Pakistan’s dominant outing against Namibia should have been all about their explosive batting display. Instead, much of the spotlight fell on one man who never even walked out to bat — Babar Azam.
In a surprising move, Babar Azam did not come in at his usual No. 4 position. Khawaja Nafay and Shadab Khan were promoted to bat at No. 4 and 5, respectively, and this move appeared to be correct as Shadab and Sahibzada Farhan powered Pakistan to a massive total of 199 runs.
Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the most reliable run-scorers of Pakistan, has been going through a rough patch in this T20 World Cup. Fans across X and other social media platforms have openly expressed disappointment, wondering why he hasn’t been able to deliver a significant performance despite multiple opportunities earlier in the tournament.
He was originally slotted in at No. 4 to provide stability, someone who could anchor the innings and steady things if early wickets fell, an issue Pakistan has struggled with in the past. However, in matches against the Netherlands and India, Babar couldn’t play that anchoring role as the batting lineup faltered.
In the crucial game against Namibia, Pakistan got off to a brisk start. After captain Salman Ali Agha was dismissed in the 13th over, many expected Babar Azam to walk in. Instead, team management, including head coach Mike Hesson and Salman Ali Agha, chose to send in more aggressive Khawaja Nafay. Even after Khawaja Nafay managed just five runs, Babar Azam remained in the dugout, with Shadab Khan joining Sahibzada Farhan in the middle.
Social media quickly turned the situation into a meme fest. Some users joked that even his own team didn’t send him in, while others felt it was humiliating for a player going through a tough phase, especially in a match where he had a chance to regain confidence.
Here are some selected reactions:
https://x.com/CrickPanchayat/status/2024086508781584823
https://x.com/Ashsay_/status/2024076917985652931
https://x.com/MuzamilChang/status/2024185172095357224
https://x.com/ICCAsiaCrickett/status/2024076425968386463
https://x.com/Meerab_Love/status/2024126818866065499
https://x.com/kingbobbylover/status/2024077519864078806
https://x.com/GullyGavaskar/status/2024322796567048681
https://x.com/fakhruddin35/status/2024180506989105597
https://x.com/penduProduction/status/2024086630622003415
https://x.com/IamSalayha/status/2024125878192443831
Whether tactical or symbolic, Babar Azam’s absence from the crease became the biggest talking point of the night. What is your take on this matter? Do let us know.
