This news is absolutely shocking to the cricket world! Pakistan might drop their former captain for the biggest match of the tournament. Babar Azam could be sitting out against England on February 24.
Head coach Mike Hesson is seriously considering this massive change. The management discussions are happening right now behind closed doors. No final decision exists yet, but things look concerning for Babar.
Khawaja Nafay will likely replace him in the playing eleven. This change could happen at Pallekele Stadium very soon. Pakistan desperately needs to win this England match to stay alive.
Why Pakistan is Set to Drop Babar Azam
Pakistan sits second in the Super 8 standings currently with just one point. They must win both remaining matches to reach the semi-finals. The pressure on management is absolutely enormous right now.
The former captain came back to the T20I team after the Asia Cup in September. But his role has remained unclear throughout this T20 World Cup 2026. Management even demoted him to the number four position recently.
Against Namibia, Pakistan scored 199/3 but Babar never got to bat. The team promoted Nafay to number five specifically. They wanted to counter left-arm spin with smart batting orders.
Mike Hesson explained this tactical decision in his press conference clearly. Babar recognized the spin threat himself according to Hesson.
“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Hesson said. “Babar was the first to recognise when left-arm spin was taking shape and it was turning, it wasn’t a smart move to send out two right-handers. Nafay went out to take the game on. That’s what we needed at that time. So no, certainly not a paradigm shift, more about roles.”
The Big Match Pressure
The upcoming match represents Pakistan’s most crucial game in the T20 World Cup 2026. Losing means elimination from the tournament. Winning keeps their semi-final dreams alive.
Pakistan’s first Super 8 match against New Zealand got washed out completely. Captain Salman Ali Agha chose to bat first at R Premadasa Stadium. Then the rain ruined everything before play could start properly.
They replaced Nafay with Fakhar Zaman for that match. But zero cricket happened that day. Both teams earned one point each from the abandoned game.
What This Means for the Future
If Pakistan drops Babar Azam for the England match, his comeback looks difficult. Once you’re out of the playing eleven, getting back becomes tough. The team management must make this choice carefully.
The decision shows how desperate Pakistan feels about winning. They’re willing to drop their biggest star for tactical advantages. This match could define Pakistan’s entire tournament campaign!
