(Credit PCB)
“You need to revert to the opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam,” said Ramiz.
Pakistan faced off against England in the second T20I at Edgbaston in Birmingham on May 25. Unfortunately, the first T20I at Headingley was abandoned due to rain. In this pivotal clash of the four-match series, England emerged victorious, setting the stage for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
In a bid to shake things up, Pakistan’s new head coach, Gary Kirsten, experimented with Saim Ayub as an opener, pushing Babar Azam down to the number three position. However, this move proved to be ill-fated as Ayub, still inexperienced in such a crucial role in international cricket, struggled to make an impact.
Traditionally, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam had been the dynamic opening duo for Pakistan in T20Is, consistently delivering strong performances. Following the loss, former Pakistan PCB Chairman, Ramiz Raja, criticized the decision to disrupt the established combination, suggesting that Ayub’s inclusion had unsettled the team’s balance.
“Win or lose is part of the game but Pakistan could’ve competed better and may have even won at the end but they made mistakes. First, let’s identify the problem areas for Pakistan. First, Saim Ayub coming as an opener. I don’t think Pakistan should continue with Saim. He has been given too many chances and you have to do better in [international] cricket,” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.
“He is undercooked. You need to revert to the opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam because that is Pakistan’s strength and they understand each other’s game. The entire combination has been disturbed due to Saim,” he added.
Pakistan is adjusting to a fresh opening partnership, navigating uncertainties with their new batting duo.
Discussing the match, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that proved fruitful as they managed to take wickets consistently throughout the innings. However, England’s skipper, Jos Buttler, showcased his batting prowess with a composed innings, accumulating 84 runs to propel the hosts to a competitive total of 183 runs. Shaheen Afridi was the standout performer for Pakistan, impressing with his bowling as he claimed three wickets in his four-over spell, conceding 36 runs in the process.
Conversely, Pakistan’s opening batsmen, Ayub and Rizwan, were dismissed cheaply, scoring zero and two runs each. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman contributed 32 and 45 runs respectively, but with no other batsman able to provide substantial support, Pakistan’s innings faltered. Falling short by 23 runs, the visitors struggled to build partnerships, ultimately succumbing to England’s bowling attack, led by Reece Topley who claimed three crucial wickets.
