match ceremony. “The pitch held a bit and we lost our way in the middle, but the important thing is that we have two points.
With a voluntary boycott of their scheduled clash with India looming, Pakistan have zero margin for error. If Babar Azam doesn’t find his ‘fifth gear’ soon, the ‘clinical’ era that Pakistan has been promising may be over before it really begins.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
February 7, 2026