Former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi has urged current skipper Babar Azam to move himself down the order and promote Mohammad Haris to open with Mohammad Rizwan in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday, November 9 in Sydney.
Despite Pakistan making a sensational comeback and securing its berth in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, Afridi was not pleased with the batting performance of the Babar-led side.
Shaheen Shah Afridi emerged as the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with career-best 4/24, and Mohammad Haris and Shan Masood saved Babar's blushes by playing crucial knocks to seal a famous win over the Shakib Al Hasan-led side.
Former Pakistani all-rounder Afridi has urged Babar to take the No.3 position in the top order for the knockout match against New Zealand.
"Haris ko humey utilize karney ki zaroorat hai. Babar No.3 par aa sakta hai. Thoda sa change krey Babar apney aap ko. Ye koi zaroori nahi hai aap he ne opening karni hai ya upar se likhwakey laye ho ki tumney he opening karni hai. Change karo, thoda sa captain decisions leta hai. Thodi si batting mein mujhe fikar nazar arhi hai (Babar Azam needs to listen to suggestions. We need to use Mohammad Haris with fielding restrictions. Babar Azam should drop to number three position. His batting position is not set in stone. A captain should take such decisions for the team)," Afridi said on Samaa TV.
Babar Azam has scores of 0,4,4,6 and 25 in the T20 World Cup so far, while Mohammad Haris has played some stunning shots at the start to give Pakistan team momentum when they needed it the most.
"You look at Iftikhar or Shan Masood and you can see their intention in their body language, that they are looking to hit the ball. We need that kind of intention, that kind of cricket. What's the point of scoring a run-a-ball 30 or 35 if you can't finish the game having used up that many deliveries?," Afridi added.
He also tweeted the same thing urging Babar to let Mohammad Haris open with Rizwan as he has shown intent to hit big shots.
