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Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has questioned Babar Azam’s place in the T20I side, saying the batter’s approach and strike rate raise concerns amid a slump in form.
Babar, 31, has failed to rise up to the occasion in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, managing 91 runs in four innings at an average of 22.75.
Speaking on a private channel, Latif questioned Babar Azam’s inclusion in the national side after his exclusion due to his approach in the shorter format.
“Babar is no longer a player of this format”.“Where did it improve? Why did you bring him back?” he questioned.
The wicket-keeper batter also scrutinized Pakistan’s approach with the bat, noting that modern-day batting demands batters play aggressively in response to changing situations.
He further remarked that a batter puts pressure on his fellow player after consuming 20 to 25 balls without playing aggressively.
He also emphasized that set batters must take responsibility and bat deep, especially when partners are struggling to score freely.
It is worth mentioning that Babar was recalled to the national side in the home series against South Africa.
Babar, also the leading run-scorer in T20Is, was dropped from the side in December 2024 due to concerns about his strike rate. He also missed several key assignments for the Pakistan team, including the Asia Cup 2025, in the meantime.
Since his return to the T20I side, Babar has only scored 373 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.87. He managed to cross the fifty-run mark on three occasions, with 74 his highest score.
Interestingly, his strike rate is also on the lower side, which is 82.08, as compared to his overall T20I career, which is 128.02.
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