Pakistan fell short of the target by seven runs against India in a low-scoring encounter at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. While Babar Azam fell after scoring 13 runs from 10 balls, Mohammad Rizwan played a gritty knock of 31 from 44 balls before getting dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. The next two group stages are now must-win contests for Pakistan to give themselves a chance to make it to Super 8. In the upcoming clash against Canada on June 11 at the same venue, the opening duo has a chance to enter the elite list of elite Pakistan batters in T20 World Cups.
So far, four Pakistan batters have scored 500 or more runs in T20 World Cups. Rizwan is just four runs away from joining them. He has 496 runs from 15 games at an average of 38.15 including four fifties in the event. Babar needs 16 runs to achieve the milestone. The skipper has 484 runs from same number of innings at an average of 34.57 including five fifties.
Pakistan’s top-four run-scorers in T20 World Cups
Shoaib Malik has occupied the top spot with 646 runs from 34 games at an average of 34 including three half-centuries. He is followed by Shahid Afridi. The all-rounder has 546 runs from 34 games at an average of 18.82 including two fifties. Kamran Akmal is in the third place with 524 runs from 30 games at an average of 20.96 including three half-centuries. Mohammad Hafeez is on the fourth spot with 511 runs from 30 games at an average of 21.29 including just one half-century.
Babar’s chance to extend the lead
Babar is currently the leading run-scorer (4,080 runs) in T20Is. He has a chance to extend lead over Indian openers Virat Kohli (4,042 runs) and Rohit Sharma (4,039 runs).
Pakistan’s qualification scenario
After consecutive defeats against the co-hosts USA and India, Pakistan don’t just need to win by big margins against Canada and Ireland. The champions of the T20 World Cup 2009 edition also want Ireland to beat USA on June 16 in the clash that will take place in Florida.
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