Pakistan batter Babar Azam came under harsh scrutiny on live television on Saturday following his dismissal in the T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The former champions survived an early scare in their campaign, chasing down 148 with three balls to spare and three wickets in hand.
Pakistan's Babar Azam bats during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 7 (AP)
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At the halfway stage of the chase, Pakistan were well placed at 90 for two, riding on Sahibzada Farhan’s fluent 47 off 31 balls. However, Paul van Meekeren turned the game on its head in the 12th over with a double-wicket maiden, removing Farhan and Usman Khan in the space of three deliveries.
The pressure mounted immediately in the following over when Roelof van der Merwe dismissed Babar. The right-hander attempted to clear the ropes off a wide delivery but holed out at long-off, departing for 15 off 18 balls.
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Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif was unsparing in his assessment of Babar’s T20 game on commentary.
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Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif was unsparing in his assessment of Babar’s T20 game on commentary.
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“Now you said hit a six, but where is it? He couldn’t even hit it. He does not have the strength to hit a six. He does not have the style to hit a six. He can only score singles and doubles, go at run-a-ball pace and take the team to a win. Every time he tries to go for the big shot, he loses his wicket,” Kaif said.
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Babar's strike rate in T20 is often debated, and his departure after an 18-ball 15 will do little to convince his critics.
Pakistan survive Dutch scare
The Netherlands nearly pulled off a stunning upset before Faheem Ashraf’s breezy cameo helped Pakistan scrape through to a nervy three-wicket win in their Group A clash.
Put in to bat, the Dutch were bowled out for 147 with one ball remaining. They then produced a spirited bowling effort, but a dropped chance proved costly as Faheem went on to smash an unbeaten 29 off 11 balls, sealing victory with three deliveries to spare.
Pakistan will next face the USA on February 10 in Colombo.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Babar Azam's T20 skills mocked live on TV with Kaif's stinging remark: 'His strength is taking singles, not hitting six'
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