In the world of Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam is often referred to as "The King." His cover drive is a thing of beauty, and his consistency in accumulating runs is statistically rivaled by few. Magicwin However, as the 2026 T20 World Cup cycles into view, a familiar shadow looms over Pakistan’s batting order: the strike rate.
Critics have dubbed Babar’s approach as a relic of the "Baba Adam" era (a local idiom for something ancient or outdated). But is this just noise from impatient fans, or is there a fundamental flaw in Pakistan’s T20 blueprint?
The Statistical Reality Check
To understand the frustration, we have to look at the numbers. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Babar Azam’s strike rate hovered around 101.67. While defenders pointed toward difficult pitches in the USA, a look at his peers tells a different story:
Rohit Sharma: ~156 SR
Jos Buttler: ~158 SR
Travis Head: ~158 SR
Even within his own team, the contrast is stark. Players like Salman Ali Agha have shown that even on tricky surfaces, a strike rate of 160+ is possible at the number three spot. Babar, meanwhile, has recorded the lowest strike rate among all batters with over 500 runs in T20 World Cup history.
The "Anchor" vs. The "Aggressor"
The core of the debate lies in Babar’s role as an "anchor." The traditional logic suggests that one player must hold an end so others can explode. However, modern T20 cricket has moved past the designated anchor.
1. The Powerplay Tax
When an opener strikes at 110–120 during the Powerplay, they aren't just "playing safe"—they are wasting the period where only two fielders are outside the circle. By the time Babar settles in, the field spreads, and the pressure to hit boundaries shifts entirely to the middle order.
2. The Ripple Effect on Partners
When Babar bats slowly, his partner (often Mohammad Rizwan) feels the squeeze. This leads to high-risk shots and a "bottleneck" effect. If the top order eats up 12–14 overs to reach 100, the middle order is forced to play a "kamikaze" style of cricket from ball one, leading to the frequent collapses Pakistan fans know all too well.
Why it's a "Headache" for Team Management
Pakistan's selectors are caught in a Catch-22.
Option A: Keep Babar as the opener for his "stability." Result: Low totals that the bowlers struggle to defend against elite teams.
Option B: Drop or demote him. Result: Risking the loss of the team's most technically sound batter and potentially causing a leadership vacuum.
In early 2025, Pakistan attempted to move away from Babar and Rizwan at the top to inject "modern aggression." Yet, a lack of consistent replacements saw Babar recalled. The problem isn't just Babar; it's the lack of a system that produces power-hitters who can also survive the first six overs.
The Verdict: Adapt or Fret
Cricket has changed. A score of 160 is no longer a "winning total"; it's a "par total" on a bad day. For Pakistan to win their second T20 World Cup title, they cannot rely on a strategy from 2010.
Babar Azam remains a world-class talent, but T20 is a game of impact, not just averages. Unless "The King" can trade some of his safety for a bit of "Baba Adam-era" fearlessness—the kind seen in the days of Imran Khan’s "cornered tigers"—Pakistan’s batting will continue to be its own greatest obstacle.
Is it time for Babar to reinvent himself, or is he simply playing the hand he's been dealt by a fragile middle order? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
