1992 World Cup winning pacer Aaqib Javed criticized Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s batting style, despite the fact that they are currently the first and second-ranked batters in the latest ICC T20I Rankings.
Both Babar and Rizwan racked up plenty of runs in the T20Is and have contributed the most runs to the Pakistan team's totals, but still, their strike rate is not impressive at all, and many have been slamming the duo for not scoring quickly, especially in the power play.
After Pakistan lost the Asia Cup 2022 final to Sri Lanka and now T20 World Cup 2022 is barely a month away, the former Pakistani pacer claimed if Babar and Rizwan continue to play this way and be cautious as openers, then the Men in Green could never win the big tournaments.
Aaqib Javed was quoted by The Indian Express: “These two openers are not going to win you tournaments. Take the two openers [Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan], the number one and number two players in the world. But such a player should know what to do. The vice-captain plays for 15 overs – starts playing when the asking rate is 8 and leaves after taking it to 17!”
He also suggested Pakistan promote Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order and use his potential as an opener in T20Is.
He added, “By making Fakhar Zaman bat at No.3, beda-gark kar rahe hai (they are destroying him). Fakhar should open with one of these two (Babar and Rizwan).”
The former cricketer also asked the Pakistan selectors to include Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah, Tayyab Tahir, and Agha Salman in the T20I team, as they are good white-ball players.
Javed further explained, “You don’t want to give chances to those who can play. Shan [Masood] run kar-kar k paagal ho chuka hai (he has been piling up runs like mad) but you don’t want to play him. There are other players who deserve a place. Taiyaab Tahir is a good performer. Then there is Agha Salman, performing in white-ball cricket.”
Shan Masood should bat at No.3. Let Rizwan bat at No. 4 so that once the field is opened up, he can rotate the strike. Then you bring in Tayyab Tahir or Agha Salman. And as for Khushdil, Asif and Iftikhar, you can still play one of them at No.7 when there is no other option in the entire country. These three aren’t good. No batting. What else could happen [with the current batting line-up]; we can only lose.”
He signed off by saying, “Then there is Shoaib Malik. If you have a problem with someone’s age, at least you should have an option choice ready. You have just forcibly removed someone … will Asif Ali play in his place? Or Iftikhar? Or Khushdil?”
