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Pakistan’s star batter and captain, Babar Azam, is under the scanner after another disappointing outing in T20Is. In the first match against South Africa in Durban, Babar was dismissed for a four-ball duck by the young left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka, raising concerns over his recent form in the shortest format.
This was Babar’s seventh duck in T20Is, placing him on a list of batters with the most zeroes in the format, alongside Indian maestro Virat Kohli. With his performances dipping significantly over the past few innings, questions are being raised about his place in the team.
Babar Azam’s Last 10 T20I Innings
| Sl No. | Runs (Balls) | Opposition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 (4) | South Africa |
| 2 | 41 (28) | Australia |
| 3 | 3 (3) | Australia |
| 4 | 3 (2) | Australia |
| 5 | 32* (34) | Ireland |
| 6 | 33 (33) | Canada |
| 7 | 13 (10) | India |
| 8 | 44 (43) | USA |
| 9 | 36 (22) | England |
| 10 | 32 (26) | England |
In his last 10 T20I innings, Babar has managed 237 runs at an average of 26.34 and a strike rate of 115.60. These numbers are a significant decline from his career T20I average of 39.92 and strike rate of 129.06, reflecting a concerning drop in form.
While Babar has had starts in several innings, he has struggled to convert them into match-winning performances. His struggles are more apparent against top-quality teams like South Africa, Australia, India, and England, where his average in these games dips to 18.28.
Should Pakistan Drop Babar Azam from T20Is?
Pakistan boasts a pool of promising young top-order batters, including Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Omair Yousuf. Given the competition and Babar’s lean patch, there are calls for Pakistan to consider resting him or dropping him from T20Is to provide opportunities to in-form players.
However, Babar’s past performances and stature in international cricket make it unlikely for Pakistan to take a drastic step immediately. The team management is likely to give Babar the entire South Africa series to regain his form and prove his worth.
If his struggles continue, Pakistan may have to take a difficult decision, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. For now, all eyes will be on Babar as he looks to silence critics and reclaim his position as one of the most reliable batters in T20 cricket.
