Pakistan made a bold call by leaving Babar Azam in the dugout during the must-win T20 World Cup 2026 group match against Namibia, despite being named in the playing XI.
Although officially slotted at number four, Babar was never sent out to bat by captain Salman Ali Agha and head coach Mike Hesson. Instead, when Pakistan was 107-2, young batter Khawaja Nafay was promoted up the order.
Even after Nafay’s dismissal, Babar remained in the dugout. Rather than calling on their most experienced batter, Pakistan opted to send Shadab to the crease.
The decision meant that Babar Azam never faced a single delivery as Pakistan piled up 199 for 3 in their 20 overs, with Sahibzada Farhan (100*) and Shadab unbeaten at the end, setting Namibia a target of 200.
The choice not to use Babar Azam was made even more puzzling given the speculation before the match. In the build-up, there were widespread rumors that the senior trio of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan could be dropped following underwhelming performances, particularly in the heavy defeat to India on February 15.
While Shaheen was indeed left out in favor of Salman Mirza, both Babar Azam and Shadab Khan retained their places. Shadab justified the decision with useful contributions in both departments, but Babar’s involvement was only his fielding.
Clarity is expected once the post-match press conference takes place, but for now, Babar Azam’s non-existent inclusion remains one of the most talked-about talking points of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.