'Babar Azam cannot become a power-hitter' - Salman Butt's blunt take on Pakistan star

Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt believes people are trying to turn Babar Azam into a power-hitter despite it not being his natural game. Babar’s strike rate, particularly in T20Is, has remained a topic of debate, with critics often questioning his intent and attacking approach.

While many have urged the 31-year-old to bat more aggressively, Salman feels such expectations are unrealistic. According to him, Babar's strength lies in timing, placement, and consistency rather than clearing the boundary regularly, and forcing him to become a big hitter could ultimately affect his overall effectiveness.

“They are trying to make Babar Azam a power-hitter, which he cannot become,” said Butt as quoted by Khel Shel on X.

Despite facing sustained criticism over his strike rate, Babar responded in emphatic fashion with a stellar campaign in the 2026 Pakistan Super League. The right-handed batter played a pivotal role in guiding Peshawar Zalmi to the title, finishing as the tournament's highest run-scorer.

He amassed 588 runs in just 11 matches, including two centuries and three half-centuries, at an outstanding average of 73.50 and an impressive strike rate of 145.90, silencing many of his critics with a series of match-winning performances.

Babar carried that form into Pakistan's international assignments. In the one-off Test against Bangladesh, the Lahore-born batter scored 115 runs across two innings, registering a highest score of 68 while averaging 57.50. He then continued his consistent run in the three-match ODI series against Australia, accumulating 125 runs at an average of 41.66. His best score in the series was 69, once again underlining his ability to anchor the innings while contributing valuable runs at the top of the order.

Pakistan will next travel to the West Indies for a two-match Test series, scheduled to be played in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6. With Babar in encouraging form across formats, Pakistan will hope their premier batter continues his rich vein of form and plays a leading role as they look to begin the overseas tour on a positive note.