Fri Dec 13 21:02:59 UTC 2024: ## Babar Azam’s Slump Puts His Place in Pakistan’s T20 Team in Jeopardy
**LAHORE, PAKISTAN** – Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam is facing increasing pressure to retain his place in the national T20 team following a prolonged slump in form. His recent performances have raised serious concerns, sparking debate about his future in the shortest format of the game.
While Azam scored a 40+ run knock in the last T20 against Australia, he has failed to score a single half-century in his last ten T20 Internationals (T20Is). This poor run, coupled with Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in recent matches (only two wins in the last ten T20Is, against Ireland and Canada), has put immense pressure on the star batsman. He was previously dropped from the Test team but later reinstated.
Azam’s overall T20I statistics in 2024 (until December 11th) are underwhelming. In 22 innings across 23 matches, he has managed 707 runs at an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 132.39. Although he has scored six half-centuries and a best score of 75, his recent form is significantly below expectations. His struggles are particularly evident in his last ten T20Is, where he scored only 237 runs at an average of 26.33 and a strike rate of under 116, without a single half-century or century. His struggles against left-arm pacers are also a major concern, with his average against them falling below 20 over the past three years.
The upcoming final two T20Is against South Africa are crucial for Azam. A strong performance is vital to quell the growing calls for his removal from the T20 squad and reaffirm his position as a key player in Pakistan’s future T20 strategies.
First Piper 