Archive photo of member Babar Azzam.
TimesofIndia.com in Kandy: A four-year-old post by former South Africa batsman Herschel Gibbs, who worked with Babar Azam at Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is circulating on social media. Gibbs had urged Babar to add a few attacking shots to his game to improve his strike rate.
In his response to a fan, he also criticized Babar’s reluctance to seek advice.
“He is in his own world with his strokes, and is not open to many suggestions,” Gibbs wrote.In every Pakistani network session, Babar appears alone. He trains and bats, and the only cricketer he talks to for advice is Abrar Ahmed, who made his international debut under Babar. For Shadab Khan, Babar is still the captain, as he keeps calling him ‘Skip’ before throwing the ball into the net.
Inside Pakistan’s intense curling session in Kandy ahead of their Super Eight match against England
Babar remains the leader of the group, but he lost his aura after failing to develop his playing style. He has played four T20 World Cups and has not scored a six since the 10-wicket win over India in Dubai in 2021, when Varun Chakravarthy was the bowler.In 2025, he was left out of the T20I setup, with coach Mike Hesson stating that Babar needs strong performances in the Big Bash League (BBL) to earn a call-up. After Pakistan lost to India in the Asia Cup, Babar was brought back.
However, his poor run with the Sydney Sixers, where he scored just 202 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 103.06, sparked a heated debate over his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.Fans, coaches and former cricketers have directed their fire at him.Read also | Chasing Virat Kohli, carries Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan’s goals in the T20 World CupDespite the criticism, the 31-year-old remains the top run-scorer in T20Is, with 4,571 runs. No batsman has passed fifty more than once in the 21-year history of the format, having done so 39 times, in addition to his three hundreds.
His 475 fours are also the most by any batsman. However, the more significant numbers in T20s paint a harsher picture. The batting average of 128.18 strips him of any claim to greatness whatsoever and is the lowest among batsmen with at least 3500 runs in the format.
Herschelle Gibbs’ social media post on Babar Azam has been doing the rounds. (Image: X)
In the pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s losing match against New Zealand, Hesson did not hold back while addressing Babar’s blistering batting average and backing up his stance with numbers. “Babar is well aware that his powerplay strike rate is below 100 in the T20 World Cup,” Hesson said.Across the four T20 World Cups that Babar has played, he has faced 217 balls in the powerplay for 187 runs. His batting average of 86.17 is the lowest among batsmen who have faced at least 200 deliveries at that stage.Babar did not even come out to bat against Namibia at the newly appointed number four. Instead, Khawaja Navai and then Shadab Khan were sent off, marking the first time in Babar’s T20I career that he did not bat.After the Namibia match, Shadab defended the decision and spoke about clarity within the group. He said, “Babar knows exactly when his turn comes. The messages are clear to every player. The team changes according to the circumstances, and this is what happens.”
Babar Azam (PTI Image)
A few days later, Hesson explained Babar’s role further. “We brought Babar back in a specific role after the Asian Cup. We wanted stability in midfield, and he gives us that.
When we got to the 12th over that day, Babar was not the best option. We had players better suited to the end. Babar understands that. “He knows his skill set and also knows when others can fill that role more efficiently,” Hesson said.During the nets in Kandy on a humid Monday afternoon, Babar was seen batting mostly against the left-arm spin of Mohammed Nawaz and a local net bowler. Hesson stayed close and talked to him constantly.
Instead of the aggressive strokes he attempted against Axar Patel in Colombo, Babar worked with the ball and played some elegant inside-out shots.Power has never been Babar’s game. He has mastered the role of broadcaster, but in modern T20 cricket, that role has lost its importance. Teams now require momentum on the powerplay. However, Pakistan continued to maintain its footing at the summit. Whether it was Babar or his former opening partner Mohamed Rizwan, the strategy often ended up putting more pressure on the rest of the batting order due to slow scoring rates.
Pakistani Babar Azam follows the ball after playing a shot during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, February 1, 2026. (AP)
Babar was once called the ‘King’ of Pakistani cricket. comparisons with
Virat Kohli
They were a constant and, for a brief period, he was mentioned alongside Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Kohli and Joe Root as part of the modern greats. But that peak did not last, and now with every match it becomes a “ka criminal match” for Pakistan.Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes Babar’s second sacking as captain has left a mental scar.
“He should not have taken the captaincy again after being sacked the first time. It was a mistake. The second sacking dented his self-confidence,” Latif told TimesofIndia.com.At 31, Babar is at a career crossroads. The talent is undisputed, but the demands of modern T20 cricket have moved faster than his development. With the spin expected to dominate in Kandy, the possibility of Abrar Ahmed being recalled, and the need for a left-hander like Fakhar Zaman in the top order, Babar’s place is no longer guaranteed. Even if he plays, his role is diminished. The crown he once wore comfortably now sits uncomfortably, and time is no longer on his side.
