Pakistan’s senior batters, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, have fallen behind in strike rate compared to players from all ICC full-member nations.
From January 1, 2024, to the present, the two have recorded the lowest strike rates in ODI cricket among their peers. During this period, Rizwan has managed a strike rate of 75.03, while Babar has scored at 78.88 – both well below the modern ODI scoring tempo.
Babar Azam’s Century Drought Extends Beyond Two Years
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is facing an extended dip in form. It’s been over 712 days since Babar Azam last reached triple figures in ODIs – his most recent century being a 151-run masterpiece against Nepal during the 2023 Asia Cup. Since then, he has struggled to produce big scores, failing to surpass 78 runs in any ODI innings over the past two years.
Babar’s decline is not limited to ODIs; his performances in Tests and T20 Internationals have also suffered. During the second ODI against the West Indies, Babar Azam walked back without troubling the scorers – marking the fifth duck of his ODI career. His previous duck came against Afghanistan in August 2023.
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Decline in Career Averages and Scoring Tempo
After his last century against Nepal, Babar Azam has featured in 28 ODI innings, amassing 929 runs at an average of 37.16 with a strike rate of 79.53. These numbers are significantly lower than his career average of 54.62 and career strike rate of 87.78.
During this span, Babar Azam has managed nine half-centuries, with 78 standing as his best knock. Before this slump, in his first 102 ODI innings, Babar had scored 19 centuries and 37 fifties – numbers that placed him among the world’s elite batters.
Struggles Across All Formats
Babar’s loss of form has affected all formats:
- Tests: Over his most recent 10 Test matches, Babar Azam has averaged just 23.15, failing to score a century and registering only three fifties.
- T20 Internationals: In his last 24 outings in the shortest format, he has accumulated 738 runs at an average of 33.54, without producing any notable match-defining knocks.
Leadership Changes and Selection Setbacks
Babar Azam’s poor run has also impacted his leadership roles. Babar Azam has seen a sharp fall in his leadership journey – stripped of the Pakistan captaincy, sidelined from the Test side before earning a recall, and presently absent from the national T20 lineup.
With the modern game demanding higher strike rates and consistent big scores, both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will need to adjust their approach if they want to reclaim their dominance in international cricket.
