Babar Azam vs Others: The Dot Ball Debate in Pakistan’s T20 Cricket
In Pakistan cricket,
one of the most common criticisms of Babar Azam’s T20 batting is that he “plays
too many dot balls.” This argument has often been used to justify dropping him
from the playing XI or questioning his role in the shortest format.
But when we compare
Babar’s numbers with other key Pakistani batters, the reality paints a very
different picture.
🔎 What the Numbers Tell Us
- Dot Ball %
- Babar Azam: 40–45%
- Others (Saim, Salman, Fakhar): 45–50%
➝ Babar actually faces fewer dot balls than the others. - Batting Average
- Babar: 39.83 (by far the highest)
- Others: between 20–24
➝ Babar not only rotates strike better, but he’s also far more consistent. - Strike Rate
- Saim (135.54) and Fakhar (132.32) are
slightly ahead of Babar (129.22).
- But Salman (111.30) is significantly
lower.
➝ Babar’s strike rate may not be the best, but it is competitive when compared with peers.
The Double Standard
If dot balls are the
main reason behind Babar being sidelined, then the same logic should apply to
others — especially since they have equal or worse dot ball percentages.
- Saim Ayub: Young and aggressive, but almost half
the balls he faces in powerplays are dots.
- Salman Ali Agha: Still struggling for impact, with low
strike rate and average.
- Fakhar Zaman: Known for power-hitting, but carries a
dot ball % similar to Saim and Salman.
Yet, all three are
still part of the team setup, while Babar — who is more reliable and has the
best average — faces exclusion.
Context Matters
- Babar’s Role: He plays as an anchor, rotating strike
and batting deeper into the innings. His lower dot ball percentage
reflects that role.
- Others’ Roles: Saim and Fakhar are boundary-hitters,
naturally producing either sixes/fours or dot balls. Salman is still
finding his rhythm as a middle-order batter.
The problem is not
that Babar plays too many dots — it’s that Pakistan’s T20 strategy lacks
clarity. If the team wants boundary-hitters, then consistency is compromised.
If the team wants stability, then Babar is still the best bet.
Conclusion
Babar Azam has:
✔️ The lowest dot ball percentage among these batters
✔️ A significantly better batting average
✔️ A competitive strike rate
If he is being
criticized solely for “dot balls,” then others should be held to the same
standard. Otherwise, this debate is less about stats and more about perception.
👉 The real question isn’t whether Babar plays
too many dot balls — it’s whether Pakistan has built a balanced T20 batting
strategy that values both consistency and aggression.
Your Thoughts?
Should Babar be in Pakistan’s T20 XI given these stats? Or do you think the
team is right to move on from him?
