Should Pakistan Drop Out-Of-Form Babar Azam From Champions Trophy Playing XI?

Debashis Sarangi

Babar Azam departed for 29 runs in Tri-Series final [Source: AP]Babar Azam departed for 29 runs in Tri-Series final [Source: AP]

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Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam sustained his poor run in ODIs, as he registered another cheap score in the Tri-Nation series final against New Zealand at home. Batting as an opener, Babar Azam managed 29 runs before Nathan Smith got rid of him in the high-voltage clash. 

The Tri-Series at home was a forgettable tournament for Babar Azam, as he finished the event with just 62 runs across three innings at a poor average of 20.67 and a strike rate of 81.58. After scoring only ten runs in the opening encounter against New Zealand, Babar contributed only 23 and 29 runs to the tally in the subsequent encounters. 

Babar Azam's New Batting Position: A Concern For Him In ODIs

Position
Runs
Average
Strike Rate
Opener8817.678.57
Number 3541660.1888.35

(Babar Azam's ODI stats by batting position)

It's worth mentioning that Babar Azam has batted at three in most of his ODI outings. Out of 123 ODI innings, Babar has come out to bat at three on 104 occasions. However, as Saim Ayub picked up an injury before the Champions Trophy, Pakistan decided to use Babar as an opener, which has completely backfired on the batter as well as his team. 

As evidenced by the stats above, Babar Azam has been a force to reckon with the bat at number three unlike the opening slot. In fact, the stylish right-handed batter was magnificent when the last time he batted at three in a bilateral series, slamming 148 runs in three outings at a superb average of 49.33. 

Should Pakistan Drop Babar Azam From Champions Trophy XI?

Babar Azam's poor form can be attributed to Pakistan's strategy of using him as an opener instead of allotting him his preferred number three slot. Also, considering Pakistan don't have a quality alternative as capable and experienced as him in their squad, the hosts must reconsider his batting position instead of taking an extreme step and dropping him from their Champions Trophy playing XI.