Babar Azam's Middle Order Shift Sparks Debate

Pakistan's leading batter, Babar Azam, has experienced a challenging T20 World Cup campaign thus far, accumulating only 66 runs across four matches with a subdued strike rate. Consequently, a significant tactical decision has seen him moved down the batting order from his customary opening slot to the middle order, a change that has subsequently fueled considerable debate within the cricketing community.

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis has publicly backed the decision made by Pakistan's head coach, Mike Hesson. Du Plessis explained that the move is logical given the accelerated pace of modern T20 cricket. He emphasized that T20 batting, particularly in the initial powerplay overs, now demands significantly higher strike rates, often exceeding 160-200, a stark contrast to the game's past.