Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has said that Babar Azam could have made a big impact if he had been sent to open the innings.
According to Akhtar, Babar’s strong timing and calm approach against fast bowling make him well suited for the role.
Akhtar suggested that Babar might have scored a quick fifty off around 25 balls if he had faced the new ball. He explained that Babar enjoys playing pace and often looks comfortable when the ball comes onto the bat. In limited overs cricket, early runs at a high strike rate can change the direction of the match.
Babar Azam has mostly batted at the top of the order in white ball cricket and has built a reputation as one of Pakistan’s most consistent batters. He has scored thousands of runs in both One Day Internationals and T20 matches.
However, team combinations and match strategies sometimes lead to changes in batting positions.
Cricket analysts often debate the best use of top players in T20 cricket. Some believe that sending an experienced batter as opener can provide stability and fast scoring at the same time. Others argue that flexibility is important depending on match conditions.
Akhtar’s comments have added to the ongoing discussion about team strategy and batting order. As Pakistan looks to improve its performance in limited overs matches, decisions about player roles remain a key talking point among experts and fans.
