The recent T20 series between Pakistan and New Zealand has caused quite a stir in the cricketing world. Despite winning the first two matches against a weakened New Zealand team, Pakistan was unable to win the series under the captaincy of Babar Azam. The team was without key players such as Kane Williamson, Dion Conway, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner, Finn Allen, Mitchell Bracewell and Glenn Phillips, many of whom are busy with the IPL or injured. Despite the absence of these players, the Pakistani team failed to secure a series victory at home.
One of the major talking points of the series was the decision to have Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan open the batting, instead of the usual openers Fakhar Zaman and Saeem Ayub. Babar Azam and Rizwan scored 162 and 130 runs respectively in the series, with Babar Azam also scoring a century. However, Fakhar Zaman and Saeem Ayub were kept away from opening, and both players struggled when they were given opportunities in the middle order. In the series, Fakhar Zaman scored 64 runs at an average of 21.33 in 3 innings of 4 matches, while Saim Ayub scored a total of 57 runs in 4 innings of 5 matches, with an average of just 14.25.
The decision to have Babar Azam and Rizwan open has been criticized by some, with former cricketer Sikander Bakht calling Babar Azam a “situational captain” who follows the same formula every time. Bakht also questioned why there was no over from Iftikhar Ahmed against Chapman in the last match. Former cricketer and chief selector Mohammad Wasim also criticized Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, saying that both players were focusing on their personal milestones more than the team, which was leading to the team’s defeats.
One of the key moments of the series was the fifth T20I, where Mohammad Rizwan scored 84 runs off 51 balls in the first 16 overs, but scored just 14 runs off 11 balls in the next 4 overs and remained not out. Some have criticized Rizwan for batting slowly for his individual milestone, instead of trying to hit big for the team. However, it should be noted that cricket is a game of strategy, and individual milestones can be important for a player’s confidence and morale.
Despite the criticism, it is important to remember that cricket is a team sport, and every player has a role to play in the team’s success. While individual performances can be important, they should not come at the expense of the team’s performance. It is also important to give players the opportunity to try new things and experiment with different strategies, as this can help the team grow and improve in the long run.
Looking ahead, the ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand is set to start on April 27, and it will be interesting to see how both teams perform. Babar Azam and his team will be looking to bounce back from their T20 series defeat and secure a series victory at home. It remains to be seen whether Babar Azam will make any changes to his team’s strategy or lineup, or if he will stick with the same formula that has been criticized by some. Whatever the case may be, cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see how the series unfolds.
