Babar Azam Benched in Crucial T20 World Cup Match, Pakistan Scores Big Without Him

• Babar Azam, usually batting at number 4, was kept on the bench during Pakistan's final group stage match against Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2026.
• Captain Salman Ali Agha and coach Mike Hesson made a strategic decision to prioritize aggressive batsmen over Babar, despite his role as a 'fail-safe' option.
• Pakistan needed to accelerate the run rate, leading to Khawaja Nafay and Shadab Khan being promoted ahead of Babar.
• The decision paid off as Shadab Khan and Sahibzada Farhan formed an 81-run partnership, with Farhan scoring a century, helping Pakistan set a target of 200 runs.
• This move, though potentially insulting to Babar, enabled Pakistan to achieve a high score and challenge Namibia.