The glitz and glamour of the BBL 2026 have been overshadowed by a growing sense of disappointment for fans of two of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricketers. What was supposed to be a showcase of their world-class talent has instead become a masterclass in how not to play the modern T20 game. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, once hailed as the perfect opening duo for any format, are now topping an embarrassing list of the tournament’s slowest batters.
Table of Contents
- The Unwanted Honour: Who Are the Slowest Batters?
- Babar Azam’s Frustrating Campaign
- Rizwan’s Historic (and Humiliating) Retirement
- What This Means for Pakistan’s T20 Future
- Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Pakistan’s Stars
- Sources
The Unwanted Honour: Who Are the Slowest Batters in BBL 2026?
In a league defined by explosive hitting and rapid run-scoring, a strike rate below 120 is often considered sub-par for a top-order batter. For Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, their numbers are far more alarming. Among players with a minimum of 100 runs this BBL 2026 season, Rizwan sits at the very bottom with a strike rate of just 102.74, while Babar isn’t far behind at 107.48 .
This isn’t just a case of a couple of bad games; it’s a consistent pattern of struggle to adapt to the breakneck pace of the Australian T20 competition. Their inability to find boundaries has clogged up the innings for their respective franchises, the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers, forcing their teams into a reactive rather than proactive mode during crucial powerplay and middle overs.
Babar Azam’s Frustrating Campaign
Babar Azam’s stint with the Sydney Sixers has been a rollercoaster of muted elegance and visible frustration. While he managed to score a couple of fifties, they came at a snail’s pace, with his two slowest being off 44 and 42 balls respectively—figures that landed him firmly on the list of the slowest fifties of the season .
The tension finally boiled over in a now-infamous mid-pitch encounter with his own captain, Steve Smith. During a match against the Sydney Thunder, Smith, on his way to a historic century, deliberately refused a single to keep the strike for a record-breaking over. This decision left Babar visibly seething, leading to a brief but tense exchange between the two teammates at the end of the over [[15], [20]]. The incident wasn’t just about a missed run; it was a stark symbol of the clash between Babar’s anchor role and the Sixers’ desperate need for acceleration—a need he simply couldn’t fulfill.
Rizwan’s Historic (and Humiliating) Retirement
If Babar’s struggles were frustrating, Mohammad Rizwan’s experience with the Melbourne Renegades was downright humiliating. In a move unprecedented in the 15-year history of the Big Bash League, Rizwan was retired out by his own captain, Will Sutherland .
After scoring a meagre 26 runs off 23 balls and failing to provide any momentum, the team management made the drastic strategic decision to send him back to the pavilion to bring in a more aggressive hitter . This action cemented Rizwan’s place in the record books, but for all the wrong reasons—he became the first overseas player in BBL history to be retired out [[21], [23]]. This wasn’t a retirement due to injury; it was a clear message from his team that his presence at the crease was actively harming their chances of winning.
What This Means for Pakistan’s T20 Future
The collective failure of its two premier batters in the BBL 2026 raises serious alarm bells for Pakistan cricket, especially with major T20 tournaments on the horizon. The modern T20 game demands versatility and the ability to adapt to different conditions and team requirements. Both Babar and Rizwan have shown a rigid adherence to their traditional, accumulator style, which is proving ineffective in leagues that prioritize power and tempo.
For Babar, the issue seems to be a crisis of confidence and role clarity. Is he the anchor or the aggressor? His current approach satisfies neither role effectively. For Rizwan, the problem appears more fundamental—a lack of the boundary-hitting intent required at the highest level of franchise cricket. If they cannot evolve their games, their value to both their national side and future franchise teams will continue to diminish. This situation is a critical topic for discussion on our page about [INTERNAL_LINK:pakistan-cricket-team-future].
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Pakistan’s Stars
The BBL 2026 has served as a harsh but necessary reality check for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Their status as global batting greats is built on their Test and ODI performances, but the T20 format operates under a different set of rules. Their current struggles are not just a personal embarrassment; they are a strategic liability for their teams. To remain relevant in the ever-evolving world of T20 cricket, both players must undergo a significant mental and technical shift. They need to rediscover their ability to dominate bowling attacks, not just survive them. The clock is ticking, and the cricketing world is watching to see if they can answer this challenge.
Sources
- Times of India: Embarrassment for Pakistan; Babar, Rizwan top unwanted list
- Cricket Bureau: Top 5 Slowest Fifty in BBL 2025-26
- ESPNcricinfo: Big Bash League 2025-26 Stats
- Cricket Australia: ‘Not sure Babar was too happy’: Steve Smith ruffles teammate’s feathers