‘Strike Rate Below 100’: Mike Hesson clears the air around Babar Azam’s batting position ahead of the NZ clash

Colombo: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has made a candid assessment of Babar Azam, revealing that the former captain’s strike rate in the powerplay is below 100 — a key reason behind his demotion in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan secured their Super 8 qualification with a win over Namibia, but it raised eyebrows when Babar did not come out to bat. Instead, Khawaja Nafay and Shadab Khan were promoted up the order, while Babar remained sidelined throughout the innings.

Addressing the decision ahead of Pakistan’s Super 8 opener against New Zealand national cricket team, Hesson was blunt in his explanation.

“Babar is well aware of that. I think he’s well aware (his) strike rate in the powerplay in World Cups is less than 100 in T20s. So clearly, that’s not a role that we think here we need. We think he’s a fine player through the middle, if required, in terms of if we’re in a little bit of trouble,” Hesson said during his press conference.

The remarks come amid mounting scrutiny of Babar’s role in Pakistan’s T20 setup. The 31-year-old has struggled for fluency throughout the tournament, scoring just 66 runs at a strike rate of 115.78. A significant portion of those runs came during his 46-run knock against the USA, while he endured disappointing outings against the Netherlands and arch-rivals India.

Criticism intensified following Pakistan’s heavy 61-run defeat to India in Colombo, where Babar once again failed to anchor the innings effectively.

Despite being left out of the Asia Cup 2025 and briefly dropped from the T20 side, Babar was recalled to the squad. Hesson defended his inclusion but clarified that the team now views him as a middle-overs stabiliser rather than a powerplay aggressor.

“He’s someone who, once set, can raise his strike rate. He’s a player we look to in crisis situations,” Hesson added.

In the Namibia fixture, however, Pakistan never required that rescue act. Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan batted through the 20 overs, leaving Babar without an opportunity.

With Pakistan set to face New Zealand in a high-stakes Super 8 encounter, the spotlight remains firmly on Babar Azam — not just for his place in the XI, but for the role he will be asked to play in Pakistan’s evolving T20 strategy.