Pakistani Usman Tariq, center, celebrates with his teammates (AP/PTI)
The controversy surrounding Babar Azam refuses to fade away in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Once hailed as Pakistan’s next great batting star, Babar has tried his hand at multiple roles in this edition, opening the innings, batting at the top order and even switching to the middle order.
So far, none of the moves have achieved the desired results.On 24 February, during Pakistan’s defeat to the England cricket team, Babar again struggled for fluency, scoring barely above running the ball. Its form and role have drawn new scrutiny.
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Before that match, former England captain Michael Vaughan praised coach Mike Hesson for navigating what he described as the complex politics of Pakistani cricket. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Vaughan said:“I admire foreign coaches who go and train in Pakistan because I can only imagine what is happening,” Vaughan told Cricbuzz.“But Babar Azam himself, I think Mike Hesson has handled it brilliantly because obviously he has to play with Babar Azam, and he’s using him as an insurance policy. You lose two wickets, he’s your insurance. He comes in at number four, and he can just bowl.”Vaughan believes Babar’s method, even if considered archaic in the modern T20 game, is still valuable in Sri Lankan conditions. He suggested that other batsmen adopt a more aggressive approach around him, allowing Babar to stabilize the innings.
“In Sri Lanka, I think he is absolutely perfect for that wicket because Sri Lanka have so far been 150-180, and I think Babar is in that range. I think he will take Pakistan to a score of 160-170,” the Manchester-born cricketer said.“I admire the way Mike Hesson has probably played politics well, and maybe that doesn’t give you the best chance of winning the World Cup. But I feel at a stadium like Pallekele, I want Babar Azam in my team.
Sure, because I want someone strong who can hit the spinners. If it gets to 125-130, that’s totally fine. You’ll need a cameo or two from two or three players around you, but I want this consistent player in the middle of the innings.
“I think they handled it right.”Vaughan also revealed that he spoke extensively with the former Pakistan national team coach
Jason Gillespie
its Ashes rival, on the challenges of working within Pakistani cricket.
Gillespie had previously alleged excessive interference during his tenure. Vaughan admitted that he would not consider taking on such a role himself.“I personally would never want to go and be an overseas coach in Pakistan. I spoke a lot with Jason Gillespie when I went there. So, it’s difficult. I just think Hesson and the team and the management – I think they handled it perfectly. He’s absolutely perfect in what they did,” he added.Statistically speaking, Babar’s campaign has been a disappointment. In the 2026 tournament, he scored 91 runs from four innings at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34. Of the hitters with 90 or more points in competition, none have a lower strikeout rate. Only Emirati Alishan Sharafou came close, who reached 112.40.During his T20 World Cup career, Babar appeared in 23 matches, scoring 640 runs from 21 innings at an average of 33.68 and a strike rate of 111.49. No player with 500 or more runs in the history of the tournament has scored a lower strike rate than the former Pakistan captain.
