Pakistan's opening partnership of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, known for their consistency, hasn't quite delivered in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. While they've been reliable openers for the team in the past, their performances in the shortest format haven't lived up to expectations in this tournament. Their struggles began in the opening match against the USA. Babar scored a slow 44 off 43 balls, while Rizwan was dismissed cheaply for just 9 runs. This trend continued in the high-pressure match against India. While both batsmen got starts (Rizwan with 31 and Babar with 13), they couldn't capitalise, leaving many wondering if a change at the top of the order is necessary.
Meanwhile, former cricketer Ramiz Raja believes Pakistan can't afford to lose wickets early on, especially during the powerplay overs. He suggests the team management should continue backing Babar and Rizwan, expressing confidence in their ability to turn things around. Interestingly, Raja also mentioned batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, possibly hinting at the challenges all top batsmen face in T20 cricket.
"Looking at what Pakistan have got, you cannot afford to start by losing wickets. They may not give you the strike rate of a Rohit (Sharma) or a Virat (Kohli), but, you know, at least they give you solidity. And this Pakistan team, with the kind of batting lineup that they've got, they've got to play within what they have got. So it's important that they start off with Babar and Rizwan because it takes years to establish an opening partnership and pair," Raja told Cricbuzz.
Despite their impressive record – amassing 5,329 runs with a solid average of 44.4 and a strike rate of 129.5 in T20Is since 2021 – Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan haven't quite fired in the T20 World Cup. In an attempt to shake things up after two defeats, Pakistan brought in Saim Ayub, pushing Babar down to number 3. While Babar struggled in this unfamiliar position (scoring 33 off 33 balls), Rizwan held the innings together with a crucial 53 off 53 balls, securing a much-needed win against Canada. Notably, Pakistan also opted to bench Azam Khan for this match, further emphasising their search for solutions at the top of the order.
"You see, for me, it is important for the team to be fit. You can't have a separate case for someone who's talented but not fit. Look at Imad Wasim. He was not fit. He couldn't run properly and there were a couple of run out chances (against India). The first thing you need to have is a set standard of fitness," Raja further added.
Pakistan, who are on verge of elimination with just one win in two matches, will next face Ireland on June 16.
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