Babar Azam Playing Due to Politics, Says Vaughan

Babar Azam is going through a challenging phase with the bat in the ongoing T20 World Cup. In four innings, he has scored 91 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34. Among batsmen who have scored at least 75 runs, this is the lowest strike rate. In the most recent match, he made 25 runs off 24 balls (strike rate 104.16), an innings that failed to accelerate the team’s total.

Ahead of the match against England, former England captain Michael Vaughan viewed Babar’s role from a different perspective. According to him, coach Mike Hesson is practically compelled to keep Babar in the team, and he is managing the situation strategically.

Vaughan said, “I really appreciate the foreign coaches who work in Pakistan. I can only imagine what goes on in their cricket there. I think Mike Hesson is handling Babar’s situation wonderfully, because Babar has to play. That’s why the coach is using him as an insurance policy. After two wickets fall, Babar is that policy. He can then come in at number four and play freely.”

Considering the conditions in Sri Lanka, Vaughan added, “He is suited for Sri Lankan wickets, where scores range between 150 and 180. That’s Babar’s range. He can give Pakistan 160–170 runs, but on a day when 200 or 210 is required, he won’t be able to. He’s not in that position anymore.”

Vaughan also hinted that factors beyond performance influence team selection: “Due to politics, Babar has to play, and Mike Hesson has probably managed that politics well. This might not give them the best chance to win the World Cup, but on a pitch like Pallekele, I might want someone like Babar Azam in my team. Here, if he scores at a strike rate of 125–130, that would be perfectly fine.”

However, on the field, the reality was different. Instead of the expected 125–130, Babar’s strike rate against England was 104.16. Pakistan managed 164 runs, a total that required a fight to defend but wasn’t enough. England won the match to secure a semifinal spot, leaving Pakistan on the brink of elimination.