There were some who questioned the logic of two anchors opening the innings from the start. No other T20I team adopts this approach for good reason, but Pakistan's team management arrogantly believed they found a magic formula.
To be fair, it worked against modest attacks in inconsequential bilaterals, and above all in the 2021 World Cup streak ending victory vs India which bought them a lot of grace.
However their limitations were evident in crunch games - AUS SF (batting too slowly on a belter), Asia Cup final, decider vs ENG, and NZ tri-series final to name a few. Repeatedly in chases they'd leave the crease with the RRR higher than when they entered putting huge pressure on an already fragile middle order, despite enjoying the field restrictions. Together their PP RPO is little over 7 - amongst the lowest in world. Now this World Cup has exposed them totally.
Teams have exploited Rizwan's lack of footwork to balls outside off and reliance on legside scoring shots. Rizwan's pre-WC record in AUS (T20s - avg 15 at 90; ODIs - avg 17 at 62) also should've rang alarm bells about his suitability to open.
Babar is a more infuriating case. Easily the most gifted batsman of his generation who can dominate attacks but shows zero intent to do so, and stays in comfort zone of orthodox batting. He's developed every aspect of his game except powerhitting, as if it's something beneath him. His stubborn insistence to open has actively cost us games, and it's high time we hire a hardnosed foreign coach to challenge Babar on his selfishness and poor decisions.
