Azhar Mahmood: “The problem for Babar Azam was what was demanded from him. He was forced to bat at number four in the World Cup for his low strike-rate”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has claimed that Babar Azam was forced to bat at number four during the 2026 T20 World Cup due to his low strike-rate.
Azam has been Pakistan’s go-to opener in the shortest format, but losing his spot at the top of the order and placed at number three.
However, the 31-year-old was demoted down to the number four spot, a position that may not have suited his batting style.
“The problem for Babar Azam was what was demanded from him. He was forced to bat at number four in the World Cup for his low strike-rate,” Mahmood was quoted as saying by journalist Saj Sadiq on X.
Azam recently captained Pakistan in their three-Test series against England and scored 97 runs in two matches, which included a top score of 76, at an average of 24.25.
He then returned to first-class cricket for the first time in seven years as he represented Oil & Gas Development Company Limited in two President’s Trophy Grade-I games, where he struck 58 runs at an average of 14.50.
Azam was not picked for Pakistan’s ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka, but is set to be back in action very soon as he was selected for the upcoming ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England, which will be held from October 18 to 31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Pakistan’s Squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Moqim
Pakistan’s Squad for the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Moqim