Karachi, Pakistan — Web Desk: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is facing renewed scrutiny over his performance metrics in the T20 World Cup, with statistics showing his strike rate ranks among the lowest among players with at least 500 runs in the tournament’s history.
Playing his fourth T20 World Cup, Babar has accumulated runs at a strike rate of 111.81, the lowest among major run-scorers and equal to that of former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez. The figures have reignited debate over his batting approach in the shortest format of the game.
During the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, contrasting batting mindsets have been observed between his net sessions and match performances. In practice, Babar displayed aggressive intent, hitting short deliveries from Naseem Shah over midwicket and playing a powerful uppercut off Salman Mirza outside the off stump. He was also seen using his feet confidently against leg-spin bowlers Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed.
However, his match performances have not mirrored the same fluency, with cautious shot selection raising questions about his adaptability in high-pressure games. At one point, he mistimed a leg-cutter from Naseem Shah and appeared visibly frustrated.
Despite concerns, captain Salman Agha and head coach Mike Hesson have backed Babar based on experience, but analysts say he must deliver match-winning performances to justify continued trust.
The debate over Babar Azam’s strike rate and role in T20 cricket remains a major talking point as Pakistan aims to strengthen its batting lineup in the 2026 tournament.
