Former Pakistan captain Basit Ali has made a startling claim, suggesting that Babar Azam could be dropped for Pakistan’s next match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Ali said he noticed visible anger from head coach Mike Hesson after Babar’s dismissal during Pakistan’s narrow win over the Netherlands.
“I have a feeling Babar will not play the next game. The anger I saw on Mike Hesson’s face after Babar got out… I don’t think he will play Babar at number four again,” Basit Ali said on the YouTube show The Game Plan.
Ali questioned Babar’s suitability for T20 cricket, despite acknowledging his greatness in other formats. “If you call Babar Azam a superstar in ODIs or Tests, I might agree. But in T20Is? How is he a superstar?” he said. He further criticised Babar for batting at number four, saying a player of his stature should be clear about his best position.
“A batter who drops down the order and cannot even tell the management that he is not a number four batter—doesn’t Babar know this? Even a club cricketer will tell you that in T20s, players like Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf are better suited to the format,” Ali added.
Basit also named Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha as better T20 options, arguing that Salman has already shown he is more effective at number three. Referring to Babar’s time in the Big Bash League, Ali said opposition teams often targeted him by limiting his strike, questioning his effectiveness in the shortest format.
Babar struggled in Pakistan’s chase of 148 against the Netherlands in Colombo, scoring just 15 off 18 balls. Pakistan were rescued by Faheem Ashraf, who played a match-winning knock of 29 not out off 11 balls, hitting three sixes and two boundaries to take his team home in the final over.
Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, will face the USA in their next T20 World Cup fixture on Tuesday in Colombo.
