Tarouba, Trinidad: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has come under criticism despite scoring 58 runs in the second innings of the Test against the West Indies, with some observers questioning his approach during Pakistan’s run chase.
At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, the West Indies set Pakistan a target of 211 runs to win the match. Babar Azam was forced to bat as early as the third over after first-innings centurion Shan Masood was unable to open due to a finger injury.
Pakistan suffered an early collapse as Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, and Salman Ali Agha were dismissed with the team score on just 25 runs. Babar then joined former captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan at the crease in an attempt to rebuild the innings.
The pair added 19 runs for the fourth wicket. During the partnership, Babar scored 9 runs from 21 deliveries, while Rizwan made 11 runs off 28 balls before being dismissed.
After Pakistan slipped to 46 for 4, expectations were high that the experienced captain would take greater responsibility by facing more deliveries and guiding the lower order through the chase.
However, Babar’s batting strategy became the subject of debate. Critics argued that, as wickets continued to fall at the opposite end, he frequently took singles, leaving the remaining batters to face a challenging West Indian bowling attack.
Observers noted that Pakistan’s wickets continued to tumble “like autumn leaves,” while Babar remained at the non-striker’s end on several occasions after rotating the strike. Some cricket analysts and fans questioned whether he should have attempted to retain more of the strike to shield the lower-order batters and increase Pakistan’s chances of reaching the target.
Despite reaching a half-century and finishing with 58 runs, Babar’s innings drew mixed reactions. Supporters praised his effort in difficult batting conditions, while critics argued that his game management and strike rotation did not match the demands of the situation.
The discussion has sparked debate among cricket followers over the balance between playing conventional cricket and adopting a more aggressive, match-winning approach when chasing a modest target with wickets falling regularly.
Whether Babar’s tactical decisions ultimately influenced the outcome remains a matter of opinion. His innings has nevertheless become a major talking point following Pakistan’s performance in the second innings, highlighting differing views on leadership, batting responsibility, and match awareness under pressure.
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