Home / Sports / Pakistan's Batting Order Puzzles Fans as Babar Azam Stays Off Field
Pakistan's Batting Order Puzzles Fans as Babar Azam Stays Off Field
19 Feb
Summary
- Babar Azam faced criticism for not batting in a crucial T20 World Cup match.
- Aggressive batters were prioritized over Azam when wickets fell against Namibia.
- Pakistan secured a dominant 102-run victory against Namibia.
Babar Azam has become a focal point of online criticism following Pakistan's Group A match against Namibia at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The experienced batter, known for his run-scoring, has struggled for form in the competition, leading to fan queries about his lack of impact. Originally intended to anchor the innings, Azam did not effectively fulfill this role against the Netherlands and India when Pakistan's batting collapsed.
In the crucial match against Namibia on Wednesday, Pakistan's team management opted to promote more aggressive batters ahead of Azam after a strong start. Even when the captain, Salman Ali Agha, was dismissed in the 13th over, Khawaja Nafay was sent in instead of Azam. Following Nafay's quick dismissal, Shadab Khan was promoted, further sidelining Azam. This decision sparked widespread online reaction, with memes and questions surfacing about Azam's demotion and Pakistan's unconventional batting strategy.
Despite the controversy surrounding Azam, Pakistan secured a decisive 102-run victory against Namibia. The win, propelled by Sahibzada Farhan's maiden century and effective spin bowling, ensured Pakistan's progression to the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup.
