Babar Azam: Pakistan's Shifting Strategy Under Fire

The performance and role of Babar Azam continue to be a focal point at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Azam has been moved across various batting positions, including opening, top order, and middle order, without yielding the expected outcomes.

During Pakistan's recent defeat to England, Azam struggled to find his rhythm, scoring at a pace just above a run per ball. This has intensified the debate surrounding his form and optimal position in the team.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan commended coach Mike Hesson for skillfully navigating the internal politics of Pakistan cricket. Vaughan suggested that Azam serves as an 'insurance policy,' to be deployed when wickets fall, particularly advocating for his role at number four.

Vaughan further proposed that Azam's steady approach, while perhaps traditional for T20s, remains effective on Sri Lankan pitches. He believes that aggressive batting from other players around Azam would allow him to anchor the innings successfully, citing his ability to handle spin bowling.

Despite the debate, Azam's statistical performance in the 2026 tournament shows 91 runs from four innings at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34. Across his T20 World Cup career, he has scored 640 runs in 21 innings at an average of 33.68, with a strike rate of 111.49. This career strike rate is the lowest among all batters with 500 or more runs in the tournament's history.