February 6, 2024

Despite Leading BPL 2024 in Runs, How Impressive Has Babar Azam Been?

Babar Azam concluded his stint with the Rangpur Riders in the 2024 Bangladesh Premier League on February 6, amassing 251 runs from six matches at a strike rate 114.61. He left the league as the leading run-scorer 21 games into the season.

After some controversy surrounding NOCs for Pakistan players, Babar was cleared by the PCB to participate, making an immediate impact. Opening the innings, he scored a fifty in his first match, steering a tricky chase of 121 against the Sylhet Strikers on a tricky Mirpur pitch. With Rangpur at a precarious 39-6, Babar’s unbeaten 86-run partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai sealed the win.

However, his next outing could have been more successful. He scored just two off eight balls while chasing 161, and Rangpur fell short by 28 runs.

Two games into the tournament, Babar had 58 runs off 57 balls, rekindling questions about his suitability as a T20 batter, mainly after Pakistan had recently shifted him to No.3 in T20Is for quicker starts. His run-a-ball strike rate over the first two games reignited concerns over his ability to accelerate in the format.

Despite this, run-scoring has always been a strength for the former Pakistan captain, even in T20s. He is on the brink of reaching 10,000 T20 runs at a staggering average of 43.72, the highest in the format’s history.

True to form, Babar rebounded from his rare failure in game two, producing four consecutive scores of 35-plus, including another half-century. His BPL 2024 run concluded with an impressive average of 50.2, though once again, his strike rate 114.6 was scrutinized.

None of the league’s top ten run-scorers had a slower strike rate by his departure. Among the top 15, only one matched his pace. Babar’s total of just two sixes in six matches was the lowest among the top 20 run-scorers.

The Bangladesh Premier League: A Different Challenge

Babar Azam’s BPL 2024 campaign might not have thrilled fans looking for constant big hits and towering sixes, which people often expect from T20 cricket. However, it’s essential to understand that the format, while entertaining, is not just about boundaries. Effectiveness doesn’t always align with flashy optics in cricket.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) stands apart from other T20 franchise tournaments. The pitches here are notoriously slow and low, making it difficult for batters to hit through the line. Coupled with Bangladesh’s deep roster of skilled finger spinners, the conditions often result in a league where scores tend to be lower, and chasing totals becomes a real challenge.

Historically, the BPL is among the most challenging leagues for batters. In fact, the league is featured three times on the list of T20 tournaments with the six lowest scoring rates. At the time of writing, BPL 2024 has seen a scoring rate of 7.05 runs per over (rpo), one of the lowest ever, with only CPL 2013, BPL 2016, CPL 2020, BPL 2017, and IPL 2009 having lower rates.

This context sheds light on Babar’s more cautious approach. Babar was the anchor in a team where only one other batter averaged over 30, and just one scored fifty. His role in providing stability was far more valuable in the BPL than it might be in indifferent, higher-scoring franchise leagues.

The best evidence of Babar’s effectiveness is that Rangpur won every time he scored 35 or more. The only time he didn’t, they lost.

For example, his 62 off 46 balls against Dhaka enabled Rangpur to post a total of 183, which was more than enough. His 37 off 36 set a strong foundation that allowed Rangpur to reach 165, a score that proved eight runs too many for Comilla.

Babar closed out his campaign with two solid knocks of 47, helping Rangpur surpass 160 while batting first. His reliability at the top allowed the middle order to play more aggressively, knowing Babar was holding the innings together.

As the tournament progresses, Babar’s 251 runs at a strike rate of 114.6 will likely be surpassed by others. In time, critics may point to those numbers as evidence against his quality in the T20 format. But given the conditions and his impact on Rangpur’s success, such criticisms would miss the bigger picture. Babar’s innings weren’t just about individual numbers—they were instrumental in winning games.

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