Babar Azam didn’t come out to bat even with eight overs left in a crucial match against Namibia - What's this the point of having him in the team?

[Ball Blazer]

In Pakistan’s crucial match against Namibia, Babar Azam didn’t come out to bat even with eight overs left.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has batted at No. 4 for Pakistan in this T20 World Cup. However, Babar did not come to bat against Namibia despite playing in the match.

After a splendid partnership between Farhan and Agha, instead of sending Babar, the Pakistani management sent Khawaja Nafay, who is playing only his third T20I match. This is also his first game in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan already had a great platform with 107/1 being their score at the end of 12 overs. Not sending Babar was a tactical decision. Azam tends to take time to get off the blocks, and Pakistan was in search of a flurry of boundaries to end their innings on a high.

Moreover, Babar holds the record for the joint-lowest Strike Rate in T20 World Cup history (111.81) for batters scoring a minimum of 500 runs.

Was that the right decision?

 

[pakistani pride]

You said it your-self:

Moreover, Babar holds the record for the joint-lowest Strike Rate in T20 World Cup history (111.81) for batters scoring a minimum of 500 runs.

He should not be even in the team. Like always come business end (Super 8s). This will hurt Pak big time, playing him.

 

[Varun]

Bet Hesson and he have had a falling out.

 

[rpant_gabba]

It is an insult to king Babar and major disrespect to the institution of RizBarRauf-SSA (TM).

hope PCB sees the light and makes amends

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Now Babar will stay locked inside his hotel room for 2 days as a sign of protest

 

[Kianig89]

That should be that, they are making him realise the times up

 

[Asif321]

Good way to punish bobzi

 

[Rana]

Beautiful Zalalat

@heddie19 @Mobashir @salman24 @Kianig89 @Raja Ishtiaq

 

[Rana]

That should be that, they are making him realise the times up

Your time is up too.

 

[Rana]

Now Babar will stay locked inside his hotel room for 2 days as a sign of protest

1 hour protest for not being allowed to go out for dinner

 

[Local.Dada]

Wrist slitting even after winning a game and qualifying, amazing

 

[jnaveen1980]

You guys forgot he didn't bat in super over? Bobzie was never known for acceleration

 

[RidiculousMan]

Exactly. Pakistan already have Salman who can play the anchor role if needed. Get him out and bring in a Fakhar or a bowler.

 

[chinaman00]

There’s no logic behind this team’s section anymore. Last game, they played Faheem as a bowling allrounder and he didn’t bowl a single bowl. He batted and got out cheaply. They have been doing these sorts of shenanigans all the time. Literally not a single logic behind their decisions.

 

[hur rizvi]

Abrar sits out so king could **** inside the dug out…

 

[pillionrider]

All seems well between Agha and Babar though.

 

[TheSultan]

Phase out - you’ve got to let the emo baby down gently

 

[AAli98]

When walking wickets Nafay & usman are back in the pavilion against NZ Baba & Fakhar will be key in getting to a respectable 145

 

[Asif321]

All seems well between Agha and Babar though.

View attachment 161866

They are childhood friends so these things won’t matter . Thats probably only reason Agha has soft corner for babar

 

[shah9425]

Now Babar will stay locked inside his hotel room for 2 days as a sign of protest

Please lock him until the end of tournament

No need of his services

 

[charlie007]

So if he bats it’s a problem and if he doesn’t bat it’s a problem too? Wo karey to kya karey?

 

[Hikaru]

We need Babar PR team to undo the damage. Perhaps a 30 second video of saazish and victimhood might help.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Please lock him until the end of tournament

No need of his services

Yeah Pakistan team management need to lock the room and throw the key in the Indian Ocean

 

[CricVet]

Yeah...he is there just for an "Allah Tawakkul" chance IF the team by some undeserving miracle wins the tournament, so Badshah Salamat will get to honor the trophy by touching, hugging, and sleeping with it.

 

[zahid01]

When walking wickets Nafay & usman are back in the pavilion against NZ Baba & Fakhar will be key in getting to a respectable 145

You guys obsession with respectable score new Zealand will chase 145 in 10 overs Glen Philips alone can score these runs we need to aim for 180 190 score with babar this ain't happening I would keep him in the lower order let every batsmen bat above him

 

[zaidihusain]

Forget about getting a chance to bat against Namibia, Babar is extremely lucky that he is allowed to stay in T20I side for so many years despite being a passenger.

He doesn't deserve a spot in T20s, he is just playing because of pressure from sponsors and blind fans.

SSA, Shadab & Fakhar all need to be booted out of the team

 

[TeymurBlake]

They don’t need him in the format anymore. Fakhar Zaman could have been tried instead.

 

[Ball Blazer]

So why he is in the team? I am sure playing XI was not decided on the spot.

They don’t need him in the format anymore. Fakhar Zaman could have been tried instead.

 

[Major]

Too much criticism all the time.

Pakistan wanted to give a chance to a youngster and further accelerate, so thats why babar was not sent in.. Had there been a collapse, than they would had sent him in.

It was a good decision, if nafay is going to play in the tournament, now was the time to get him a game.

 

[Savak]

You don't play out of form and short of confidence players in a WC.

 

[Savak]

Fakhar Zaman is a better bet than Babar. Fakhar can atleast rotate the strike and he can hit big lusty blows. Babar offers nothing to this team right now. You can offer him $2 million to hit a six against Axar and he will still get bowled, thats how mentally weak and incapable he is.

 

[Omer2002]

Rather being harsh here he wasnt needee end off..its like faheem has played every match and yet he wasnt needed at all

 

[charlie007]

Yeah Pakistan team management need to lock the room and throw the key in the Indian Ocean

Throw it in the Arabian Sea at the Karachi port - it’ll cost money to sail all the way to the Indian Ocean and then the Indians might find the key and return it to unleash the Dhurandhar again.

 

[Human786]

In Pakistan’s crucial match against Namibia, Babar Azam didn’t come out to bat even with eight overs left.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has batted at No. 4 for Pakistan in this T20 World Cup. However, Babar did not come to bat against Namibia despite playing in the match.

After a splendid partnership between Farhan and Agha, instead of sending Babar, the Pakistani management sent Khawaja Nafay, who is playing only his third T20I match. This is also his first game in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan already had a great platform with 107/1 being their score at the end of 12 overs. Not sending Babar was a tactical decision. Azam tends to take time to get off the blocks, and Pakistan was in search of a flurry of boundaries to end their innings on a high.

Moreover, Babar holds the record for the joint-lowest Strike Rate in T20 World Cup history (111.81) for batters scoring a minimum of 500 runs.

Was that the right decision?

Come on , he is the emergency back-up . What if the scoreline had become 111/4 in 13th over - you would have needed the GOAT Barbar to play the wet-sheet anchor role till the 20th over !

 

[Savak]

Lol Ramiz Raja calling for Babar Azam to open the innings and for Saim Ayub to go down the order

 

[MP2011]

Beautiful Zalalat

@heddie19 @Mobashir @salman24 @Kianig89 @Raja Ishtiaq

This too shall pass!

 

[Cricket Warrior]

He can easily be replaced by Fakhar Zaman who can be a match winner at 4th position... Babar is sitting in a dugout just as a monument of Pakistan cricket nothing more than that.

 

[Sachin fan]

When walking wickets Nafay & usman are back in the pavilion against NZ Baba & Fakhar will be key in getting to a respectable 145

You already declared Nafay a walking wicket after one single match? Babar fans are something else.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Lol Ramiz Raja calling for Babar Azam to open the innings and for Saim Ayub to go down the order

The whole culture is toxic man. There was an intentional campaign before the game where media was saying Farhan isn’t playing and this fraud would open.

Hadd hoti hai qasam se

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

The best thing for Pakistan T20 campaign is to drop Babar, give someone with a high strike rate a chance. Give Nafay more chances.

 

[Snowflake]

Babar should not be in the team. If he is in the team, he needs to bat in these situations. This was ridiculous to see.

 

[Prince of Dorne]

Man, I remember the intense Babar vs Kohli debates here, how times change.

 

[emranabbas]

Management didn’t wanted to embarrass Babar Azam, if he’d come out to bat, he would’ve been striking at an 80 strike rate.

 

[Noor79]

how is this eleven

1- farhan
2-usman
3-azam
4-saim
5-agha
6-shadab
7-nafay
8-nawas
9-faheem
10-nasem
11- usman thariq

 

[Chuggy]

how is this eleven

1- farhan
2-usman
3-azam
4-saim
5-agha
6-shadab
7-nafay
8-nawas
9-faheem
10-nasem
11- usman thariq

Nafay can't bat that low. Let him bat 1 down or 2 max.

 

[Slim]

how is this eleven

1- farhan
2-usman
3-azam
4-saim
5-agha
6-shadab
7-nafay
8-nawas
9-faheem
10-nasem
11- usman thariq

Lol babar’s zombie fans have found PP.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Real test for Babar vs NZ.

Its his favorite team.

If he cant make it there, he cant make it anywhere.

 

[mon858]

Wrong decision. They should have sent him out and then made Farhan deny singles on last balls and then call him back after 3 overs of low strike rate.

 

[jnaveen1980]

The guy who denied strike in BBL is sitting out. This guy is playing lol

 

[globetrotter]

Babar .should leave batted at no.3 or 4, team management knowing very well that Babar will score high against teams like Namibia.... but opportunity is denied to him. It seems PCB ready decided to axe him after WC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Hesson is doing favoritism.. Sahdab is pure favoritism and parchi selection here. Babar has no place in the team if he is not coming at 3... Simple

Salman Ali Agha has been pathetic at 3 so far. Now don't come running after me that he score 30 against minnows. Bla bla.

Salman Ali Agha had once in a blue moon performance against Sri lanka where he smashed them but since then, he has been worst....

 

[Rana]

Hesson is doing favoritism.. Sahdab is pure favoritism and parchi selection here. Babar has no place in the team if he is not coming at 3... Simple

Salman Ali Agha has been pathetic at 3 so far. Now don't come running after me that he score 30 against minnows. Bla bla.

Salman Ali Agha had once in a blue moon performance against Sri lanka where he smashed them but since then, he has been worst....

You sound extremely frustrated

Agha has been brilliant at number 3 in the lead up to this tournament, he’s Pakistan’s Best number 3.

Hesson is indeed doing favouritism by keeping Babar in the squad and XI.

 

[Varun]

Real test for Babar vs NZ.

Its his favorite team.

If he cant make it there, he cant make it anywhere.

ZeaBabar?

 

[daytrader]

Let's just hope we continue get to a 100 with the loss of only a few wickets by the 12th over. Babar not needed to bat is a good sign for our team. Let's not forget we were all out against India by the 18th over.

 

[Rana]

Let's just hope we continue get to a 100 with the loss of only a few wickets by the 12th over. Babar not needed to bat is a good sign for our team. Let's not forget we were all out against India by the 18th over.

From not coming out to bat in the super over….to not coming out to bat in any over

 

[TeymurBlake]

So why he is in the team? I am sure playing XI was not decided on the spot.

Braaaand.

Unfortunately ego as well.

 

[Professionalismandflair]

Braaaand.

Unfortunately ego as well.

All ego and no talent

 

[pakistani pride]

When walking wickets Nafay & usman are back in the pavilion against NZ Baba & Fakhar will be key in getting to a respectable 145

Yes, because Baba is known for his knocks in ICC games when the pressure is on? What is his record BTW?

 

[Abid Z]

You have to test the rest of the line up. Give them some time in the middle. Pak are desperately short of 1 or 2 good batsmen and I don’t mean hackers.

 

[Slim]

Hesson is doing favoritism.. Sahdab is pure favoritism and parchi selection here. Babar has no place in the team if he is not coming at 3... Simple

Salman Ali Agha has been pathetic at 3 so far. Now don't come running after me that he score 30 against minnows. Bla bla.

Salman Ali Agha had once in a blue moon performance against Sri lanka where he smashed them but since then, he has been worst....

Thread is about Babar and you made it about Agha’s position? Why are you guys so obsessed with such a pathetic player like Babar. I dont get it? I can understand the paid bots on twitter, but you get regular exposure to quality opinions on PP.

 

[Slim]

Shehzad and Amir are completely right when they say that Babar simply has no position in playing 11 and hes being forcefully played by team management as some sort of a favour.

Agha salman’s captaincy has been quite mediocre because hes been paying favours to players like Babar and Shadab. I said that in the squad thread as well, you can either maintain the status quo and face humiliation or you can try for everlasting glory by playing the team on merit.

 

[hassan918]

Shehzad and Amir are completely right when they say that Babar simply has no position in playing 11 and hes being forcefully played by team management as some sort of a favour.

Agha salman’s captaincy has been quite mediocre because hes been paying favours to players like Babar and Shadab. I said that in the squad thread as well, you can either maintain the status quo and face humiliation or you can try for everlasting glory by playing the team on merit.

Pakistan won the game convincingly without any contribution from Babar. I think Fakhar should replace him in the remainder of the tournament. He isn't an ideal choice for Pakistan at number 4. Top 4 should be Saim, Farhan, Fakhar and Salman.

 

[Slim]

Pakistan won the game convincingly without any contribution from Babar. I think Fakhar should replace him in the remainder of the tournament. He isn't an ideal choice for Pakistan at number 4. Top 4 should be Saim, Farhan, Fakhar and Salman.

Thats the only way, agreed!

 

[Abid Z]

Shehzad and Amir are completely right when they say that Babar simply has no position in playing 11 and hes being forcefully played by team management as some sort of a favour.

Agha salman’s captaincy has been quite mediocre because hes been paying favours to players like Babar and Shadab. I said that in the squad thread as well, you can either maintain the status quo and face humiliation or you can try for everlasting glory by playing the team on merit.

He does have a position in the 11 just not performing right now. The point is you need somebody in the 11 who doesn’t just waft at thin air when wickets are falling. Who is that person? Pak have tried Hasan Nawaz and now Nafay…who else is there?

 

[salman24]

Beautiful Zalalat

@heddie19 @Mobashir @salman24 @Kianig89 @Raja Ishtiaq

Tactically I'm actually okay with this decision. After a good start with 8 overs left and plenty of wickets sending the sloggers in was actually a smart idea.

Babar could play his current role but it probably makes sense to open with Farhan and Babar and have Saim drop down to 4 because of his form.

 

[Rana]

Tactically I'm actually okay with this decision. After a good start with 8 overs left and plenty of wickets sending the sloggers in was actually a smart idea.

Babar could play his current role but it probably makes sense to open with Farhan and Babar and have Saim drop down to 4 because of his form.

Why would it make sense to open with Babar? This is his ****** team?

 

[salman24]

Why would it make sense to open with Babar? This is his Phuppi’s team?

Because he has a great record opening and Saim's scores in this tournament and the Asia cup have been atrocious. Look them up and then try to defend them.

Saim adds value as a bowler and I think he would play better at number 4. Mohd. Amir pointed out he will continue to struggle until he develops offside shots against fast bowlers.

 

[Rana]

Because he has a great record opening and Saim's scores in this tournament and the Asia cup have been atrocious

So we drop potentially our best batter to accommodate a guy who was globally exposed by Steven Smith as a useless batter?

 

[Sachin fan]

He does have a position in the 11 just not performing right now. The point is you need somebody in the 11 who doesn’t just waft at thin air when wickets are falling. Who is that person? Pak have tried Hasan Nawaz and now Nafay…who else is there?

You are judging Nafay based on one single innings? Amazing. The Babar fans are something else. Did you know Sachin scored his first 100 after 79 ODI innings? Imagine if we had fans like you.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Either play Babar as an opener or drop him. He can’t score aggressively after the powerplay in any position.
That doesn’t mean he is good at opening either, but at least he can score some runs by using the powerplay advantage without taking too many risks.

Problem is that if they send him to open, it puts pressure on the other batsmen to cover for his slow scoring rate.
He is only useful as an opener when the target is moderate, he can ensure a win without a batting collapse. But such situations are very rare in T20 cricket.

Not suitable to chase/set big scores on the board when conditions are little tough.

 

[Rana]

That doesn’t mean he is good at opening either, but at least he can score some runs by using the powerplay advantage without taking too many risks

Anyone can do that

Open with Naseem Shah. He can do that too

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Anyone can do that

Open with Naseem Shah. He can do that too

Yes, that’s my point too.
But the lack of consistent openers is giving Babar’s fans an opportunity to make louder noise by comparing his self-made stats.

 

[Rana]

Yes, that’s my point too.
But the lack of consistent openers is giving Babar’s fans an opportunity to make louder noise by comparing his self-made stats.

The opening or whatever is fine.

Pakistan has been beating their own powerplay scores since Babar was removed. They have posted close to 200 twice in this tournament

Whatever we are doing, it’s working. Babar makes no difference to it

 

[salman24]

So we drop potentially our best batter to accommodate a guy who was globally exposed by Steven Smith as a useless batter?

I didn't say to drop him but change his position. Also Farhan has been the best batter. How can you call Saim the best batter with his scores in this tournament and the Asia cup. Pull those up and please justify with a straight face.

 

[Rana]

I didn't say to drop him but change his position

Well, no.

No thanks.


Babar isn’t an opener.

 

[Abid Z]

You are judging Nafay based on one single innings? Amazing. The Babar fans are something else. Did you know Sachin scored his first 100 after 79 ODI innings? Imagine if we had fans like you.

Erm I’m judging but not saying he should be discarded where did you make that jump.

 

[salman24]

Well, no.

No thanks.


Babar isn’t an opener.

We are gonna ignore Saim's scores and strike rates as opener in the last 2 tournaments then I see

 

[salman24]

Anyway I hope Saim can somehow start scoring if he will play as Opener. That would be good for the team. He is doing well as a bowler.

 

[Rana]

We are gonna ignore Saim's scores and strike rates as opener in the last 2 tournaments then I see

Yes we are if you are going to suggest Babar as the opener

 

[Slim]

You are judging Nafay based on one single innings? Amazing. The Babar fans are something else. Did you know Sachin scored his first 100 after 79 ODI innings? Imagine if we had fans like you.

You have way more sense then the “geniuses” on here.