Pakistan Cricket is never short of drama, and the past few weeks have been no exception. There’s been no shortage of headlines from Mohsin Naqvi’s statement and the team’s training with the Army in Kakul to Babar Azam reclaiming the captaincy. As always, Babar finds himself at the center of it all. But today, we’re setting aside discussions about his captaincy to focus on another hotly debated topic: the batting position of Pakistan’s newly appointed T20 captain. Where should King Babar slot himself in T20Is?
Versatility and Capabilities Far Superior to Any Other Player
Babar has been exceptional in the shortest format. One area of his batting that was once criticized heavily was his strike rate. However, he has significantly improved in this aspect. He has elevated his game to another level, putting all strike rate debates to rest for the time being. Now, some might argue, ‘Why not Rizwan?’ After all, Babar has a T20 strike rate of 134.50 in 2024 so far, compared to Rizwan’s 117.36. However, I believe Babar is much more suited to batting and performing at number three in T20s than Rizwan or any other player in the Pakistani circuit.
I believe that the number three position is the most crucial batting slot in T20 cricket, even more so than the opening or the middle order. The reason is simple: this position demands a lot of adaptability from the batsmen. Only players who are versatile and not one-dimensional can truly excel here. This is why Babar is a better option than anyone else. With six overs of the powerplay, the opening becomes somewhat easier. I’m not saying opening doesn’t require skill, but compared to batting at number three, it’s relatively simpler due to the fielding restrictions.
Babar Azam has played a total of 57 innings at the number three position, scoring 1,924 runs at a solid average of 41.82 and a strike rate of 123.33. In international cricket, in the same position, he has smoked 903 runs in 24 innings at an average of 47.53 and a strike rate of 127.54. While the strike rate might not seem as impressive as one might hope, it’s still quite solid. In the recent Pak vs NZ series, he scored 213 runs at a strike rate of 142 in five games, highlighting the improvements in his game.
Pakistan has tried various players at the number three slot in recent years, including the likes of Fakhar Zaman and Shan Masood. However, nobody seems to offer the stability and consistency that Babar provides. Moving on to another solid reason why these players don’t offer that stability: the team has many natural openers but lacks proper players like Babar Azam, who can adapt their batting style both traditionally and to meet modern-day game demands.
Abundance of Natural Openers in the Squad
Despite Rizwan and Babar Azam opening for the last three to four years, the Pakistan squad has consistently been filled with natural openers during this period. Even now, the men in green have several openers in the team. Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Khan are all natural openers who typically bat at the top for their domestic and franchise teams.
For such players, adjusting to a different batting position can be challenging, leading to struggles like we’ve seen with Fakhar Zaman over the years. He averages only 22 with a strike rate of 117 for Pakistan at the number three position. Instead of forcing these players to adapt to a specific position, why not have Babar bat at number three, where he can undoubtedly perform better than any of these options?
The Way Babar Azam Builds the Innings and Finishes Off Things
One of Babar Azam’s greatest qualities is his ability to build an inning and then accelerate explosively towards the end. This approach reminds me of Virat Kohli. Like Kohli, Babar also possesses the ability to play innings like Kohli in MCG and Mohali. In my opinion, no one in Pakistan cricket builds an innings better than Babar. Batting at number three would allow him to play deep into the innings more often. If one of the openers falls early, Babar can provide the kind of starts he gave to Peshawar in the recently concluded PSL. Rizwan could then play the anchor role.
However, if I had to choose between Babar and Rizwan to play the anchor role and bat deep, I’d pick Babar. His power-hitting is more versatile than Rizwan’s, who tends to be a one-dimensional, predominantly leg-side hitter. Babar can hit fast bowlers like Sam Curran for sixes straight down the ground, dispatch bowlers like Matt Henry over cover, take on bowlers like Jofra Archer through point, or uppercut deliveries from Trent Boult over third man. He can also advance against spinners, hook or pull pacers—Babar’s batting repertoire is incredibly diverse.
Moreover, Babar Azam has added unorthodox shots and new dimensions to his game, making him one of the most destructive batters in the lineup. Since 2020, Babar’s T20 strike rate in the death overs stands at an impressive 176.35, which is better than any other player in Pakistan, including powerhouses like Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, and Iftikhar Ahmed.
In conclusion, Babar Azam stands out as Pakistan’s most talented and capable T20 batter. While some may argue this point, Babar’s range and versatility as a batsman set him apart not just in Pakistan but globally. Few can match his skills, making him the best in the game. Regardless of the position he plays, one thing is certain: the upcoming T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean will be crucial for this star batsman. We’d love to hear where you think Babar should bat in the upcoming series. Considering the World Cup will be held in the Caribbean, Babar’s anchor role and ability to build innings will undoubtedly be key factors.
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Aun covers many sports at Total Apex Sports and has been a passionate viewer of cricket, WWE, and soccer for as long as he can remember. With his versatile abilities, he can write and focus on various sports. So, if you enjoyed his article, you can give him a follow on Twitter and Medium.
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