Pakistan drop Babar Azam and Saim Ayub for the crucial game against Sri Lanka

Pakistan have benched top-order batters Babar Azam and Saim Ayub for their must-win Super Eights game against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup. This is the first time since his debut in 2016 that Babar is not part of the starting XI in a T20 World Cup match.

Babar’s woeful form continues

Babar was initially demoted down the order to allow the openers and Salman Ali Agha to capitalize on the powerplay. However, with semi-final qualification hanging in the balance, Pakistan need to punch above their weight to overhaul New Zealand’s Net Run Rate.

Besides Babar, Saim Ayub, whose highest score in the tournament is 24, has been replaced by Khawaja Nafay. Pakistan have instead opened with Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan, who is enjoying an excellent run in the World Cup.

Can Pakistan still qualify?

Having been sent in to bat first, Pakistan must win the game by 65 to 70 runs, depending on the first-innings total, to surpass New Zealand’s NRR of 1.390. Any other result, including a washout, will end Pakistan’s campaign, with the Kiwis joining England in the semi-finals.

Pakistan’s Playing XI against Sri Lanka:

Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

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