Faf du Plessis, the seasoned South African leader, has waded into the controversy surrounding Babar Azam by aligning with coach Mike Hassen’s bold call. In an exclusive ESPNcricinfo interview, du Plessis dissected Babar’s T20 shortcomings, particularly his inability to keep pace with the format’s blistering scoring rates.
The trigger was Hassen’s press conference revelation: Babar, once a fixture at the top, is now batting at four in the T20 World Cup due to a strike rate mismatch with powerplay aggression. This shift has spotlighted Babar’s World Cup woes—66 runs at 22 average, with form deserting him amid spin troubles.
Du Plessis was measured yet firm. ‘Babar’s been elite for ages, but T20’s shift to strike-rate dominance has caught him out slightly. His 120-ish rate pales against the 160-200 needed in early overs now.’
He defended Babar’s inclusion, praising his spin-handling and strike rotation skills. ‘He’s irreplaceable on certain pitches.’ However, Babar’s visible battles with spinners lately add layers to the narrative.
Pakistan’s campaign hangs in balance as this debate rages. Du Plessis’s voice, respected globally, amplifies the urgency for Babar to adapt. Will the star reinvent himself, or will tactics continue to evolve around him? The World Cup stage awaits answers.