\u2018No longer player of T20\u2019
\nFormer Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif questions Babar\u2019s return to T20 cricket after being dropped over strike-rate concerns
\n Islamabad
\nWidely regarded as Pakistan\u2019s star batter, Babar Azam\u2019s struggles in the ongoing ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup have once again sparked debate about his effectiveness in the shortest format, with former cricketers pointing to concerns over his strike rate, tempo and ability to adapt.
\nPakistan lost to two-time champions England in the high-stakes Super Eights match of the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
\nBabar scored just 25 runs off 24 balls at a strike rate of 104 before being bowled by Jamie Overton.
\nSpeaking on Geo News\u2019 show \u201cHarna Mana Hai\u201d, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif said bluntly that Babar is \u201cno longer a player of this format\u201d, questioning why he was brought back after being dropped over strike-rate concerns six months ago.
\nLatif recalled that team management had earlier stated Babar would return once his scoring rate improved. \u201cWhere did it improve? Why did you bring him back?\u201d he asked, calling the decision an injustice by the board and coaching staff.
\nHe also criticised Pakistan\u2019s batting tempo, saying modern T20 cricket demands players who can shift gears and control the chase. According to him, when a batter consumes 20\u201325 balls without accelerating, pressure builds on the other end and forces incoming players into risky shots.
\nHe added that set batters must take responsibility and bat deep when partners struggle to score.
\nHost Tabish Hashmi remarked that the team had discussed a plan three years ago on how to dismiss Babar, yet he continues to fall in a similar fashion, raising questions about whether the fault lies with the player, coaching staff or the system.
\nLatif compared Pakistan\u2019s approach with opposing batters who keep scoreboards moving under pressure, noting that successful players \u201cplay from both ends\u201d and maintain control of the chase.
\nHe suggested Pakistan\u2019s batters often fail to shift gears when acceleration is required, allowing pressure to mount.
\nCricketer Ahmed Shehzad highlighted decision-making during the innings, saying there were moments when quick singles or doubles could have relieved pressure but were not taken. He also questioned why a player with more than a decade of experience still struggles to read quality leg-spin.
\nReferring to an incident against England\u2019s Adil Rashid in Tuesday\u2019s match, Shehzad said Babar nearly lost his wicket to a googly.
\n\u201cIs this improvement?\u201d He argued that unless players accept their weaknesses and adapt to modern T20 demands, particularly power-hitting and risk-taking, improvement cannot happen, calling the lack of acceptance Babar\u2019s \u201cbiggest downfall.\u201d
\nFast bowler Mohammad Amir agreed with the assessment, confirming that Babar failed to pick the variation properly.
\nThe panel also discussed how delays in acceleration can affect partners at the crease, noting that when one batter slows the scoring rate, the incoming players feel compelled to attack immediately and often lose their wickets in the process.
\nThe discussion reflected growing scrutiny over Babar\u2019s role in Pakistan\u2019s T20 setup, as critics urge greater adaptability, smarter strike rotation and stronger intent to match the evolving demands of modern T20 cricket.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018No longer player of T20\u2019 Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif questions Babar\u2019s return to T20 cricket after being dropped over strike-rate concerns Islamabad Widely regarded as Pakistan\u2019s star batter, Babar Azam\u2019s struggles in the ongoing ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup have once again sparked debate about his effectiveness in the shortest format, with former cricketers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":533592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-533567","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n