Dropped Babar Azam, and Pakistan Is Doing Wonders Against Sri Lanka

When Babar Azam was dropped from Pakistan’s T20I squad, several critics questioned the decision. However, just two matches against Sri Lanka have made that controversial call look like a masterstroke. Pakistan are playing aggressive cricket, their young batters are delivering outstanding performances, and the team looks far more dangerous than before.

So, was Babar Azam really holding Pakistan back?

Looking at Pakistan’s performances against Sri Lanka, the question certainly deserves attention. The team management’s decision to move beyond Babar has opened the door for young talent, and Maaz Sadaqat is making the most of that opportunity.

Was Babar Azam’s Slow Batting Hurting Pakistan?

Babar Azam has often faced criticism for his strike rate in T20 cricket. While he can build an innings and score consistently, his approach has not always matched the demands of modern T20 cricket.

Today, teams expect their top-order batters to attack from the beginning and score at strike rates of 180–200 whenever conditions allow. However, Babar has frequently played innings at strike rates around 120–130.

The problem with such an approach is the pressure it creates on other batters.

When a top-order player consumes too many deliveries without accelerating, the remaining batters are forced to take greater risks. Instead of playing their natural game, they have to compensate for the slower scoring rate.

This is where Pakistan appear to have benefited from their latest selection decisions. Rather than depending on a senior batter to anchor the innings, they are allowing aggressive players to attack freely.

Maaz Sadaqat Proves Why Pakistan Needed a Change

Maaz Sadaqat has been one of the biggest revelations for Pakistan in this series.

After scoring an impressive half-century in the opening T20I, the young batter produced an even better performance in the second match.

He smashed 96 runs off just 51 balls, including six fours and seven sixes, helping Pakistan post a massive total of 215/3.

His fearless batting demonstrated exactly what Pakistan had been missing in their T20 approach.

Had Babar played a more conventional innings of 60–70 runs from the same 51 deliveries, Pakistan could have finished with a considerably smaller total. Instead, Sadaqat’s attacking approach helped push the score beyond 200 and put Sri Lanka under pressure.

Sadaqat had already demonstrated his hitting ability in franchise cricket, including the CPL. However, with established senior players occupying important batting positions, opportunities at the international level were limited.

Now that he has received his chance, he is proving that Pakistan have another highly talented T20 batter available.

Pakistan’s Aggressive Batting Is Making the Difference

Pakistan’s batting performance against Sri Lanka has also highlighted the importance of having the right combination.

Sahibzada Farhan has continued to perform well on batting-friendly surfaces. He scored 73 off 44 deliveries in the second T20I and played an important role in helping Pakistan build a formidable total.

However, Sadaqat has been the standout discovery.

His ability to hit boundaries regularly allows Pakistan to maintain a high scoring rate without placing unnecessary pressure on the remaining batters.

Instead of entering the second innings with a manageable target, Sri Lanka found themselves chasing 216 runs.

That difference is significant in T20 cricket, where an additional 20–30 runs can completely change the pressure on the chasing side.

Pakistan’s New Bowling Attack Is Also Delivering

Pakistan’s improvement is not limited to batting. Their bowling combination has also looked impressive against Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Imran Randhawa has emerged as another valuable addition. After an economical spell in the opening match, where he picked up two wickets for 21 runs, he continued his impressive form by claiming three wickets in the second T20I.

Naseem Shah has also provided control with his disciplined bowling, while Salman Mirza has strengthened the pace attack.

In the past, bowlers such as Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi have sometimes struggled to control the flow of runs. However, Pakistan’s current combination has been more effective at maintaining pressure on opposition batters.

That was evident in the second T20I, where Sri Lanka managed only 133/7 while chasing 216, handing Pakistan a massive 82-run victory.

Pakistan’s Selection Decisions Are Finally Paying Off

Pakistan’s decision to leave Babar Azam out of the T20I squad initially attracted criticism, but the early results have given the team management plenty of reasons to feel confident.

The biggest benefit has been the emergence of Maaz Sadaqat, who has delivered two outstanding performances in his first two matches of the series.

With Farhan leading the batting unit and bowlers like Imran Randhawa and Naseem Shah performing consistently, Pakistan have found a combination that is producing results.

Two matches are not enough to establish that Babar Azam alone was responsible for Pakistan’s earlier struggles. However, they have certainly strengthened the argument that Pakistan needed a more aggressive approach and fresh players in their T20 setup.