Building Pakistan’s Explosive T20 Core: A Data-Driven Analysis

[Farabi]

Pakistan has struggled to establish a truly explosive T20 team. With three years to go until the next major tournament, who should Pakistan back as the core of their squad?

In a landscape filled with misinformation and opinions often presented as facts, I decided to rely on data to conduct an objective analysis of where the real potential lies. Here's a breakdown of performances to identify the players who could form the backbone of Pakistan's T20 side.

Pakistan's T20 Core: A Data-Driven Approach

National T20 Performances

2023/24
- S. Farhan: Avg 44, SR 178 (highest run-getter)
- Kamran Ghulam: Avg 40, SR 140
- Omair Yousuf: Avg 36, SR 128
- Tayyab Tahir: Avg 31, SR 111
- Mohammad Haris: Avg 28, SR 148

2022/23
- S. Farhan: Avg 35, SR 132 (highest run-getter)
- Tayyab Tahir: Avg 41, SR 138
- Omair Yousuf: Avg 51, SR 137
- Kamran Ghulam: Avg 22, SR 118
- Haseebullah: Avg 22, SR 112
- Irfan Khan: Avg 28, SR 152
- Amir Jamal: Avg 42, SR 192
- Agha Salman: Avg 6, SR 78
- Mohd Haris avg 18, SR 126

2021
- S. Farhan: Avg 40, SR 132 (highest run-getter)
- Kamran Ghulam: Avg 75, SR 145
- Tayyab Tahir: Avg 48, SR 148
- Agha Salman: Avg 29, SR 129
- Mohd Haris: Avg 9, SR 109

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PSL Performances Since 2022
- Mohammad Rizwan: Avg 50, SR 130 (highest run-getter)
- Babar Azam: Avg 50, SR 136
- Fakhar Zaman: Avg 34, SR 149
- Saim Ayub: Avg 30, SR 160
- Shadab Khan: Avg 28, SR 150
- Mohammad Haris: Avg 26, SR 170
- Usman Khan: Avg 74, SR 172
- Kamran Ghulam: Avg 22, SR 117
- Saud Shakeel: Avg 35, SR 142
- S. Farhan: Avg 28, SR 127
- Agha Salman: Avg 30, SR 137
- Sharjeel Khan: Avg 20, SR 127
- Tayyab Tahir: Avg 32, SR 147
- Haseebullah: Avg 16, SR 143
- Omair Yousuf: Avg 34, SR 147
- Irfan Khan: Avg 38, SR 138
- Amir Jamal: Avg 20, SR 150
- Jahandad Khan: Avg 20, SR 187

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#### Insights

1. Sahibzada Farhan
- Dominates domestic cricket as the highest run-getter for three consecutive seasons, with a SR of 178 in 2023/24 showing he’s improved his pace.
- Despite consistent performances, he remains underutilized at the PSL and international levels.

2. Kamran Ghulam
- Impressive in domestic T20s (Avg 40, SR 140 in 2023/24) but inconsistent in the PSL (Avg 22, SR 117).

3. Tayyab Tahir
- A consistent domestic performer with solid PSL numbers (Avg 32, SR 147). A strong candidate for the national team.

4. Saim Ayub and Usman Khan
- Among the most impactful PSL batters.
- Usman Khan boasts stellar stats (Avg 74, SR 172), while Saim Ayub is an explosive opener (Avg 30, SR 160).

5. Mohammad Haris
- Known for his aggressive style and high strike rate (170 in PSL). Despite modest averages, he offers a unique x-factor.

6. Omair Yousuf and Irfan Khan
- Emerging talents with encouraging numbers. They could develop into reliable options.

7. Agha Salman
- Struggles in T20 cricket. Players like Tayyab Tahir and Saud Shakeel have shown more promise in this format for the same role.

8. Haseebullah
- A prolific List A performer but unsuited for T20s based on current stats.

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Recommended T20 Core
1. Saim Ayub
2. Mohammad Haris
3. Fakhar Zaman
4. Usman Khan
5. Tayyab Tahir
6. Irfan Khan
7. Jahandad Khan or Amir Jamal

What do you guys think?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The main problem is that the source from which we are selecting these players isn’t strong enough to produce match-winners. Until we fix our domestic structure we will have to keep picking the same kind of mediocre players due to the lack of competition.

 

[Farabi]

The main problem is that the source from which we are selecting these players isn’t strong enough to produce match-winners. Until we fix our domestic structure we will have to keep picking the same kind of mediocre players due to the lack of competition.

While the domestic system has room for improvement, it remains the most reliable indicator of potential. As I always say, if a player struggles to excel in a lower-standard domestic setup, how can we expect them to succeed at the international level? The alternative to using data and proven performance is chaotic liking and disliking.

 

[Mohraheem]

It’s simple… remove tuktuk mentality that Misbah has created. Bar players from meeting with Misbah ul haq! If your playing dot balls to warm up ur game. PCB can release you! Taking too much time to settle while doing tuktuk

 

[Hawkeye]

When you see names like Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan up there, you can immediately tell these stats are utter garbage.

A player has to pass the eye test to play for the national team.

No matter how much Farhan scores in domestic, if you watch him play, will you ever select him in white ball international cricket?
No.

He doesn’t have the shots against pace bowling. Dud against the short ball and does not improvise shots against fast bowling either.

Same for Shadab, absolute dud against medium to fast bowling and only relies on third tier bowlers to score.

Stats alone should never be the criteria.

Although often, good stats along with good power game and shots against pace will result in a good prospect.

Who are those guys?

 

[moghul]

When you see names like Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan up there, you can immediately tell these stats are utter garbage.

A player has to pass the eye test to play for the national team.

No matter how much Farhan scores in domestic, if you watch him play, will you ever select him in white ball international cricket?
No.

He doesn’t have the shots against pace bowling. Dud against the short ball and does not improvise shots against fast bowling either.

Same for Shadab, absolute dud against medium to fast bowling and only relies on third tier bowlers to score.

Stats alone should never be the criteria.

Although often, good stats along with good power game and shots against pace will result in a good prospect.

Who are those guys?

Agree , Sahibzada will not be successful at international level and he is not a youngster who will improve. Usman will have a limited success and same goes to Tayyab Tahir due to their poor technique against pace bowling but Tayyab might be successful due to his vast experience in FC cricket , which Usman has almost none .

Haris is one to be invested and he deserves more chances , same goes to Umair Yusuf who is technically a far better player. Not impressed with Irfan so far but he is young and might improve.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

PSL Performances Since 2022

Sharjeel Khan: Avg 20, SR 127

What a garbage player. Can't believe certain people here bend over backwards to advocate his selection.

 

[sweep_shot]

Saim, Fakhar, Haris, and Usman should be there.

I think Asif Ali should be added too if he gets his form back. He is a good hitter; I still remember his 4 sixes.

 

[Farabi]

When you see names like Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan up there, you can immediately tell these stats are utter garbage.

A player has to pass the eye test to play for the national team.

No matter how much Farhan scores in domestic, if you watch him play, will you ever select him in white ball international cricket?
No.

He doesn’t have the shots against pace bowling. Dud against the short ball and does not improvise shots against fast bowling either.

Same for Shadab, absolute dud against medium to fast bowling and only relies on third tier bowlers to score.

Stats alone should never be the criteria.

Although often, good stats along with good power game and shots against pace will result in a good prospect.

Who are those guys?

Yup. I agree that stats are a starting point and they should not be the only criteria.
You are right about Shadab. However, I would have liked Sahibzada Farhan to get his chances and show that he is not ready.
It’s rare for someone to suck domestically only to dominate internationally. It’s even rarer for someone to just debut without any domestic experience and do well.
The vast majority of those who do well internationally showed glimpses of that promise in their domestic systems, so while imperfect, it’s still the best gauge we have.

 

[mominsaigol]

@Farabi excellent post. Should be POTW.

 

[Farabi]

Agree , Sahibzada will not be successful at international level and he is not a youngster who will improve. Usman will have a limited success and same goes to Tayyab Tahir due to their poor technique against pace bowling but Tayyab might be successful due to his vast experience in FC cricket , which Usman has almost none .

Haris is one to be invested and he deserves more chances , same goes to Umair Yusuf who is technically a far better player. Not impressed with Irfan so far but he is young and might improve.

@Hawkeye
You can't afford to build a one-dimensional lineup. For Pakistan, the ability to play spin effectively is more critical than pace, considering their current strengths. The team often struggles to maintain momentum as soon as a half-decent spinner comes into the attack.

The next World Cup is in India, not Australia, and the conditions for facing pace in India or Pakistan are vastly different from those in Australia. We've all seen how players like Babar Azam, Haris, and even Fakhar Zaman handle pace with relative ease, but don’t demonstrate the same success against spin.

With this in mind, players like Tayyab Tahir, Farhan, and Usman Khan can compliment the team with a good match up against spin and they have something to offer for Pakistan's success in Indian conditions.

 

[Hellion]

Saim
Babar
Usman/Abdullah Shafique


Niazi

after that it's mediocrity after mediocrity even in PSL .

The fact that an utterly mediocre T20 player like Rizwan is first choice in Pakistan shows the complete lack of talent currently

However, the names I mentioned above at least have impressive PSL numbers(despite some very obvious flaws)