Babar Azam endured a difficult outing in Pakistan’s recent Super 8 clash against England cricket team on Wednesday, registering the lowest strike rate by a batter in T20 World Cup history. Batting at No. 4, he managed 25 off 24 deliveries, including two boundaries. His overall strike rate in the tournament has now dipped to 111.5 — the lowest recorded in the competition.
Despite the numbers, former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has handled the situation astutely.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Vaughan suggested that Babar remains undroppable due to internal dynamics and is being strategically deployed as what he termed an “insurance policy.”
“I admire overseas coaches that go and coach in Pakistan because I can only imagine what’s going on,” Vaughan said. “Mike Hesson has dealt with it brilliantly because he clearly has to play Babar Azam, and he’s using him as an insurance policy. If you lose two wickets, he’s the stabiliser at No. 4.”
Vaughan added that Babar’s style is particularly suited to conditions in Sri Lanka, where scores in the tournament have typically ranged between 150 and 180.
“In Sri Lanka, he’s perfect for those wickets. If the par score is around 160-170, Babar can get you there,” Vaughan noted. “But on a 200 or 210 pitch, I don’t think he’s that kind of player anymore.”
He further argued that while the approach may not maximise Pakistan’s chances of winning the World Cup outright, it reflects smart management of team realities. Referring to conditions in Pallekele, Vaughan said he would still want a player like Babar in the middle order to anchor the innings against spin, even if he strikes at 125-130, provided others contribute quick cameos.
Vaughan also acknowledged the challenges of coaching in Pakistan, revealing he had spoken extensively with Jason Gillespie about the complexities involved. “I think Hesson and the management have dealt with it perfectly,” he added.
Statistically, Babar’s overall T20 World Cup strike rate of 111.5 is now lower than that of Mohammad Hafeez (111.8), Kumar Sangakkara (112.2) and Kane Williamson (112.5).
Across 23 T20 World Cup matches, he has scored 640 runs at an average of 33.68, including five half-centuries. In the ongoing edition, he has accumulated 91 runs in six matches at an average of 22.75.
