‘Lost a bit of power’: Ponting, Shastri on why Babar stands at a crossroads

NEW DELHI: Babar Azam’s uneasy commencement to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has triggered a uncommon and searching debate, with 2 of the game’s astir respected voices — Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri — openly questioning Pakistan’s usage of their premier batter and the unit gathering astir him.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.SUBSCRIBE NOW! Pakistan opened their run with a three-wicket triumph implicit the Netherlands, but Babar’s scratchy 15 disconnected 18 balls astatine No.4 stood retired successful an different palmy result. While the erstwhile skipper had shown flashes of signifier with an unbeaten half-century against Australia successful the last T20I earlier the World Cup, Ponting believes thing cardinal has dipped.

“If you're 15 disconnected 18 balls, you're not conscionable putting unit connected yourself, you're putting unit connected the feline astatine the different end,” Ponting said connected The ICC Review.

“Babar needs to deed boundaries aboriginal on. He needs to get disconnected and going… different the full momentum of the crippled is going to alteration each clip helium goes in.”Ponting went further, suggesting Babar whitethorn person mislaid immoderate of his trademark powerfulness done the mediate overs. “It conscionable to maine looks similar he's mislaid a spot of his power, his shot striking ability,” helium said, pointing to a failed effort to instrumentality connected rotation arsenic a worrying sign. While defending Babar’s worth arsenic a big-match player, Ponting was clear: “Pakistan request the champion mentation of Babar Azam if they're going to spell further successful this tournament.

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Shastri echoed those concerns but framed them astir anticipation and reputation. “When you are astatine that signifier of your career, there's baggage,” Shastri said. “There's a value of expectation. People expect you to spell retired determination and deliver.” He urged a much fearless approach, adjacent astatine the outgo of aboriginal dismissal. “In your archetypal 5 balls… marque an effort to deed a mates of boundaries. You volition consciousness a batch amended and things mightiness change.

”Both experts besides questioned Babar’s existent role. Ponting floated the thought of pushing him backmost to No.3. “The earlier helium goes in… with lone 2 fielders retired would assistance him,” helium said, adding that Pakistan’s powerfulness hitters could past predominate later.Yet the astir melodramatic enactment came erstwhile enactment itself was raised. “They've got a large determination to marque whether helium stays successful oregon whether they permission him out,” Ponting said, portion Shastri warned, “There volition beryllium questions asked.”With Pakistan acceptable to look the USA successful Colombo connected February 10, Babar finds himself astatine a defining moment.