(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Struggle with Low Strike Rates in Recent ODIs
Pakistan’s key batsmen, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have been facing challenges in maintaining high scoring rates during the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, highlighting ongoing concerns about their impact in the format.
Recent statistics reveal that both players have recorded the lowest batting strike rates among all ICC full-member nation players in ODIs over the past two years. Since January 1, 2024, Rizwan’s strike rate stands at 75.03 — the slowest among his peers — while Babar’s strike rate is 78.88, ranking second lowest. No other top-order batsman from full-member teams has a strike rate below 80 during this period.
This is notably below the modern ODI standard, where leading batting line-ups frequently maintain strike rates above 90, often nearing 100.
Babar and Rizwan have been central to Pakistan’s batting for several years, traditionally providing stability and anchoring the innings. Their approach helped Pakistan secure seven wins in nine ODIs in 2024, including historic series victories in Australia and South Africa. However, their form has dipped in 2025, with Pakistan winning only two out of ten ODIs so far, including a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign.
Experts suggest that the slower scoring rates from this duo may be increasing pressure on the team, particularly during the crucial middle overs. Both players have career strike rates above 85, indicating their capability to accelerate when in form, but recent performances have fallen short of expectations.
Babar Azam’s form is under particular scrutiny. Since his last international century in August 2023, he has scored 18 half-centuries across 71 innings in all formats but has struggled to convert these into big match-winning scores. Meanwhile, Rizwan remains a reliable anchor but has not consistently accelerated his scoring pace, which is increasingly vital in modern ODI cricket.
In today’s game, where teams aim for totals exceeding 320 runs, a more aggressive batting style is often necessary to compete at the highest level. Babar and Rizwan’s cautious approach may be limiting Pakistan’s ability to post competitive scores.
With ODI cricket not currently Pakistan’s strongest format, there is time for both players to work on improving their strike rates. The national team management has indicated that reassessing the roles of senior batsmen might be needed, with an emphasis on quicker scoring, especially in the middle overs.
The key challenge for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will be balancing their consistent run-scoring ability with an increased scoring tempo. How they manage this balance could significantly influence Pakistan’s success in white-ball cricket in the coming years. If they cannot adapt, their roles in the team may face reassessment.
