Babar Azam's Sri Lanka nightmare: Can Pakistan ace end his T20I slump in Tri-series

Babar Azam slump vs Sri Lanka [Source: @Cricbuzz/x.com]

After an unconvincing win over Zimbabwe in the tri-nation opener, Pakistan will shift their focus towards the all-important game against Sri Lanka on Saturday. The Men in Green were in a spot of bother in the run chase against the Chevrons, but the middle-order rescued them from a state of losing. 

The top-order batters were disappointing, including their star batter, Babar Azam. The right-handed batter departed for a 3-ball duck and entered an unwanted record of having the second most T20I ducks for Pakistan. However, his problems have just increased as the hosts take on Sri Lanka next.

Babar's poor T20I record vs Sri Lanka could cause him trouble

Babar has a poor track record against the Asian neighbours, and there is a huge chance that he produces back-to-back failures in the tri-nation tournament. He is yet to play a match-winning knock against them in T20Is and the stats tell the entire story.

(Babar vs Sri Lanka)

• As the stats suggest, he has played 8 matches against Sri Lanka in T20Is, and has a dismal record, scoring just 114 runs.
• The average is just 16 and the strike rate is not even 100 (89), as the Lankan bowlers have turned out to be a nightmare for him.
• One argument can be made that he has played against them on slow and sluggish wickets of the UAE, but yet, a strike rate of 89 doesn’t justify Babar’s talent in the T20Is.
• His T20I stats against Sri Lanka is the worst the Pakistan batter has against any nation, with a major drop in average and strike rate.

Why Babar struggles against Sri Lanka in T20Is

• Babar has technical difficulties against the spinners and Sri Lanka has plethora of them in their ranks. While in ODIs, Babar gets time to settle in and play his strokes, T20 cricket doesn't provide him with that opportunity.
• He gets trapped when the ball comes into him, as the batter is always in two minds and that has led to his dismal record against them.
• Moreover, against Sri Lanka, Babar has played quite a few matches in the sluggish UAE wickets, and the pitches there bring Sri Lankan spinners into play, and they love bowling to him. He tends to get slow against spin-bowling, and the Lankan Lions have world-class bowlers who can take advantage of the situation.

Why Babar's form is crucial for PAK Vs SL

The team has numerous hard-hitters, but Babar is the glue that binds the team, and hence, if he falls cheaply, the team's balance disrupts.

Despite his poor track record against Sri Lanka, Babar is a match-winner, and Pakistan would want their most experienced batter to deliver the goods, just like he did against South Africa.

Final verdict

Babar has a dismal record against Sri Lanka, and Pakistan’s next match is against them in the tri-nation series. The Pakistan batter is under immense pressure to perform, and the upcoming clash provides Babar a great chance to redeem himself and score runs against his greatest nemesis.

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