🔥 PAK vs AUS 1st T20I Highlights: Babar Azam Under Fire, Pakistan’s Power-Hitting Crisis & Shaheen Afridi’s Moment of Truth
The scoreboard at Lahore reads 168/8. On paper, it looks competitive. In reality, it tells a darker, uncomfortable story — Pakistan are still fighting modern T20 cricket with outdated weapons.
Australia didn’t dominate Pakistan with brute force. They dissected them with clarity, planning, and fearless intent. Pakistan, meanwhile, played like a side torn between eras — half committing to aggression, half clinging to control.
This was not just the first T20I of a series.
This was an audit.
And the results were brutal.
💥 Powerplay Disaster: Pakistan Blinked First
Pakistan chose to bat. That decision demanded one thing above all else:
A ruthless powerplay.
What they delivered instead was hesitation.
Sahibzada Farhan fell first ball. A golden duck. No sighter. No pressure applied.
That wicket immediately handed Australia control — and Australia never lets go once they smell uncertainty.
Saim Ayub tried to resist with a blazing 40 off 22, but here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Even Saim’s innings felt like an individual rebellion, not a team strategy.
There was no coordinated assault. No intent to overwhelm.
Pakistan scored 56/1 in the powerplay, but it felt slower because the momentum kept stalling.
🧠 Adam Zampa vs Pakistan’s Middle Order: A Tactical Massacre
This match turned the moment Adam Zampa entered the attack.
Australia didn’t use spin defensively. They used it as a weapon of suffocation.
Zampa’s Spell (4-0-24-4) Was a Masterclass
- He removed Saim Ayub right as acceleration was building
- He exposed Salman Agha’s limited range
- He trapped Babar Azam — again — on the crease
- He dismissed Usman Khan, killing any late momentum
Zampa didn’t just take wickets.
He controlled Pakistan’s imagination.
And that is far more damaging.
🚨 Babar Azam: The Crisis Pakistan Doesn’t Want to Discuss
Let’s stop dancing around it.
Babar Azam is not failing occasionally.
He is systematically struggling in T20 cricket.
His 24 off 20 balls today wasn’t disastrous — but in modern T20s, it was crippling.
The Real Problem Isn’t Runs. It’s Tempo.
Babar’s strike rate of 120 might pass in bilateral cricket.
It does NOT pass against elite attacks.
It does NOT pass in World Cups.
And it does NOT pass when your team lacks power hitters around you.
Why Zampa Keeps Beating Babar
- Babar plays late, not far
- He prefers placement over elevation
- He struggles to reverse-sweep consistently
- He hesitates against flight
Australia know this.
Every top team knows this.
Yet Pakistan keep building their T20 plans around him.
That’s not loyalty.
That’s negligence.
⚠️ Pakistan’s Power-Hitting Problem: A Structural Failure
Pakistan did NOT lose this match because of one player.
They lost because they cannot hit enough sixes when it matters.
Pakistan Sixes Breakdown
- Total sixes: 11
- Australia bowling length: full and wide
- Boundary options: limited
Contrast this with Australia’s approach:
They don’t wait for bad balls.
They manufacture power.
Pakistan wait.
And hope.
🔥 Shivam Dube vs Pakistan’s Template (A Warning Sign)
Pakistan must look at what Shivam Dube did to New Zealand days ago.
That’s what modern T20 demands:
- Clear intent
- Match-up awareness
- Fearless swing zones
Pakistan’s middle order still plays like risk is optional.
It isn’t.
🧩 Salman Agha: Useful Player, Wrong Role
Salman Agha scored 39 off 27.
Decent innings.
Wrong timing.
He stabilised when Pakistan needed devastation.
In T20s, anchors must accelerate brutally.
Salman doesn’t — not consistently.
That’s not a flaw.
That’s a role mismatch.
🧨 Fakhar Zaman: From Enforcer to Passenger
Fakhar once terrified bowling attacks.
Now?
10 off 16 balls.
That’s not a slump.
That’s an identity crisis.
Pakistan need Fakhar the destroyer, not Fakhar the survivor.
If he cannot provide that, tough conversations are unavoidable.
🏏 Australia’s New Core: Calm, Clear, Cruel
Let’s give Australia their due.
This wasn’t even their strongest XI.
Yet they:
- Bowled disciplined lengths
- Trusted young bowlers
- Used Zampa like a chess grandmaster
They played Pakistan like a side that had studied their weaknesses for years.
Because they have.
⚡ Shaheen Afridi: Pakistan’s Last X-Factor
Now comes the real question.
Can Shaheen Afridi do something special?
The answer is: He must.
Pakistan cannot defend 168 without early damage.
Shaheen needs:
- Swing in the first two overs
- One big wicket in powerplay
- Controlled aggression, not rage bowling
If Shaheen strikes early, Pakistan stay alive.
If he doesn’t, this chase ends quickly.
🧠 Tactical Adjustments Pakistan Must Make — Immediately
1️⃣ Stop Protecting Strike Rates
Modern T20 cricket punishes hesitation.
2️⃣ Redefine Babar’s Role
If he plays, he must bat faster — or bat lower.
3️⃣ Pick Hitters, Not Just Names
Reputation doesn’t win T20s.
4️⃣ Use Shaheen as a Strike Weapon
Not a defensive bowler.
📉 Bigger Picture: Why This Matters Before the World Cup
This series is not about Australia.
It’s about Pakistan’s readiness for the T20 World Cup.
Right now?
Pakistan look behind the curve.
- Batting lacks fear factor
- Middle overs stagnate
- Death overs depend on miracles
World Cups don’t reward hope.
They reward clarity.
🔮 What Happens Next?
If Pakistan lose this match convincingly:
- Pressure on Babar intensifies
- Calls for batting overhaul grow louder
- Shaheen becomes the emotional anchor again
If Pakistan somehow defend this:
- It will be because of bowling brilliance
- Not batting excellence
And that’s a dangerous trend.
❓ FAQs
❓ Why is Babar Azam struggling in T20Is?
A: Because modern T20 bowling has evolved faster than his scoring methods.
❓ Is Pakistan’s power-hitting really that bad?
A: Yes. Compared to elite teams, Pakistan lag behind significantly.
❓ Can Shaheen Afridi win this match alone?
A: He can tilt it, not win it alone.
❓ Should Pakistan change their top order?
A: If they want to compete globally — absolutely.
❓ Is this series a warning for the World Cup?
A: It’s more than a warning. It’s a reality check.
Babar Azam’s Struggles Exposed as Pakistan’s Power-Hitting Crisis Deepens – Can Shaheen Afridi Save the Series?
🧠 Final Verdict: Pakistan Are at a Crossroads
This innings wasn’t a disaster.
That’s the scary part.
It was predictable.
Pakistan are stuck between safety and bravery.
Australia chose bravery.
Until Pakistan do the same — no amount of talent will save them.
Shaheen Afridi may still produce magic.
But magic is not a strategy.
And Pakistan desperately need one.