Pakistan Makes Bold Move by Dropping Babar Azam for Must-Win T20 World Cup Clash
In a stunning decision that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, Pakistan has left out star batter Babar Azam from their playing XI for the crucial Super 8 match against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This high-stakes encounter, held in New Delhi, is a do-or-die situation for Pakistan, who must secure a victory to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Skipper Salman Agha Announces Three Changes at the Toss
At the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Agha confirmed three significant changes to the side, stating, "We got three changes. Babar, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza are not playing." He emphasized the team's focus on a comprehensive performance, adding, "Massive opportunity. We need to bat well, bowl well and field well and everything will be fine. We need to put up a good total and try and restrict them. Sometimes it can be tough and sometimes it can be easy, it's a mixed feeling knowing what we need to do."
Babar Azam's Exclusion Linked to Poor Form
The exclusion of Babar Azam appears to be directly related to his underwhelming performance in the tournament so far. In six matches, he has managed only 91 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34. These numbers are well below the expectations for a player of his caliber, leading the team management to make this drastic call in a critical match.
Pakistan's Qualification Scenario: A Daunting Task
Pakistan's path to the semi-finals is now straightforward but incredibly challenging. Following England's victory over New Zealand in Colombo, the Group 2 standings have shifted dramatically:
- England finished unbeaten with six points from three games, securing the top spot.
- New Zealand are in second place with three points and a strong net run rate of +1.390.
- Pakistan sit third with one point from two matches and a net run rate of -0.461.
To qualify, Pakistan must not only defeat Sri Lanka but do so by a margin of at least 64 runs to improve their net run rate sufficiently to overtake New Zealand. This adds immense pressure to an already high-stakes encounter.
Playing XIs for the Crucial Match
The teams for this pivotal clash are as follows:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka
With their World Cup dreams hanging in the balance, Pakistan's decision to drop Babar Azam represents a bold gamble in a match where every run and wicket could determine their fate in the tournament.
