Pakistan’s vice-captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has voiced his concerns over the decision by the team management to break up the formidable opening partnership with skipper Babar Azam in the T20 series against New Zealand.
Following a hard-fought battle in the fourth Twenty20 International, where Pakistan posted a total of 158 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, Rizwan expressed his reservations about the consequences of separating him and Babar Azam at the top order.
Despite Rizwan’s commendable innings, scoring 90 runs off 63 balls, Pakistan faced a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand, who secured a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The dynamic duo had managed a promising 51-run partnership in the match, with Babar Azam contributing 19 runs off 11 balls.
Rizwan emphasized that the decision to shuffle the opening pair had not worked well and had proven detrimental to the team’s performance. In the pursuit of 159 runs, skipper Shaheen Afridi showcased a brilliant performance by taking three quick wickets. However, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Philips’ remarkable unbeaten fifties led to a seven-wicket victory for New Zealand.
Rizwan’s call for a reunion with Babar Azam at the top order reflects the urgency for strategic adjustments in Pakistan’s batting lineup as they strive to salvage pride in the final match of the series.
