Former South Africa player Faf du Plessis has endorsed Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson’s choice not to have Babar Azam bat in the top order during the current T20 World Cup. Babar’s performance in the tournament has been underwhelming, with only 66 runs in four matches at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 115.78. Consequently, Babar, who previously opened the innings, now finds himself batting at No. 4 or 5.
Du Plessis acknowledged the need for players to adapt in T20 cricket, emphasizing the importance of strike rates in the modern powerplay game. He highlighted that Babar’s strike rate has lagged behind the evolving demands of the game, suggesting that a rate of 160-200+ is now essential during the initial overs to optimize scoring opportunities.
While Du Plessis believes Babar has a valuable role to play, particularly on spinning pitches where he can reduce dot balls and rotate strike effectively, he also stressed the necessity for more aggressive batting at the top order on flat wickets, especially when chasing formidable totals exceeding 200 runs. The former South African captain commended Hesson’s strategic approach in utilizing Babar’s strengths based on pitch conditions.
Babar Azam is set to feature in Pakistan’s upcoming match against England at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday, following a rain-affected first Super 8s encounter against New Zealand.
