In a high-speed T20 match, Babar Azam used to be the calm anchor at one end. No matter what was happening at the other end, he would stay and build the innings with steady, calm strokes.
That approach wasn’t just accepted in T20 cricket. It was the plan. Let Babar hold one end, and teammates could play with freedom. But times have changed, and so has the talk around him.
That’s not the role we need
The Pakistan head coach has spoken bluntly about the limits of Babar’s T20 game. Mike Hesson didn’t sugarcoat it. He openly said that Babar’s powerplay strike rate in World Cups is under 100, and added, “that’s not a role we think we need here.”
To put it plainly: the team doesn’t want its best batter doing his strongest work at the start of the innings. In four T20 World Cups, Babar has made 187 runs off 217 balls in the powerplay, a strike rate of 86. In a format where the first six overs are meant to set a fast, attacking tone, these numbers highlight a mismatch between Babar’s style and the team’s needs.
A different plan for Babar
Hesson’s solution is to redefine Babar’s role. He said Babar is a good player in the middle overs when needed. “If we’re in a little bit of trouble… once he gets himself set, he can increase his strike rate at that point.”
This played out against Namibia. Pakistan were cruising with wickets in hand, and the think tank decided to send the big hitters in before Babar. Hesson was honest: others can finish better. “From that point, Babar’s not the best person to come in.”
It’s not a criticism of Babar’s talent. It’s an acknowledgement that his role needs to fit the current game. The plan is about fit, not about blaming him for not changing with the times.
Other voices on Babar’s fit
Former captain Rashid Latif was even more direct. He questioned why Babar returned to the T20 side after being dropped for the same strike-rate concerns. “He is no longer a player of this format,” Latif said. His point wasn’t about talent, but about the modern game. T20 now needs batters who can shift gears quickly and naturally.
When Babar takes long to score, pressure builds. If he uses 20 balls for 20 runs, the need to accelerate often falls on the next batter, which can lead to rushed shots and quick wickets.
Technical questions and the No.4 role
There’s also talk about how Babar handles tough spin. His recent struggles against quality leg-spin, like England’s Adil Rashid, have raised questions about how his timing and control work when he has to go big in the middle overs.
In modern T20s, the No.4 position is expected to make an instant impact. You walk in looking for boundaries from the start to keep the momentum going. Babar’s natural style needs time to settle, and he tends to score a boundary every nine or ten balls. The current format often demands one every four or five balls.
Even analysts outside Pakistan have weighed in. Michael Vaughan, who calls Babar a “beautiful player,” has wondered if T20 is really his best format anymore. Vaughan suggests the game has become a power-hitter’s game, and perhaps stepping back from the shortest format could help Babar prolong his career in Tests and ODIs, where he remains elite.
So, what’s the answer?
The core issue isn’t whether Babar is a great player. He is. The question is whether Pakistan’s T20 team has a clear role for him that actually works.
If he opens, his powerplay strike rate slows the team’s early momentum. If he bats at four, his natural style clashes with what the position requires. If he’s held back as insurance, the team is aiming to stabilize rather than dominate.
Hesson says Babar has a certain set of skills the team needs. But those skills now feel situational. They look like a plan built around Babar rather than a plan that makes the best use of him. It’s a sign that T20 cricket is speeding up, and Babar Azam hasn’t kept pace.
In Tests and ODIs, he remains indispensable. In T20Is, his role is increasingly described as “if required,” “if in trouble,” or “once set.” That’s a big shift for a player once sure to anchor Pakistan’s white-ball batting. In this format, impact is demanded, not just beauty.
Pakistan’s coaches and analysts are trying to find a role for Babar that fits the modern game. Whether that means opening, batting at four, or coming in during a crisis, the aim is clear: use Babar where he can dominate, not where he can only steady the ship.
Stay tuned as Pakistan hunts for a clear plan. The world will be watching how Babar’s role evolves in T20 cricket, where the balance between style and quick, high-impact runs matters more than ever.
