Babar Azam Among 3 Pakistan Players To Face The Axe For T20 World Cup Humiliation

Babar Azam could be dropped from ODIs [Source: AFP]

According to emerging reports, Pakistan are likely to drop Babar Azam from their ODI squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh. Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan had a torrid run in the T20 World Cup, failing to qualify for the semifinals. 

The Pakistan cricket team received massive backlash for its underwhelming return in the showpiece event. 

Meanwhile, as the Men in Green are about to regroup and strategise for the Bangladesh ODIs, a report has surfaced, claiming that the PCB may remove several high-profile names, including Babar Azam, from the 50-over setup. 

Babar Azam among senior players behind Pakistan's T20 World Cup mishap

The Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan cricket team faltered in the T20 World Cup, suffering a Super 8 exit from the tournament. While Sahibzada Farhan emerged as their go-to man with the bat, the Men in Green were particularly let down by several senior players, including Babar Azam. 

The Lahore-born cricketer managed only 91 runs in the tournament, averaging just 22.75 across four innings. More importantly, his strike rate of 112.35 received criticism from all corners of the world, as the cricketer was scrutinised for playing an outdated brand of cricket in T20Is. 

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Apart from Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz were two veteran players who couldn't live up to the expectations. 

Shadab blew hot and cold, scoring 118 runs and scalping five wickets in six matches. On the other hand, Mohammad Nawaz, who showcased stellar form before the T20 World Cup, failed to replicate a similar success in the marquee event. 

Statistically, Nawaz could score only 15 runs in five innings, while managing seven wickets at an ordinary economy of 7.80. 

Babar Azam on the firing line after T20 World Cup exit

As reported by Geo Super, Babar Azam may face the wrath of the PCB selection committee for his poor performance in the T20 World Cup. 

While the Pakistan team management expected Babar to form the backbone of their middle order, the talismanic cricketer registered a string of middling returns. As a result, Babar was eventually sidelined from the playing XI, with Khawaja Nafay replacing him in the lineup. 

Now, as the Men in Green prepare for the Bangladesh series, Pakistan's leading media agency, Geo Super, has revealed that Babar could be dropped from the ODI team, following a disappointing T20I run. 

The report also claims that Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz could also miss out on selection due to inconsistency in the shortest format. 

Saim Ayub was one of the biggest disappointments for the Pakistani team, managing only 70 runs in five innings before being replaced by Fakhar Zaman at the top order. 

It's worth noting that Babar scored a century in his last ODI series, although his strike rate stood at 74.32. So, it will be interesting to see whether the PCB selection committee ignores him in ODIs because of his T20I shortcomings. 

Pakistan tour of Bangladesh 2026 schedule

The Pakistani team will travel to Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series in March 2026. The first match of the series will be played on the 11th, with the subsequent fixtures on the 13th and 15th of the month, respectively, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. 

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