No batter has scored more runs than Babar Azam in T20 internationals (4,429). Nobody has crossed the 50-run mark more often than him (41 times) in the format’s 21-year history. His 466 fours are also the most that a batter has hit in the format. But his strike rate of 128.45 denies him the bragging rights to be the best batter to have ever played the format. It is the worst for the batters who have scored at least 3,500 runs in the format.

There had been doubts around Babar’s place in Pakistan’s side for next month’s T20 World Cup. The doubts arose when Pakistan decided against taking him to Dambulla for T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier in the month. Babar, like the rest in the side, had never played a T20I in Sri Lanka and this series — which was not part of the future tours programme — was only organised to provide Pakistan crucial match practice in the conditions they will encounter next month.

The uncertainty gathered momentum after Babar had a horrible season in Australia’s Big Bash League, scoring only 202 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 103.06. He hit only three sixes in the season and made 14 or less — including a duck in the last match — in eight games. (One match was abandoned after five overs because of rain).

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