Babar Azam flops: Analysing Pakistan players who disappointed in T20Is in 2025

Pakistan players who flopped in T20Is in 2025 [Source: AFP Photo]

The Pakistan team ended their 2025 on a high as they thrashed Sri Lanka in a one-sided final to clinch the tri-nation tournament. It was a thorough professional display as the team under Salman Ali Agha has gelled perfectly, but the tri-series finale was their last international match in 2025.

The team will begin their quest for the T20 World Cup 2026 at the start of next year, as 2025 ended on a bright note for the Men in Green. However, despite a positive ending, the team had quite a few lacklustre performers, who couldn’t do much in 2025 in the T20Is. Here are the Pakistan players, who failed to deliver the goods in T20Is this year, and left no positive mark.

1) Babar Azam

Ironically, Babar’s first T20I game of 2025 came in late October as the star batter was dropped from the T20I setup due to his poor strike rate. However, after Pakistan’s miserable Asia Cup campaign, he was once again picked, but neither the performance, nor the strike rate improved.

(Babar Azam in 2025)

• Despite being given numerous chances to perform, Babar’s strike rate issues persisted as he struck at only 114 and scored just 206 runs in eight matches. He played all eight matches on flat Pakistan wickets, and yet, the numbers were dismal.
• In T20Is, strike rate is the key, but Babar's old problems persisted despite Pakistan doing well as a team in the competitions.

2) Salman Agha

Despite leading the team from the front and winning two tri-nation tournaments, Salman Ali Agha, the batter, had a disappointing year in the T20I format. He looked unfit for the format as a batter but the performances were hidden behind his captaincy stint.

(Salman Ali Agha in 2025)

• He played the most T20Is for Pakistan this year, and while the batter had 625 runs to showcase, but just like Babar, his major problem was the strike rate. He scored runs at just 115, and this hampered Pakistan’s gameplan, especially in the Asia Cup, when there were numerous games in which the team got off to a good start, but then failed to capitalise.
• His place will be saved due to his brilliant captaincy record, but as a batter, Salman Agha put pressure on himself and his other teammates.

3) Saim Ayub

When Saim Ayub was picked in the Pakistan T20I setup, he was touted as the next best thing in Pakistan cricket, but in 2025, things have not gone well when it came to his batting.

While he shown as a spin-bowler in T20Is, his batting got affected and the stats tell the story.

(Saim Ayub in T20Is in 2025)

• A player who is known as an explosive batter, Ayub, only had a strike rate of 129 as an opener, and struggled in the marquee Asia Cup, registering multiple ducks.
• While he performed decently with the ball, but the southpaw failed to do his job as a batter and struggled for quick runs.

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