Babar Azam’s return to form looked promising just a few days ago when he finally ended his long century drought. But cricket can be a brutally unpredictable game.
Barely a week after being praised again as Pakistan’s batting backbone, Babar has now found himself in the middle of a statistic that no top batter enjoys seeing next to their name.
During Pakistan’s T20I tri-series opener against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi, Babar fell for a three-ball duck. Zimbabwe’s Brad Evans trapped him LBW early in the chase of 148, leaving fans stunned and briefly putting Pakistan on shaky ground before the team eventually won by five wickets.
While the victory helped Pakistan start the series on a positive note, Babar’s dismissal created a completely different storyline — one that has followed him uncomfortably often in recent months.
An Unwanted Record for Babar
With this latest failure, Babar registered his ninth duck in T20 internationals, pushing him past Shahid Afridi, who had eight. This now places Babar Azam third on Pakistan’s all-time list for most ducks in T20Is, behind only Saim Ayub and Umar Akmal, who have ten each.
Most Ducks by Pakistan Batters in T20Is
- Saim Ayub – 10
- Umar Akmal – 10
- Babar Azam – 9
- Shahid Afridi – 8
- Kamran Akmal – 7
What makes this moment particularly uncomfortable for Babar is the recent pattern behind it. This duck was his third in his last six T20Is, something that fans are not used to seeing from a batter built on consistency and reliability.
For years, Babar’s strength in T20 cricket was his ability to give Pakistan stable starts, rotate strike, and anchor the innings. Ducks were rare, almost unusual. Now, suddenly, those zeros are coming frequently enough that they’ve become a talking point on their own.
Context That People Often Forget
While the number looks worrying on its own, there is a layer of context that tends to get lost in conversations. Babar has played far more T20Is than some of the players above him on the list, especially Saim Ayub, whose ten ducks have come in far fewer matches.
Naturally, the more innings a batter plays, the greater the chance of collecting a few low scores along the way. But cricket discussions — especially in Pakistan — don’t always lean toward nuance.
Fans react to results, numbers, and trends. And at the moment, the trend for Babar is not flattering. This phase comes at a time when he is attempting to rebuild his position in Pakistan’s T20 setup and prove that he still belongs at the top of the order.
A Crucial Period With the World Cup Ahead
Pakistan’s biggest concern is not just a single duck or even a collection of them. It’s the timing. This tri-series is part of Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, and Babar Azam remains a central figure in their batting plans.
Whether he comes in at No. 3 or even opens the innings, Pakistan count on him for stability — something he has provided for most of his career. However, every time he gets out early, questions grow louder.
Is he out of form? Is the pressure taking a toll? Is Pakistan too dependent on him? These discussions are becoming more frequent.
Pakistan’s think-tank still views Babar as their most experienced and technically sound batter in the format. They want him to be the one controlling the innings, especially in big matches.
But when a player of his calibre keeps walking back without scoring, the team feels the impact, both on the field and psychologically.
A Rough Patch, Not a Career Crisis
Despite the noise around him, it’s important to remember that even great players go through difficult stretches. What Babar needs is a couple of steady innings to regain rhythm and confidence.
Pakistan will hope the remaining matches of the tri-series give him that opportunity. For now, Babar Azam stands in the middle of an unwanted record.
But with plenty of matches ahead and a World Cup on the horizon, he has time — and the talent — to turn the narrative around again.
