That’s interesting, what strike rate and boundary percentage are they talking about because Abdullah has an elite strike rate of 140 during his first ten balls during the powerplay - that’s the most important metric especially if you consider that Central Punjab was relying on him for 40% of their runs while playing him at 1 down rather than opening with him to pierce gaps in the powerplay field restrictions. Only when Babar came in did some pressure lift from Abdullah - none of the other openers in the discussion like Zeeshan Malik, Rizwan, etc have the pressure of having to carry their entire batting lineups.
For that reason, we actually don’t know yet how Abdullah plays when he’s given a free hand - there’s way too small of a sample size. All we know is that he has some very very solid numbers under pressure, including that fantastic century on debut.
For that reason, we actually don’t know yet how Abdullah plays when he’s given a free hand - there’s way too small of a sample size. All we know is that he has some very very solid numbers under pressure, including that fantastic century on debut.[/QUOTE]
So the following is what a journalist tweeted about the worst boundary/ball ratio in the recent National T20 Cup 2020
Due to privacy I had to cut the name
He may have had the lowest boundary/ball ratio, but people have to remember he scored a century on debut, which requires immense mental strength and the team relied on him as well, as no one clicked in the batting order until Babar came. Also he came at number four in that century debut match.
You cant compare his game to Haider as many people are doing. Haider is more of a Rohit Sharma type batsman, attacking style of cricket, while Abdullah is more of a Babar Azam/Kane Williamson type batsman, anchoring the innings and playing throughout the innings. I completely agree that Abdullah strike rate is not high compared to other top openers. However in the National t20 cup, he showed he can score centuries and fifties in t20. As you have said, the sample size is small, so they should let him play as opener and let him learn and then make a decision. Its foolish after one innings which he was not out, to drop him and play M Rizwan who's strike rate in the NT20 Cup, was 127.96, compared to Abdullah's strike rate of 133.08.
Since Babar is injured, Abdullah has to be the anchor and his opening partner has to be attacking batsman. T20 is not all about hitting sixes. Just look at Babar who was the number 1 batsman, his power hitting is not that bright, but he still managed to be the number one batsman and improved his power hitting since his debut. Same with Abdullah, he is not good with power hitting,but he will improve and become better.
It's so sad how impatient Pakistanis are. When Abdullah had scored a century, people were begging the selectors to select him, which was right, but after one inning people are bashing his skills. Smh
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