After the retirement of great Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan who shared Pakistan batting burden for more than a decade, Babar Azam is the only batsman who cements his place in the middle-order.

Since then, Babar Azam has been the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting lineup, his elegant stroke-play and impeccable technique earning him a place among the world’s elite batsmen.

After Pakistan’s early elimination from the 2026 T20 World Cup, the selectors announced team for the Bangladesh ODI series. Selectors dropped Babar Azam and Siam Ayub from the squad and six uncapped players included in the squad.

Babar Azam failed in the T20 World Cup 2026 where he managed only scored 91 runs in four innings at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of just over 120.

Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batsman and former captain, has recently been experiencing a decline in form especially in T20Is, raising concerns among fans and cricket experts alike. His consistent performances over the years have been the backbone of Pakistan’s batting line-up, making his current struggles a significant challenge for the team. Despite his poor form, there is a notable lack of suitable replacements within the current squad.

The decision to drop Babar Azam from the One Day International (ODI) squad for the upcoming series against the Bangladesh national cricket team has generated significant debate among analysts and cricket followers.

However, evaluating a player’s ODI and Test credentials solely on the basis of T20 results raises important statistical and strategic questions. From a performance-analysis perspective, the selectors’ decision appears questionable.

First, Babar Azam’s record in ODI cricket clearly demonstrates that he remains one of the most reliable batsmen in the modern era for the Pakistan national cricket team. Since his debut in 2015, Babar has consistently maintained an ODI batting average above 55, placing him among the top-performing batsmen globally.

In modern cricket analytics, a batting average above 50 in ODIs is considered elite, and Babar’s strike rate-generally around 88-90-indicates that he combines stability with scoring efficiency. Moreover, he has scored more than 5,000 ODI runs in fewer than 110 innings, making him one of the fastest players in history to reach that milestone.

Statistical evidence clearly demonstrates that Babar Azam remains a highly accomplished performer in the longer formats of international cricket, particularly in Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs). Over the years, his consistency, technique, and ability to build innings have established him as one of Pakistan’s most reliable batsmen in these formats.

His record reflects strong averages, match-winning contributions, and a temperament well suited to the demands of longer games where patience and stability are crucial.

However, following a wave of public criticism after a disappointing campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, team management made the controversial decision to drop him from the ODI squad. Many analysts argue that this move appeared reactionary, as it overlooked his long-term performance record in the format. In professional sport, temporary dips in form are not uncommon, even among elite players, and established cricketers are often given a reasonable period to regain rhythm and confidence.

Critics of the decision suggest that the management may have acted prematurely by responding to public pressure rather than relying strictly on performance metrics and long-term team strategy. Considering Babar’s proven track record and his role as a key pillar in Pakistan’s batting lineup, several observers believe he should have been given additional opportunities to recover his form and reaffirm his value to the team in ODIs. Dropping such a technically sound and statistically successful batsman without allowing adequate time for adjustment could potentially disrupt team stability and remove an experienced anchor from the batting order.

Statistically, Babar’s conversion rate from fifties to hundreds is also remarkable. Over 30 percent of his fifty-plus scores in ODIs have been converted into centuries. This metric is crucial because it reflects a batsman’s ability to build match-defining innings rather than merely providing starts. His numerous centuries against top teams such as England, Australia and New Zealand demonstrate his capability to perform under pressure in high-quality bowling conditions.

In 140 one-day internationals, Babar scored 6501 runs, with a decent average of 53.7 with the help of 20 centuries and 37 fifties. He definitely deserves to be a part of the ODI squad.

Babar Azam’s disappointing showing in the 2026 T20 World Cup may justify tactical adjustments in the shortest format, the statistical evidence strongly supports his continued presence in Pakistan’s ODI and Test squads.

The problem with the selectors’ reasoning lies in the structural differences between cricket formats. T20 cricket is inherently volatile. A batsman may face only 15-20 deliveries in an innings, meaning performance outcomes are highly sensitive to short-term variance.

By contrast, ODI cricket provides significantly larger sample sizes-typically 80-120 balls for a top-order batsman-which allows technically sound players like Babar to demonstrate consistency. Statistical models of cricket performance frequently show that T20 results are less predictive of ODI or Test success because the shorter format amplifies randomness.

Historical precedents further strengthen this argument. Several world-class batsmen have struggled at times in T20 cricket while maintaining excellence in longer formats. The strategic requirements differ: T20 rewards explosive hitting and rapid acceleration, while ODIs emphasise strike rotation, pacing an innings, and situational awareness. Babar’s strength lies precisely in these ODI skills-timing, placement, and building partnerships.

Another key metric supporting his selection is his contribution to team stability. In ODIs, Pakistan’s win percentage when Babar scores a fifty or more has historically been above 70 percent. This correlation indicates that his performances significantly influence match outcomes. Removing such a player from the ODI lineup could weaken the team’s batting structure, especially at the top order where consistency is vital.

From a team-management standpoint, dropping an experienced batsman immediately after a poor T20 tournament may also send an inconsistent message regarding format specialization.

Modern international cricket increasingly recognizes that players excel in different formats. Evaluating Babar’s ODI selection on the basis of T20 results ignores this analytical principle.

His averages, conversion rates, and match-winning contributions clearly establish him as one of Pakistan’s most dependable batsmen. Therefore, excluding him from the ODI series against Bangladesh appears less like a data-driven decision and more like a reaction to short-term T20 results-an approach that risks overlooking the broader statistical value he brings to Pakistan’s batting line-up.