The win today doesn't invalidate the recent legitimate criticism

[Anis Shivani]

Pakistan’s win today doesn’t invalidate the recent legitimate criticism of their T20 approach.

The fact that the batting approach feels like such an anomaly today IS the problem.

This is how they should approach every T20.

Today’s victory just reinforces the narrative of reliance on a heroic, superhuman opening partnership—so what about the roles of the rest of the players? A lot of confusion has ensued about these roles, and today’s win only papers over the problems that need to be addressed.

Let’s not forget that Saqlain, Babar, and Ramiz were doubling down and defending not today’s batting approach, but the failed approach of preserving wickets which is against the T20 spirit.

Rizwan batting till the 12th or 15th over at an unacceptable strike rate and not leaving enough balls for the later order players to get into rhythm is a problem.

If both openers are hot then Pakistan win, as they often did during the early part of this combo. If one of them strikes it hot, Pakistan have an even chance. If both fail, then Pakistan lose. That’s not a winning strategy for the long haul, it places too much faith in the openers, instead of accepting the T20 spirit of every player hitting out or getting out, like England do, or like Sri Lanka did in the final of the Asia Cup.

Not to take anything away from their batting today, but this is how it should be in every game, even when the attitude fails, because in T20 you have substitutable parts, and other players should be expected to step in and play their defined roles.

 

[Bilal7]

The recent criticism arose because Babar lost form and Rizwan can't do it all by himself. If Rizwan and Babar are both in form, performances like these are the norm. They did this against South Africa and they did this against India.

This performance does invalidate all the criticism because when these two are batting well, everyone after them knows that they have one role:

See ball, hit ball.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Thousands of comments have been ripped apart by one innings from Babar and Rizwan. )

They are the best opening pair in T20. All Pak need is 3-4 big strong power hitters to follow, which we dont have.

 

[Anis Shivani]

The recent criticism arose because Babar lost form and Rizwan can't do it all by himself. If Rizwan and Babar are both in form, performances like these are the norm. They did this against South Africa and they did this against India.

This performance does invalidate all the criticism because when these two are batting well, everyone after them knows that they have one role:

See ball, hit ball.

So you're agreeing that if one of them fails, the approach fails?

In the Asia Cup when Babar failed, it was Iftikhar playing run a ball. If both openers click, then only it's see ball, hit ball?

 

[Bilal7]

So you're agreeing that if one of them fails, the approach fails?

In the Asia Cup when Babar failed, it was Iftikhar playing run a ball. If both openers click, then only it's see ball, hit ball?

Yes, if one of them fails, the approach does fail. However, the fact that they don't fail often is why we almost made the finals in the last World Cup.

Iftikhar played run-a-ball and then got out. Not sure how you can even imply that he played like Babar does. If you double down on this argument, you are going to be laughed at.

 

[Ashmal]

The only legitimate criticism is for the hapless middle order.

Openers were never the biggest concern, it was only Babar's lack of form which brought them under the spotlight.

The onus is on the likes of Khushdil and Iftikhar to perform or perish.

 

[Zaz]

Their are some legitmate concerns over their strike rates sometimes but them opening is the best way forward for pakistan as we have seen many times

In any limited overs format your best players should play at the top of the order and face the maximum number of deliveries to give you the best chance of winning games

In any format if you lose wkts early you will be on the backfoot and this reduces your chances of winning So it isnt a coincidence that when babar and rizwan get out early pakistan invariably lose

Yes theres issues with the middle order players but you shouldnt even think of breaking their partnership

The mid order need to work out a way to play and all babar and rizwan need to do is play with intent and not coast

Well done today boys

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Pakistans middle order is non existent and rizwan lost his charm other teams found his weaknesses usually he put so much pressure on other end that player crumble under pressure that happened in asia cup

 

[t_kaay]

They should just "chase" 200 mentally every time even if they bat 1st.

 

[Anis Shivani]

Yes, if one of them fails, the approach does fail. However, the fact that they don't fail often is why we almost made the finals in the last World Cup.

Iftikhar played run-a-ball and then got out. Not sure how you can even imply that he played like Babar does. If you double down on this argument, you are going to be laughed at.

I'm not making any comparisons of Iftikhar with Babar. What I am saying is that in T20 see ball hit ball should apply all through the order. Better to be 97 for 3 than 62 for 0.

 

[Abdullah]

The recent criticism arose because Babar lost form and Rizwan can't do it all by himself. If Rizwan and Babar are both in form, performances like these are the norm. They did this against South Africa and they did this against India.

This performance does invalidate all the criticism because when these two are batting well, everyone after them knows that they have one role:

See ball, hit ball.

4 out of Pakistan top 6 scores in t20 internationals have come in last 18 months, with Rizwan and babar scoring 85+% of the runs in those games.

That is ridiculous.
They scored 159 out of 232 Vs eng last year
168 out of 208 Vs WI in December
195 out of 205 at centurion
All the 203 today

I'm guessing that's 85% but these are our highest scores ever, thanks to these boys.
And people complain that they are the problem.
We need them in form and we need a line of power hitters after them with a solid number 3
They struggled in UAE with scores , but scores are generally lower in UAE ( look at recent IPL scores Vs scores in India) and babar was out of touch

These 2 aren't the problem.
I would have had jitters if we were left with 36 off 4 overs and these 2 weren't there today!!!

 

[Ashmal]

I'm not making any comparisons of Iftikhar with Babar. What I am saying is that in T20 see ball hit ball should apply all through the order. Better to be 97 for 3 than 62 for 0.

That's true for other teams but for Pakistan 97/3 can quickly become 140 all-out....hence the openers have to take a more conservative approach.

Today they didn't have a choice as they were chasing 200 and had to go for it.

 

[Anis Shivani]

They should just "chase" 200 mentally every time even if they bat 1st.

Yes, that's exactly my point. Which they used to do in the Mickey Arthur era more often than not, and which they've suddenly forgotten how to do (today being an exception), just like the Americans forgot how to land on the moon, as if it had never happened. 200 should be the mental target every time, and if the wicket is really bad then they fall short, but lately they've been going for 150 to 170, depending on what the "finishers" can get them.

 

[Anis Shivani]

That's true for other teams but for Pakistan 97/3 can quickly become 140 all-out....hence the openers have to take more a conservative approach.

Today they didn't have a choice as they were chasing 200 and had to go for it.

True, if you have the current middle order. And that's why, in order to prevent 140 all out from 97/3 you need proper batsmen with good technique, of which there are enough in the domestic setup already, if we only give them a chance, instead of so-called "finishers."

 

[Zaz]

I'm not making any comparisons of Iftikhar with Babar. What I am saying is that in T20 see ball hit ball should apply all through the order. Better to be 97 for 3 than 62 for 0.

I dont think anyone disagrees that pakistan should be play attacking batting like this every game

But is it always possible? No Sometimes its a slow surface, the bowlers bowl well or the batters are not 100% in form

You cant always have it your way But yes agree in principle They need to show more intent

Let the middle deal with their own issues If they fail they fail They need to swim or sink

Babar n Rizwan should play their game freely

 

[GreenKhan]

Pakistan’s strength which is it opening pair is also its weakness . The two face so many balls that the remainder get caught cold when a tough situation arises.

On top of that the remainders apart from Fakhar are still finding there feet in international cricket which leaves Pak in a real spot of bother .

 

[shamaan]

I stil believe Babar should be batting at 3 he's good enough to change positions and stil get lots of runs .

 

[hitthestump]

They should just "chase" 200 mentally every time even if they bat 1st.

And when they throw their wickets pointlessly i'm sure Asif Ali and Khushdil will bail us right out

 

[hitthestump]

That's true for other teams but for Pakistan 97/3 can quickly become 140 all-out....hence the openers have to take a more conservative approach.

Today they didn't have a choice as they were chasing 200 and had to go for it.

I really don't get why this is hard for everyone else to figure out.

 

[Slim]

The only valid criticism is Pakistan’s non existent middle order which is massive headache. Haider needs to perform. Him and Fakhar getting back in form will solve the middle order problem for us.

 

[Savak]

Pakistani wickets are different from UAE wickets. On Pakistani and Indian wickets, you can usually hit out from ball one to ball four from the get go but not on UAE wickets.

Let's also not forget, the boundary sizes are larger in the UAE vs Pakistan.

 

[Slim]

Pakistani wickets are different from UAE wickets. On Pakistani and Indian wickets, you can usually hit out from ball one to ball four from the get go but not on UAE wickets.

Let's also not forget, the boundary sizes are larger in the UAE vs Pakistan.

What empirical evidence you have for boundary sizes? Again self stabbing act. Babar’s sixes were more than 80 meters long.

 

[Usman Chadda]

True, if you have the current middle order. And that's why, in order to prevent 140 all out from 97/3 you need proper batsmen with good technique, of which there are enough in the domestic setup already, if we only give them a chance, instead of so-called "finishers."

Who?

Rather than criticize just for the sake of it, try and give those names next time you post.

Dumb fans trying to zero in on quite possibly one of the best T20 opening partnerships ever, by blaming the openers for the middle-order woes. Our middle-order barely has batsmen right now. You should be more enraged on how Iftikhar and Khushdil find themselves in the team again and again, rather than going after Babar-Rizwan and their strike-rates.

 

[hasanali]

Babar and Rizwan are a fabulous top two. The players we are struggling to replace are Malik and Hafeez.

 

[proud_pakistani]

Personally I think whenever the media and fans bring up the topic of SR and intent both Babar and Rizwan tend to answer their critics. It has happened in the past. Some of the criticism is invalid however. I think Rizwan and Babar know if they get to 50 off like 40, they can end up with 80 off 55 which is why they take the game deep. Also, i think Babar and Rizwan are good readers of the pitch. They have played slow at times but thats mostly in the UAE where pitches havent been the best for T20 cricket.