First drop
2016 vs West Indies
After low scores in first 2 ODIs.
Cricket • Selection
Why Was Babar Azam Dropped?
It sounds surprising. Dropping your best batter? But Babar Azam has been left out of the playing XI a few times in his career.
Babar Azam was dropped due to poor form early in his career (2016-2017), tactical decisions in T20 cricket, or once as part of captaincy changes and team politics.
Quick Answer
Babar Azam was dropped mainly in his early years (2016-2017) due to inconsistent scores. Later drops were tactical or related to captaincy disputes, not form.
Comeback match
Scored 90+
Proved selectors wrong immediately.
Verdict
Partly
Was Babar Azam actually dropped?
Yes, but rarely for poor form after 2017. Most 'drops' were tactical or captaincy related, not performance based.
What supports this verdict
- The strongest evidence supports the core of the answer.
- Yes, but rarely for poor form after 2017. Most 'drops' were tactical or captaincy related, not performance based.
What weakens this verdict
- The claim is not official or absolute.
- Counter-evidence prevents a clean yes or no verdict.
2016-2017: The early career drops
Babar Azam debuted in 2015 but was not an automatic starter until 2017. In 2016, he was dropped for 2 ODIs against West Indies after scores of 25 and 13.
He was also left out of a Test against Australia in 2016 when Pakistan chose an extra bowler instead.
These early drops were classic 'young player learning' moments. He was not consistent yet, and competition for batting spots was tough.
How he responded
Babar came back from every drop stronger. After the 2016 ODI drop, he returned and scored 90+ runs in his next innings.
By 2019, he had become undroppable. His average crossed 50 in ODIs, and he was ranked No. 1 in the world.
From 2018 onwards, being 'dropped' was no longer about form. It was about other factors.
2023: The captaincy controversy
In 2023, Babar Azam was removed as Pakistan captain across all formats. Some media called this being 'dropped' from leadership.
The PCB cited wanting him to focus on batting. Critics said it was political after Pakistan's group stage exit in the 2023 World Cup.
He was not dropped from the team. He remained the first name on the team sheet as a batter.
Tactical drops in T20 cricket
In T20 leagues like the PSL, Babar has occasionally been 'rested' or dropped for tactical reasons.
Teams sometimes prefer an aggressive opener on certain pitches or against specific bowling attacks.
These are not real drops. They are match-ups decisions. Babar is usually back in the XI next game.
Evidence Scorecard
What evidence shows about Babar being dropped?
Here is the data on his selection history:
For
3
points
Against
0
points
✓FOR
Babar has missed less than 5% of Pakistan matches since 2018 due to non-injury reasons
Career Record
✓FOR
Early career drops (2016-2017) were justified by average below 35 at that time
Statistics
✓FOR
No performance-based drop has occurred since 2018
Career Record
•NEUTRAL
Captaincy removal in 2023 was more political than performance related
Expert Opinion
Complete Timeline of Babar Azam Being Dropped
October 2016
Dropped for 2 ODIs vs West Indies after low scores
He was young and inconsistent. Came back with 90+ runs.
December 2016
Left out of Test vs Australia for extra bowler
Team balance decision, not form related.
April 2017
Rested for T20Is vs West Indies
More of a rest than a drop. Management wanted to try other openers.
November 2023
Removed as captain across all formats
Media called it being 'dropped.' He remained in the team as a batter.
Undroppable
The truth: Babar has been undroppable since 2018
Since becoming the No. 1 ranked ODI batter in 2018, Babar Azam has not been dropped for performance reasons even once. Any 'drop' since then has been captaincy changes, tactical decisions, or rest.
Verdict
The bottom line
Babar Azam was dropped a few times early in his career when he was still finding consistency. Since 2018, he has been undroppable. Any recent 'drops' are either tactical, captaincy changes, or media exaggeration.
FAQs
Was Babar Azam ever dropped for poor form after 2018?
No. He has been Pakistan's most consistent batter since 2018 and was never dropped for performance reasons after that year.
Why was Babar removed as captain in 2023?
The PCB said they wanted him to focus on batting. Critics believe it was political after Pakistan's World Cup exit.
Has Babar been dropped from PSL teams?
Rarely. He has been rested for tactical match-ups but always returns as the main batter.
Did Babar ever get dropped from Tests?
Once in 2016. Never since becoming a regular Test player in 2018.
More FAQs
Was Babar Azam ever dropped for poor form after 2018?
No. He has been Pakistan's most consistent batter since 2018 and was never dropped for performance reasons after that year.
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