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Do you agree with Babar Azam's inclusion in the T20I squad for the series against South Africa?

Do you agree with Babar Azam's inclusion in the T20I squad for the series against South Africa?


  • Total voters
    41

BouncerGuy

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Babar Azam is back in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the home series against South Africa and the tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. After missing recent events, his return has reignited discussions around form, leadership, and team balance.

Do you agree with his inclusion — or should Pakistan have looked elsewhere this time? Let’s hear your take.
 
haha... What about Haris?
Haris is a hit or miss. Usman Khan has done better in domestic but I will reserve judgement until I see usman Khan in action.

Fakhar on the other hand is the greatest Pakistani batsmen to grace this earth since the golden era of saeed, Zaheer, Younis, Ijaz, Inzi, Yousaf and many other names who i am possibly missing. Said names being absent since 2016.
 
Haris is a hit or miss. Usman Khan has done better in domestic but I will reserve judgement until I see usman Khan in action.

Fakhar on the other hand is the greatest Pakistani batsmen to grace this earth since the golden era of saeed, Zaheer, Younis, Ijaz, Inzi, Yousaf and many other names who i am possibly missing. Said names being absent since 2016.
In ODIs?? Yeah agreed
 
49 runs in one day, 1 run on the 2nd day :vk2 .

The 50 needs to be achieved in 2 segments 👺
Bro they were happy with the 40 in the 1st Test too.

It’s a real shame actually. I can’t say I am not guilty of hating on him. I don’t want him in T20s and because of that I want him to fail badly in Tests, because apparently his form in Tests will decide his T20 spot.

This is rubbish! This makes no sense! I just can’t support this team and every player for Pakistan because of these two Babar and Rizwan, and because of all the illogical preferential treatment they receive!

So if Imam scored 2 hundreds in these 2 Tests, he plays ahead of Fakhar and Sahibzada in T20s?
 
Bro they were happy with the 40 in the 1st Test too.

It’s a real shame actually. I can’t say I am not guilty of hating on him. I don’t want him in T20s and because of that I want him to fail badly in Tests, because apparently his form in Tests will decide his T20 spot.

This is rubbish! This makes no sense! I just can’t support this team and every player for Pakistan because of these two Babar and Rizwan, and because of all the illogical preferential treatment they receive!

So if Imam scored 2 hundreds in these 2 Tests, he plays ahead of Fakhar and Sahibzada in T20s?
He ironically would if he wasnt a coward. Imam in reality is too afraid of representing Pakistan on the t20 stage cause he knows full well he'll be a comedian.

Not cause PCB doesn't want him. I'll give imam some credit atleast. He is a 🤡 but atleast he's smart enough to identify this fact and avoid the format even PSL and t20 franchise included.
 
He ironically would if he wasnt a coward. Imam in reality is too afraid of representing Pakistan on the t20 stage cause he knows full well he'll be a comedian.

Not cause PCB doesn't want him. I'll give imam some credit atleast. He is a 🤡 but atleast he's smart enough to identify this fact and avoid the format even PSL and t20 franchise included.
Hahaha Imam has always been brave and registered his name in all leagues for the drafts

He’s an honest trier the lad :ROFLMAO:
 
Form is temporary but class is permanent
Welcome back Babar, as long as you don’t open and bat where you do in tests
The recent Asian cup was dying for a middle order pair of Usman khan and Babar azam and now we have it. Bring on the africaaners
 
Seems to have regressed a lot but should still be better than Fakhar Haris Agha etc.

Lets see how he performs
 
Babar was dropped from tests after 1st test of England series but recalled again to test side without any performance and now everyone can see the result.

Same has happened in T20s, rightly dropped but being recalled without performance. May be there is a pressure from sponsors
 
Based on what we say in the Asia cup - Babar, at his worst, might still be on par with his replacements that were on offer.
So definitely the right call
 
Voted Yes because the replacements don't seem to be any better. He's not what Pakistan need for their white ball cricket though.
 
Based on what I have seen from him, he does not have a game for T20.
 
Me personally, I don't like Babar's inclusion. I don't think it sends the right message to the players.

He hasn't from the looks of it done much improvements to his game at all & still seems like a walking wicket.
 
It's probably better if he was a walking wicket. Pakistan stand to lose much more when he saps the momentum scoring 40 off 32-33.

But that said, I do think Pakistan needs someone like Babar to hold one end up. If only to ensure they reach a target to remain competitive. Atleast for the short term. He just can't be batting like it's ODI mode in T20's though. His biggest weakness is his inability to rotate strike. If he can ensure that he rotates the strike, he should in theory be able to allow other batsmen to go big.
 
Can anti Babar brigade explain this?

1 Why Mohammad Harris is so pathetic that he averages 11 with SR of 118 against non minnows?
2 What has Fakhar done in 109 T20Is? Why is his SR so bad for such an intent player?


Open challenge. Please talk facts.
 
Can anti Babar brigade explain this?

1 Why Mohammad Harris is so pathetic that he averages 11 with SR of 118 against non minnows?
2 What has Fakhar done in 109 T20Is? Why is his SR so bad for such an intent player?


Open challenge. Please talk facts.
Looks like Babar and Rizwan’s numbers in the 2022 World Cup having playing over 50 T20s each
 
Looks like Babar and Rizwan’s numbers in the 2022 World Cup having playing over 50 T20s each
Come on bro, you are comparing one tournament (where Pak reached F and RizBar scored winning 50s in SF) to whole careers of Harris and Fakhar. So if even we accept RizBar were below average in that tournament we will need to accept that Fakhar and Harris have been mediocre or worse all their career.
 
After Pak (and Babar) get humiliated in 2026 WC by India and some minnow (Nepal/Italy etc) Rizwan/Shadab etc will return until they lose in 2028 and then Babar will return. So on and so forth.
 
Babar is " andho main kaana raja ". The half blind rules over the blind

The Pakistan middle order is way too brittle. Having Babar as anchor might help prevent the Asia Cup final like collapse

Pakistan is caught in a quandary. The big hitters ( Haris / Saim / Nawaz ) dont last long , the proper batters ( Babar / Rizwan ) are low on intent
 
You guys should question Agha's inclusion lol He has literally done nothing in T20 ever. He is like 32 now. In the Asia cup 7 matches 72 runs 12 average 80 strike rate.
 
No. If I were Babar, with the current form, I would have taken some time off and worked on my technique

South African commentators are not loke PAkistani. The don't just say "poorly played"
Shaun Pollock explained it perfectly yesterday. Babar's head is not following the ball. He is so talented that he still can score a few runs with this shortcoming but he can't play a long innings with this problem.

Cricket skills are very perishable. If you play after long intervals you use them. Best for him to play a long season of first class cricket and then return to the Pak team
 
They replaced Fakhar Zaman with Babar Azam.

Even his fan girls know how crazy that is, which is why they can’t even acknowledge it.

“Oh, it’s better than having Haris in the team”. lol
 
They replaced Fakhar Zaman with Babar Azam.

Even his fan girls know how crazy that is, which is why they can’t even acknowledge it.

“Oh, it’s better than having Haris in the team”. lol
Babar is miles better T20 batter than Fakhar. Can you find me 3 match-winning T20i innings for Fakhar? I can give you over a dozen for Babar.
 
Babar is miles better T20 batter than Fakhar. Can you find me 3 match-winning T20i innings for Fakhar? I can give you over a dozen for Babar.

I doubt he has over a dozen match winning innings in all formats combined, nvm just T20i innings. But go ahead and give me a dozen innings,(T20I, ODI and Tests combined).
 
While other players like abhishek, head, buttler etc are going in helicopters, babar will chase them on a rusty motorcycle waiting for his cover drives. Wow , its a die hard movie stuff.
 
Babar is miles better T20 batter than Fakhar. Can you find me 3 match-winning T20i innings for Fakhar? I can give you over a dozen for Babar.

Yeah now you will show performances vs C teams of England, Australia along with some Nepal knocks.
 
Babar has not done anything to make a comeback but selectors have selected him now. We have seen Salman as captain, saim stll in the squad after scoring 5 ducks in 6-7 games. So anything is possible... I am fine with this as well
 
Babar has not done anything to make a comeback but selectors have selected him now. We have seen Salman as captain, saim stll in the squad after scoring 5 ducks in 6-7 games. So anything is possible... I am fine with this as well
Bhai, why do your opinions keep changing and flopping like a fish?
 
Bhai, why do your opinions keep changing and flopping like a fish?
Bhai fact is fact... But if salman can be your captain, saim can keep his spot after multiple ducks game after game, then why not babar make a comeback???

You are changing goalpost here...NOT ME
 
Bhai fact is fact... But if salman can be your captain, saim can keep his spot after multiple ducks game after game, then why not babar make a comeback???

You are changing goalpost here...NOT ME

Multiple wrongs do not make a right lol. 🤣🤣. What a weird logic.
 
Multiple wrongs do not make a right lol. 🤣🤣. What a weird logic.
Wrongs are part of PCB... we accepted Salman and saim.. You accept Babar... AFTER ALL THIS IS PAKISTAN'S TEAM, NOT YOURS OR MINE..

we want them to win. SIMPLE
 
Wrongs are part of PCB... we accepted Salman and saim.. You accept Babar... AFTER ALL THIS IS PAKISTAN'S TEAM, NOT YOURS OR MINE..

we want them to win. SIMPLE
Caps locks ain't going to save you this time.

This post of yours is devoid of any rational thought and reasoning 🤣🤣🤣.

we accepted salman and saim, you accept babar 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

This has to be the funniest comment ive read all day.
 
Caps locks ain't going to save you this time.

This post of yours is devoid of any rational thought and reasoning 🤣🤣🤣.

we accepted salman and saim, you accept babar 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

This has to be the funniest comment ive read all day.
Enjoy
 
He cant even read any spinner from hand. Throwing wicket to club level spinners.
He should go and play a complete domestic season to regain his form

He has no confidence and looks like having weak reflexes
 
What did Babar do to deserve a comeback?

Usually when someone gets dropped, they’ll go back to domestic and try to earn their place back in the team. Did Babar do this?
Babar worked very hard with his PR and journalists to put pressure on the current team and management. Hard work.
 
Babar worked very hard with his PR and journalists to put pressure on the current team and management. Hard work.

They better be blow torching those T20 pitches. Put 10 fans all round the pitches. Get Lala doing some Samba on the middle with his spikes.

Then we’ll see how those majestic cover drives look.
 
They better be blow torching those T20 pitches. Put 10 fans all round the pitches. Get Lala doing some Samba on the middle with his spikes.

Then we’ll see how those majestic cover drives look.
Rest assured, the beautiful cover drive once every 5-6 overs will save Pakistan when the RQ run rate has crept up to 12!
 
I doubt he has over a dozen match winning innings in all formats combined, nvm just T20i innings. But go ahead and give me a dozen innings,(T20I, ODI and Tests combined).
Let me help you clear your doubts since you don't watch cricket.

1. Stood firm in a D/L chase against SA at around 30* something - CT '17

2. Stood notout in the SF against Eng around 40* something - CT '17

3. Scored a vital 46 and played accumulator's role to its best in his first ever major final - CT '17

4. Scored 65 against ENG after coming from back from the thrashing WI gave us - WC '19

5. Scored 69 against SA in WC '19

6. Scored undefeated 102* against NZ on a very tricky pitch and a must win game - WC '19

7. Scored run a ball 47 against afghanistan in a must win game - WC '19

8. Scored run a ball 96 in a must win game against BD - WC '19

9. Scored undefeated 69* against india in our first WC win over them - T20 WC '21

10. Scored a matchwinning 50 against afghani spin on a turning track of Sharjah - T20 WC '21

11. Scored 195 against Australia to save a test match. (only naming it because Wisden added it into top 5 match-saving innings ever in the history of cricket)

12. Scored 54 in a WC SF - T20 WC' 22

13. Anchored Fakhar in the 402 run chase against NZ in WC '23

14. Scored ton vs Australia on 70 balls in our highest ever run chase in ODI history

15. Scored back to back tons against Australia to win an ODI series against Australia after 30 years.

16. His first test ton vs NZ 2018 - Match winning.

17. Match winning Ton against SL in Karachi 2019

18. Match winning ton in galle 2022 where he partnered with Naseem for the 10th wicket.

There are several innings that I must have forgotten here but Babar's legacy will live forever.
 
Babar should play aggressive cricket if he wants to stay in the team for long or else it would be curtains after T20 World Cup 2026.
 
Pak cricket is the longest running musical chairs game in history. Same faces, sometimes they miss out on the chair- no worries next round they will make it
:ba
:kakmal

Zero confidence in future talent so they keep going back to TTFs… sorry to say but that is what Babz is in t20s
 
I would've had no problem if he returned in place of Salman agha. But they've retained him and added Babar 🤡 🤡
 
I dont see troubles being solved anytime if we continue repeating same stuff
 
Let me help you clear your doubts since you don't watch cricket.

1. Stood firm in a D/L chase against SA at around 30* something - CT '17

2. Stood notout in the SF against Eng around 40* something - CT '17

3. Scored a vital 46 and played accumulator's role to its best in his first ever major final - CT '17

4. Scored 65 against ENG after coming from back from the thrashing WI gave us - WC '19

5. Scored 69 against SA in WC '19

6. Scored undefeated 102* against NZ on a very tricky pitch and a must win game - WC '19

7. Scored run a ball 47 against afghanistan in a must win game - WC '19

8. Scored run a ball 96 in a must win game against BD - WC '19

9. Scored undefeated 69* against india in our first WC win over them - T20 WC '21

10. Scored a matchwinning 50 against afghani spin on a turning track of Sharjah - T20 WC '21

11. Scored 195 against Australia to save a test match. (only naming it because Wisden added it into top 5 match-saving innings ever in the history of cricket)

12. Scored 54 in a WC SF - T20 WC' 22

13. Anchored Fakhar in the 402 run chase against NZ in WC '23

14. Scored ton vs Australia on 70 balls in our highest ever run chase in ODI history

15. Scored back to back tons against Australia to win an ODI series against Australia after 30 years.

16. His first test ton vs NZ 2018 - Match winning.

17. Match winning Ton against SL in Karachi 2019

18. Match winning ton in galle 2022 where he partnered with Naseem for the 10th wicket.

There are several innings that I must have forgotten here but Babar's legacy will live forever.
You know you are scraping the bottom of the barrel if you are counting 50s in 'match-winning' performances.

Most of them were just support innings anyway where Babar needed someone else to stand up and finish off the game, so this list is a big joke.
 
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Babar is a very decent player.

The issue isn't so much about his inclusion to the T20 squad but more about the lack of decent batsman in the country.

They are 2 separate conversations which although are intrinsically linked are not exclusive
 
Babar is the right inclusion, but he replaced the wrong person.

Babar should have replaced Salman Ali Agha - who is a NOTHING white ball cricketer. And he's the freaking captain!

This will cost Pakistan massively. Agha has absolutely no place in the T20 team and Fakhar should have been retained.
 
Ooh I just saw babar saw a great net session of Babar’s attempt at power hitting. Very uninspiring and against lollipop throwdowns.

Ain’t your thing dude, just give it up
 
You know you are scraping the bottom of the barrel if you are counting 50s in 'match-winning' performances.

Most of them were just support innings anyway where Babar needed someone else to stand up and finish off the game, so this list is a big joke.
A 50 can be as valuable as a 100 depending on the context of the game. You surely don't understand cricket at all.
 
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I can give you over a dozen match losing, selfish stat padding, mediocre minnow bashing innings for Babar, if you like?
Babar has the 2nd most POTM awards in T20is only behind Rizwan. I know it is gonna hurt you a lot. Even if you can give birth to those dozen match losing innings that you're imagining, it doesn't make 1 match winning inning from Fakhar. :)
 
Babar is the right inclusion, but he replaced the wrong person.

Babar should have replaced Salman Ali Agha - who is a NOTHING white ball cricketer. And he's the freaking captain!

This will cost Pakistan massively. Agha has absolutely no place in the T20 team and Fakhar should have been retained.
Agreed.
 
Babar will do well if he can get cushion from Farhan, Saim.

Can he return an average 40-45 runs at 130 SR? Remains to be seen.
 
Lets hope Babar comes back a better player and has a good run
 
Anyway Babar is included and he will be playing in T20 matches. One possibility is definitely there. Babar will become the highest run getter in T20 internationals. Isn't it a happy moment? The highest run getter in one format of cricket is from Pakistan.
 
Can anti Babar brigade explain this?

1 Why Mohammad Harris is so pathetic that he averages 11 with SR of 118 against non minnows?
2 What has Fakhar done in 109 T20Is? Why is his SR so bad for such an intent player?


Open challenge. Please talk facts.
Haris was always going to be bad. I’m not really surprised. I thought he’d be better with the gloves than he was though. Usman has a far higher chance of doing better given he actually did dominate/was the best performer in PSLs and domestic both average and SR. Haris didn’t really impress me even in domestic. I do think Usman is more suited opening in t20s though and of course no guarantee he will perform. But a higher chance than Haris I feel. And Usman hasn’t been given a proper long run in a settled position yet.

Fakhar is a bad player in t20s, who probably would have had a better career had he batted down the order at 4 or 5 most of his career. He was wasted trying to either open or play him at no.3. However it’s probably time we move on from him.

At 3 there has been no one that’s shown to be reliable to glue this fragile line up together filled with unreliable batsmen who have a potential to strike quicker. In fact at no.3 we’ve rarely ever had good batsmen ever. Babar coming in doing a job at 3, provided he can do what he has done in the past at 3 would be an asset to the team.

However I think Babar should only play at no.3 now. Farhan actually has shown greater ability to hit boundaries even if his sr has been weighed down a bit by poor rotation of strike. I feel it actually aids the aggressive openers strategy if there is someone reliable at 3. Too many times in Asia cup, once one of the openers fall, we’d have someone unreliable like Haris etc. at 3 and they’d just run through the order.

Personally I’d like Farhan and Usman to open, Babar at 3. Don’t think it’ll happen as they’ll try and fit Saim in as opener.
 
I thought Pakistan would benefit from his absence but the talent void is so big that it didn’t help.

Questions should be raised about Aghas inclusion not Babars. Babar is thrice the t20 player.
 
Haris was always going to be bad. I’m not really surprised. I thought he’d be better with the gloves than he was though. Usman has a far higher chance of doing better given he actually did dominate/was the best performer in PSLs and domestic both average and SR. Haris didn’t really impress me even in domestic. I do think Usman is more suited opening in t20s though and of course no guarantee he will perform. But a higher chance than Haris I feel. And Usman hasn’t been given a proper long run in a settled position yet.

Fakhar is a bad player in t20s, who probably would have had a better career had he batted down the order at 4 or 5 most of his career. He was wasted trying to either open or play him at no.3. However it’s probably time we move on from him.

At 3 there has been no one that’s shown to be reliable to glue this fragile line up together filled with unreliable batsmen who have a potential to strike quicker. In fact at no.3 we’ve rarely ever had good batsmen ever. Babar coming in doing a job at 3, provided he can do what he has done in the past at 3 would be an asset to the team.

However I think Babar should only play at no.3 now. Farhan actually has shown greater ability to hit boundaries even if his sr has been weighed down a bit by poor rotation of strike. I feel it actually aids the aggressive openers strategy if there is someone reliable at 3. Too many times in Asia cup, once one of the openers fall, we’d have someone unreliable like Haris etc. at 3 and they’d just run through the order.

Personally I’d like Farhan and Usman to open, Babar at 3. Don’t think it’ll happen as they’ll try and fit Saim in as opener.

Fakhar after 109 T20s has same stats as Babar. I would say worse stats than him but people here are doing Bhnagra and trying to portray that Fakhar has won us many world cups and asia cups at 200+ strike rate.,...

BTW, fakhar has not been dropped, he is in reserves and will most probably will return in next series.

Haris is without any doubts one of the most crap players that has played more than 20-30 games.... zero game awareness, non-sense shot selections and ordinary keeper.
 
A 50 can be as valuable as a 100 depending on the context of the game. You surely don't understand cricket at all.
You fanboys claim he is some world-class superstar, then you end up counting his 30s, 40s and 50s as match-winning and crucial knocks.

What rubbish? When have you seen other world-class players being judged by such contributions?

Kohli was said to have declined horribly in the past few years, but he has played a million of these knocks you just listed in your post.
 
A 50 can be as valuable as a 100 depending on the context of the game. You surely don't understand cricket at all.
You fanboys claim he is some world-class superstar, then you end up counting his 30s, 40s and 50s as match-winning and crucial knocks.

What rubbish? When have you seen other world-class players being judged by such contributions?

Kohli was said to have declined horribly in the past few years, but he has played a million of these knocks you just listed in your post.
 
expecting Pakistan to rack up 240 if they bat first with Babar in the team now.
 
He is back on ex players and journalists pressure, and public interest most likely not on performance or merit. People still love babar on his past performances and odi performances.
 
Let me help you clear your doubts since you don't watch cricket.

1. Stood firm in a D/L chase against SA at around 30* something - CT '17

2. Stood notout in the SF against Eng around 40* something - CT '17

3. Scored a vital 46 and played accumulator's role to its best in his first ever major final - CT '17

4. Scored 65 against ENG after coming from back from the thrashing WI gave us - WC '19

5. Scored 69 against SA in WC '19

6. Scored undefeated 102* against NZ on a very tricky pitch and a must win game - WC '19

7. Scored run a ball 47 against afghanistan in a must win game - WC '19

8. Scored run a ball 96 in a must win game against BD - WC '19

9. Scored undefeated 69* against india in our first WC win over them - T20 WC '21

10. Scored a matchwinning 50 against afghani spin on a turning track of Sharjah - T20 WC '21

11. Scored 195 against Australia to save a test match. (only naming it because Wisden added it into top 5 match-saving innings ever in the history of cricket)

12. Scored 54 in a WC SF - T20 WC' 22

13. Anchored Fakhar in the 402 run chase against NZ in WC '23

14. Scored ton vs Australia on 70 balls in our highest ever run chase in ODI history

15. Scored back to back tons against Australia to win an ODI series against Australia after 30 years.

16. His first test ton vs NZ 2018 - Match winning.

17. Match winning Ton against SL in Karachi 2019

18. Match winning ton in galle 2022 where he partnered with Naseem for the 10th wicket.

There are several innings that I must have forgotten here but Babar's legacy will live forever.
Someone please open the scorecards of these games and see, in how many of these, someone else had to play a blinder from the middle or lower order to win the game for Pak.

I do not think we'll have even 5 games where Babar would have played a solo match winnings knock.
 
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