Dubai: Pakistan’s journey in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has been a rollercoaster, with the team scraping through to the Super-8 stage despite a crushing defeat to arch-rivals India in the group matches.
Securing wins against the Netherlands, USA, and Namibia, the Men in Green now gear up for tough clashes against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka. However, the spotlight remains on former captain Babar Azam’s dismal form, which has piled pressure on the middle order.
Babar, one of Pakistan’s most seasoned batsmen, has failed to live up to expectations, posting scores of just 5, 46, and 15 in the group stage. Head coach Mike Hesson has now revealed that the decision to push Babar down the batting order was driven by strategic team needs, citing his subpar strike rate in the powerplay.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Super-8 opener against New Zealand, Hesson explained, “This is a matter of team needs, and Babar is fully aware of it.” He knows his strike rate in the powerplay during the World Cup has been below 100. We feel that if the team is in trouble, he can play a better role in the middle overs.”
Hesson further elaborated on the Namibia game, where Babar was not sent in to bat: ‘At that point, after the 12th over, Babar Azam wasn’t the right batsman to send. We have players who can perform better in the die- overs. Babar himself acknowledges that the team requires different skills in varying situations.”
This shift signals a pragmatic approach for Pakistan, prioritising roles and match scenarios over star power. The upcoming Super-8 fixtures offer Babar a golden opportunity to rediscover his mojo and silence critics.