In the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam found himself under scrutiny after his performance in the match against the USA. Despite scoring 44 runs off 43 balls, Babar faced criticism from renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle and former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan. Their comments have sparked a debate in the cricketing world, questioning the effectiveness and rhythm of Babar’s innings.
Match Overview
The match took place at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, where Pakistan set a target of 160 runs for the USA. The game featured a mix of early struggles and recovery efforts from the Pakistani team, largely led by Babar Azam and Shadab Khan.
Early Struggles for Pakistan
Pakistan’s innings got off to a rocky start. The USA bowlers capitalized on the conditions and managed to dismiss the top-order batsmen – Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, and Fakhar Zaman – with the score at just 26 runs. This early collapse put immense pressure on the Pakistani side.
Babar Azam’s Controversial Knock
Babar Azam, known for his consistent performance, played an uncharacteristically slow innings. His 44 runs off 43 balls, with a strike rate of 102.32, included two sixes and three fours but also featured 19 dot balls. This cautious approach drew criticism for not being impactful enough to boost the team’s total significantly.
Criticism from Harsha Bhogle
Harsha Bhogle, a well-respected commentator, noted that Babar seemed out of rhythm on a good batting surface. In his post-match analysis, Bhogle remarked, “I have seen Babar Azam play many fine innings. This 44(43) won’t be among them. On a decent surface, he looked strangely out of rhythm.” Bhogle’s comments highlighted that Babar’s usual fluency and effectiveness were missing in this match.
Irfan Pathan’s Perspective
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan also shared his thoughts on social media, expressing concern over Babar’s innings. Pathan tweeted, “On a fairly decent batting condition as a captain if you are playing 40+ ball innings with 100 strike rate. You aren’t helping your team cause.” Pathan emphasized that Babar’s slow scoring rate didn’t serve the team’s interests well in a T20 match, where a higher strike rate is crucial.
Partnership with Shadab Khan
Despite the early setbacks, Babar Azam and Shadab Khan formed a critical partnership, adding 72 runs to the total. Shadab’s aggressive 40 runs off 25 balls played a significant role in stabilizing the innings and giving Pakistan a fighting chance. However, after Shadab’s dismissal, the team struggled to maintain momentum.
Lower-Order Contributions
Following Shadab’s exit, Azam Khan was dismissed for a golden duck, and the wickets continued to fall. Nevertheless, Shaheen Afridi’s quick 23 runs off 16 balls were vital in pushing the score to 159-7 in the allocated overs. Afridi’s contribution provided the much-needed boost to Pakistan’s total, setting a competitive target for the USA.
Implications of the Criticism
The critiques from Bhogle and Pathan underline the high expectations placed on top players like Babar Azam, especially in crucial tournaments like the T20 World Cup. While Babar’s innings was essential in preventing a complete collapse, the criticisms emphasize the importance of maintaining a high strike rate and more aggressive play in the T20 format.