The Sunset of a King? Why Babar Azam should exit T20s to save Pakistan’s future
The Sunset of a King? Why Babar Azam should exit T20s to save Pakistan’s future
By Nawaz Gohar ; The R. Premadasa Stadium was supposed to be the stage for a redemption arc; instead, it became a burial ground for the T20 reputation of one of Pakistan’s most celebrated modern-day batters.
As the dust settles on another demoralizing defeat against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the question is no longer if Babar Azam should lead, but rather why he is still occupying a slot in a format that has clearly outpaced him.
For years, the “Babar Azam debate” has been divided between those who adore his aesthetic cover drives and those who realize his strike rate is a ticking time bomb for the team. In Colombo, the bomb finally exploded. Chasing 176, Pakistan needed an anchor that could eventually accelerate. Instead, Babar’s pedestrian 5-run exit symbolized a deeper malaise.
It wasn’t just one match. From a sluggish start against the Netherlands to a hollow 46 against the USA, Babar’s inability to dominate world-class attacks in the shortest format has become a liability. His career average against India, a dismal 22 at a strike rate of 123, is simply not world-class. It is, quite frankly, pathetic for a player of his stature.
Test veteran Ahmed Shehzad was blunt in his assessment, suggesting this might be Babar’s “Last Dance.” I would go a step further: the music stopped long ago, and Babar is simply refusing to leave the floor. In a T20 era defined by 200-plus totals and 160-plus strike rates, Pakistan remains tethered to an outdated philosophy personified by its former captain.
To see young talents like Saim Ayub or the explosive Usman Khan, who showed more fight in his 44-run cameo than the entire top order, struggling for breathing space because of the “Babar-centric” system is a tragedy for Pakistan cricket.
We are currently witnessing a generational gap. The shoes left by the legends of the past are large, but they will never be filled if we keep recycling players who have hit their ceiling. Pakistan is blessed with raw, audacious talent waiting in the wings, players who aren’t afraid to lose their wickets in pursuit of a high-octane total.
The management must realize that sentimentality doesn’t win World Cups; innovation and bravery do. Babar Azam will remain a legend in the longer formats, where his class is undeniable. But in T20s, he has become a shadow of the player Pakistan needs.
It is time for Babar to say a dignified goodbye to T20 internationals. Let the “Last Dance” be exactly that. Pakistan cricket must stop looking in the rearview mirror and finally give the keys of the future to the youth who are ready to drive us into a new era.
