Has Babar Azam played his last T20I for Pakistan?
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Dropped for the decisive clash against Sri Lanka and struggling for impact, Babar Azam’s position faces uncertainty.
Pakistan were knocked out of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 even after their thrilling victory against Sri Lanka. Despite being a high-stakes clash, Babar Azam was the talking point of the town during the SL vs Pak match as he was left out by the Pakistan team management on Saturday.
Even after Babar Azam’s exclusion from the playing XI, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 5 runs. This victory was not enough for Pakistan to stay in the tournament.Led by Salman Agha, the team needed to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or more to stay in the tournament.
Babar Azam’s T20I future under serious threat as PCB considers sweeping changes
After being left out of the team, questions are raised on Babar Azam’s future in Pakistan’s T20I setup. According to the Times of India, PCB president is likely to make a major overhaul after Pakistan were knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2026.
“Naqvi is not happy at all because this time he was assured by the selectors, team management and his close aides in the board that the team was set to do well in the World Cup,” the source said.
According to the source, Naqvi will have open talks on Salman Ali Agha’s T20I captaincy and will have open some players’ futures with head coach Mike Hesson and the selectors. Naqvi is set to lay focus on integrating young players in the national team setup, adjusting to modern cricket.
“Salman, Babar Azam, Usman Khan and a few others will probably see curtains on their T20 international career after the World Cup,” the source said.
The likes of Shadab Khan and ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi are under consideration for the T20I captaincy.
The top run scorer in T20 internationals, Babar Azam, has had trouble performing well in the competition. In four innings, he has amassed 91 runs at a strike rate of 122.34 and an average of 22.75. The top score by Babar in the competition was 46 against the USA.
Babar was criticised by fellow teammate Shaheen Shah Afridi in the post match press conference against England. His knock of 25 runs off 24 balls slowed down Pakistan’s innings in the middle overs. This was followed by Babar being dropped against co-hosts Sri Lanka.
With Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign over, it remains to be seen how this development unfolds in the coming weeks.
Why was Babar Azam dropped against Sri Lanka?
He was left out due to poor form and team management’s tactical decision in a must-win clash.
How did Babar Azam perform in T20 World Cup 2026?
He scored 91 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 122.34 and an average of 22.75.
Is PCB planning changes after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit?
Yes, reports suggest PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is considering a major overhaul of the T20I setup.
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Vishwajit Sawant is a sports content writer with two years of experience who believes in writing that feels honest, simple, and easy to read. He enjoys breaking down sporting moments into stories readers can genuinely connect with, without relying on fancy vocabulary. His work spans cricket, football, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1, with a focus on match previews, reviews, and reports. Vishwajit believes good content doesn’t need to be loud — it just needs to leave a subtle impact.