It’s time for Babar Azam to step up & own the 2023 World Cup

Cricket Opinion: It’s time for Babar Azam to step up & own the 2023 World Cup | A look at Babar Azam’s worrying numbers in multi-nation tournaments since 2022

There is sure to be quite the introspection in the Pakistan camp. Their 2023 World Cup campaign hangs in the balance after two straight defeats to India and Australia, with their overall performances leaving plenty to be desired thus far.

Along with the concerns around the lack of threat in the bowling attack, the returns – or lackthereof – of number one ranked batsman Babar Azam has hurt Pakistan dearly.

Heading into the tournament, the Pakistani captain was earmarked as a player who needs to deliver big in a white-ball event. While he has been brilliant in bilateral white-ball internationals, the same cannot be said of his returns in multi-nation tournaments since the start of 2022.

Babar Azam’s stats in the last four white-ball events make for sorry reading

Babar Azam’s numbers in the last four white-ball events – including the 2023 World Cup – are not worthy of a player of his quality. The T20 Asia and World Cups in 2022 yielded poor returns, and the ODI numbers in 2023 don’t make for great reading either when you remove his 154 against the less experienced Nepal.

Key numbers:

• Asia Cup 2022 (T20): 6 inns, 68 runs, avg. 11.33, SR 107.93, HS 30 (vs. SL)
• T20 World Cup 2022: 7 inns, 124 runs, avg. 17.71, SR 93.23, HS 53 (vs. NZ)
• Asia Cup 2023 (ODI): 4 inns, 207 runs, avg. 51.75, SR 97.64, HS 154 (vs. NEP)
• ODI World Cup 2023: 4 inns, 83 runs, avg. 20.75, SR 79.04, HS 50 (vs. IND)

Babar has been a consistent force in bilaterals. In T20Is in 2022 outside the two multi-nation tournaments, he scored 543 runs at an average of 54.30. In bilateral ODIs in 2023, it’s a similar story. He has struck 538 runs at an average of 48.91.

Babar’s returns in bilaterals compared to multi-nation tournaments is a key factor when discussing his place among the game’s best currently. It’s fair to critique Babar’s returns when Pakistan need him most in these tournaments, with the skipper lacking the match-turning knocks that separate the good players from the greats.

Also, it must be noted that teams don’t often play full-strength teams in white-ball bilaterals, owing to packed cricketing schedules brought on by the proliferation of T20 leagues. Indeed, class players like Babar should score well against the likes of under-strength Australia and New Zealand at home, but more is needed in games of greater importance when the big trophies are up for grabs.

Take for example the Sri Lanka, India and Australia matches in the ongoing World Cup. Babar had the opportunity to own both 300+ chases, but was dismissed for less than 20 on both occasions. Against India, Babar hit 50, but was unable to go on and make an impact in the game as India went on to win with nearly 20 overs to spare.

Of course, others are also responsible for Pakistan’s performances in those matches. However, Babar is the player with the biggest pedigree in that team. It’s on him to own the situation. He currently averages a hefty and impressive 56.61 in 112 ODIs, but his team need him to turn those excellent numbers on the surface into impactful knocks on the world stage to propel Pakistan to bigger and better things.

Next up for Pakistan is a crucial match against Afghanistan at Chennai on Monday, followed by South Africa at the same ground on Friday. It’s on Babar, as captain and the team’s most prolific batsman, to lead the way in arresting his team’s slide in the race to the 2023 World Cup semi-finals.

If he doesn’t, Pakistan can surely kiss their hopes of a second ODI World Cup title goodbye.