Should Pakistan drop Babar Azam in crucial encounter against Sri Lanka Today?

As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage intensifies, Pakistan's clash with Sri Lanka on February 28 at Pallekele has ignited fierce debate over Babar Azam's place in the XI.

The former captain, once hailed as a generational talent, is under scrutiny for his underwhelming tournament performance, raising questions about whether dropping him could boost Pakistan's semifinal chances in this must-win game.

Babar Azam in T20 WC 2026

Babar's stats in the 2026 World Cup paint a stark picture: just 91 runs across five innings at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 104.17. His highest score was 46 off 32 against the USA, but contributions like 25 off 24 against England have drawn criticism for lacking intent, contributing to modest totals.

Should Pakistan drop Babar Azam?

Former players and coaches have been vocal. Rashid Latif declared Babar "no longer a player of this format," citing persistent strike-rate issues that led to his earlier drop post-Asia Cup. Head coach Mike Hesson echoed this, noting Babar's slow scoring as the reason for benching him against Namibia, emphasizing the need for aggressive options like Khawaja Nafay or Fakhar Zaman.

Mohammad Yousuf highlighted technical flaws, claiming Babar's game has "gone for a toss" over the past 2-3 years. Even Michael Vaughan urged retirement from T20s, pointing to Babar's Big Bash struggles (202 runs at 103.06 strike rate). Dropping him could inject dynamism, with emerging talents like Sahibzada Farhan (leading run-scorer) stepping up.

Ultimately, for this crucial match requiring high-octane batting to achieve a 64-run win or 13-over chase, Pakistan should drop Babar. The 31-year-old has struggled to score rapidly, while Pakistan require a hammer-on-tong approach with the bat. With someone like Khawaja Nafay available, Salman Agha and his team can look to make the crucial change as they look to keep their semifinal dreams alive.