T20 World Cup: Form aside, Babar Azam doesn't fit in Pakistan's T20I setup. Here's why

T20 World Cup: Babar Azam scored 15 runs off 18 balls at No.4 against the Netherlands. Pakistan managed to win the match by three wickets, but the bigger question remains: is Babar suited for a strong middle-order role in T20Is?

During Pakistan’s T20 World Cup clash against the Netherlands, Wasim Akram issued a clear warning on commentary: Babar Azam needed to speed up or risk putting the team under pressure.

On paper, Pakistan were well-placed - 50 runs needed from 53 balls with seven wickets in hand. It should have been straightforward. Instead, the No.4 batter in the team, Babar scored 15 off 18 balls before getting out, and the pressure quickly shifted to the rest of the batting line-up.

Akram’s concerns soon became reality. Pakistan dug a big hole for themselves, needing 29 runs from the final two overs. A late burst from Faheem Ashraf eventually got them over the line.

Babar’s knock at No.4 raised uncomfortable questions. Does Pakistan’s ex-captain still fit into the T20I setup? Beyond a dip in form, is it time for the team management to make a tough call on a player they have long relied on?

Let’s be clear: Babar Azam is not a No.4 batter. Among all the positions he has batted in T20Is, his average at No.4 is the lowest and his strike rate the second-lowest - numbers that are hard to ignore. This naturally raises the question: can he be moved back into the top three, where he has traditionally performed better?

In Pakistan’s current setup, that isn’t an option. Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan are in excellent form at the top, and there’s no reason to break that partnership. What about No.3? That would mean Salman Agha making way - which seems unlikely. Promoted recently to the position, Agha has firmly owned the position, scoring 309 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 167.02, numbers that he had never had in his T20I career before.