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As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 gathers pace, Pakistan’s campaign has already sparked debate around the form of their biggest batting star. After a scratchy start to the tournament, Babar Azam has found himself under the scanner, but one of cricket’s sharpest minds believes the solution may be simpler than it looks. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has offered a calm, tactical assessment of what Pakistan can do to help Babar rediscover his rhythm at the top level.
A hesitant start from Babar Azam raises questions
Pakistan opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a narrow three-wicket win over the Netherlands, but the result did little to ease concerns around Babar’s touch. The right-hander managed just 15 off 18 balls, an innings that lacked the fluency and timing usually associated with his batting. While Pakistan crossed the line, the spotlight quickly shifted to whether their premier batter was fully in sync with the demands of the shortest format.
The questions felt sharper because Babar had shown encouraging signs only days earlier, scoring an unbeaten half-century against Australia in the final T20I of a three-match series. That contrast between promise and struggle has defined his recent run, and Ponting believes the issue is more about rhythm than ability.
Ricky Ponting on how Babar can get back his form
Ponting, speaking as an analyst during the tournament, suggested that Babar may have lost a fraction of his trademark timing at the crease. According to the Australian great, this isn’t unusual for top-order batters who rely heavily on placement and timing rather than raw power.
Rather than forcing shots or altering his natural game, Ponting feels Pakistan should help Babar by adjusting his role in the batting order. His key suggestion: move Babar back to No.3, a position where he has historically looked most comfortable.
“I would even think about batting him at No.3,” Ponting said, explaining that early exposure could work in Babar’s favour.
Ponting’s logic is rooted in T20 tactics. By batting earlier, Babar would get time against the new ball with fielding restrictions in place. With only two fielders allowed outside the circle during the Powerplay, gaps are easier to find, reducing the pressure to clear the ropes.
“I think the earlier he goes in, if he can get some time inside the Powerplay with the field up, I think that’s going to help him because if he has just lost that little bit of power, then you need everything in your favour. So having only two fielders out would help him. The guys that (are) batting after him have got plenty of power anyway. They can take advantage of those middle overs with the spinners on and the fielders out,” Ponting noted, adding that Pakistan’s middle order has enough power-hitters to capitalise later in the innings. In his view, shielding Babar from the tougher middle-overs squeeze could be counterproductive when he is searching for fluency.
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Ponting explains why T20 World Cup needs players like Babar
Perhaps the strongest part of Ponting’s assessment was his faith in experience. The former Australia skipper stressed that tournaments like the T20 World Cup are often decided by seasoned players rising at the right moment. He pointed out that teams need their senior stars firing if they want to go deep. For Pakistan, that means finding the best version of Babar sooner rather than later.
“I defended him at the start of the tournament … a big name player in a big events … experience, you need (those players) in your side if you’re going to win. Pakistan need the best version of Babar Azam if they’re going to go further in this tournament,” explained the Tasmanian legend.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
