Babar Azam’s debut Big Bash League season ended with more scrutiny than substance, but Pakistan’s decision to recall him from Australia strongly suggests the veteran is still in line for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Babar will miss the remainder of the BBL 2026 after being recalled from his stint with the Sydney Sixers to join Pakistan’s preparations for a three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore, starting January 29, just days before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7. As teams continue to finalise their T20 World Cup 2026 squads, Pakistan are one of only four teams yet to name their squad for the tournament.
Babar Azam Had A Horror BBL 2026
While the recall looks like a vote of confidence from Pakistan, Babar’s Big Bash campaign became increasingly uncomfortable as the tournament progressed. Across 11 matches, he scored 202 runs at an average of 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06, finishing with just three sixes. Among the 350 instances of players scoring 200 or more runs in a single BBL season, Babar’s strike rate is the lowest on record.
The numbers alone put pressure on him, but the turning point came during last week’s Sydney Smash against the Thunder, an incident that effectively defined the narrative around his tournament.
During a routine run chase at the SCG, opening partner Steve Smith rejected an easy single late in the over to ensure he would retain strike for the Power Surge. Smith’s call proved brutally effective. He went on to smash 32 runs in a single over off Ryan Hadley while Babar watched on from the non-striker’s end.
Moments later, Babar was dismissed for 47 off 39 balls. Cameras caught him smacking his bat against the boundary rope in visible frustration, and reports emerged that he did not immediately join teammates in post-match handshakes. While Sixers captain Moises Henriques later played it down as a cultural misunderstanding, the optics were damaging. For a marquee overseas signing, it was a rare public moment where Babar appeared sidelined, tactically and emotionally.
That episode sharpened existing criticism. Former Australia batter Mark Waugh openly called for Babar to be dropped before the Challenger final, arguing that the Sixers’ batting had become overly reliant on Smith and lacked tempo at the top.
“Unfortunately, I’m going to have to drop Babar Azam, I don’t think he’s done enough at the top of the order,” Mark Waugh said. “I know he’s world-class, but you’re thinking about winning this tournament, and so far he just hasn’t done (enough). They need to rejiggle their batting, because at the moment it’s almost entirely reliant on Steve Smith.”
Are Pakistan Overlooking Babar Azam’s Obvious Flaws In T20s?
Away from the BBL bubble, Pakistan’s actions tell a different story. Babar was previously allowed to skip Pakistan’s January tour of Sri Lanka specifically to honour his Big Bash contract. His recall now, ahead of the Australia series, is widely viewed as a clear indicator that he is back in the frame for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Babar returned to Pakistan’s T20I side in October 2025 after nearly a year out, featuring in series against South Africa and a late-2025 tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. In eight T20Is since that comeback, mostly facing mediocre bowling attacks as the Proteas were also featuring a depleted squad, he scored 206 runs with two half-centuries at an average of 34. However, his strike rate of 114 again raised doubts about his suitability in a high-tempo World Cup environment.
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Agha had acknowledged that concern at the time, while also suggesting Babar is actively adapting.
“He knows he needs to bring new things into his game. That sweep shot, which you do not normally associate with him, got him a number of runs today,” Salman said then. “He understands this stuff because he’s such a big player, and he recognises he needs to take things to the next level. If he performs, we’ll definitely win matches.”
The Lahore series against Australia now shapes as Babar Azam’s final proving ground. His BBL stint exposed the growing gap between him and modern T20 cricket, but a recall to Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup 2026 shows they still value his experience. That said, there was no place for Mohammad Rizwan in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad. But, for Babar, unless that comes with some learning from his BBL stint, it’s unlikely that it will prove beneficial for either parties involved.
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