The main issue in the middle overs is intent. Pakistan often slows down too much against spin, and Babar’s natural game is about control and timing, not forcing the pace. When he is in the middle overs, the run rate can drop, which puts pressure on the batters around him.
Against quality spin in T20s, Babar tends to play safely. He rotates strike, but he doesn’t consistently dominate spinners or clear the boundary. His struggles against spin are well documented and in modern T20 cricket, middle-order players are expected to attack spin, not just survive it.
Pakistan still needs someone who can take risks against spin. Babar’s presence actually delays that aggression because the team ends up protecting his wicket instead of pushing the game forward.