Echoing Pakistan coach Mike Hassen’s controversial stance, Faf du Plessis has critiqued Babar Azam’s strike rate, attributing it to T20 cricket’s explosive growth. The South African stalwart’s ESPNcricinfo insights shed light on why the move from opener to number four was inevitable.
In the World Cup, Babar’s form has cratered—66 runs from key innings at 22 average. His traditional opening role yielded to tactical shifts, with Hassen citing powerplay inadequacies.
Du Plessis put it plainly: ‘We’ve admired Babar forever, but the game’s strike-rate obsession has left him trailing. Around 120 isn’t cutting it when powerplays hit 160-200.’
He remained optimistic: ‘Babar’s spot is secure; he’s masterful on spin pitches and rotates strike like few others.’ Contradictorily, his spinner struggles persist, intensifying scrutiny.
Pakistan’s World Cup journey amplifies these tensions. Du Plessis’s support for Hassen underscores a broader truth: T20 rewards reinvention. Babar’s path forward demands bold changes to reclaim dominance.