Are there cracks in the Babar-Rizwan axis?

With 2,327 runs in 47 innings, at 51.71, Babar and Rizwan are the most prolific T20I batting pair in Pakistan’s history. No other duo has managed even 1,000 in the format. However, their strike rate remains a major talking point surrounding the side, and was once again under the scanner following the loss to Zimbabwe.

In that match, Rizwan faced 16 balls for his 14, while Babar made four in nine. Even if one overlooks that as a one-off, the two score at 7.93 an over. On average, they face 37 balls per match between them (in other words, roughly a powerplay) but score around 49, which is not ideal in a game where the par scores have been increasing.

After the defeat, statistics highlighting how Babar’s batting approach takes a hit with Rizwan also did the rounds.

Fakhar stopped opening from 2021. But after that, there were four T20I matches where Babar didn't open with Rizwan and one match in which Rizwan didn't play.
Babar's scores in those 5 matches: 44 vs RSA, 50 vs RSA, 52 vs Zim, 51 vs WI and 87no vs Eng. That's an average of 71.

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 28, 2022

Rizwan in power play against India

12 balls 4 runs 11 dots

Today

16 balls 10 dots

It's not about his runs, it's about intent at the top which created pressure on Babar and others

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) October 27, 2022

The two start off slowly and often go on to score big, but if they fall early, Pakistan are often left reeling without many runs on the board. This puts immense pressure on the middle order, who have to play catch-up till the very end.

Is Pakistan making the most of their middle order?

On paper, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah and Asif Ali have been inconsistent performers, and are under attack whenever the team does not fare as expected. However, an argument can be made that as Babar and Rizwan face most of the deliveries, especially in bilateral series, the middle-order come get little match practice. A failure for the top then only throws them into unknown territory.

This year alone, the top three from Pakistan have faced 71 balls an innings on average, almost 60 percent of a full innings. They have scored only 86, leaving the rest of the batters with approximately 49 balls to get to a competitive score.

Up against a daunting task, they often fail. Pakistan’s 4-7 have struck at only 129 this year, much below what the middle order from New Zealand, South Africa, England, Australia and West Indies have managed. It is not because they lack talent: the likes of Iftikhar, Asif, Haider, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan can all go after the bowling, and have proven themselves with special cameos, but these are few and far in between because of the added responsibility in high-risk situations.

In the ongoing edition, Pakistan were reduced to 15-2 in four overs against India with both Babar and Rizwan back in the pavilion upfront. Against Zimbabwe, the openers made 23-2 in 4.4 overs, which threw up the stage for the batters lower down the order. Shan Masood and Iftikhar made fighting fifties in the opener; Masood also scored 44 in 38 balls on Thursday; but these were not enough.

However, the blame should not lie on them for what they could not do but on the top order, who have seldom allowed them enough time in the middle in crunch situations. Pakistan had adequate build-up to the tournament, with 12 T20Is in over a month – seven at home, five in New Zealand – and could have given the middle order more opportunities to bat. That would have given them ideal preparation as well. They chose not to.

Can Shaheen rediscover his best self?

Shaheen Shah Afridi was virtually unplayable at the 2021 T20 World Cup. This time, he has looked off-rhythm, having recovered from a recent injury. He lacked the zing against India, and the Indian openers perhaps made him look more threatening than he was. He kept sending down full tosses in the arc and conceded three fours including a wide in the 18th over, which changed the momentum of the game.

Against Zimbabwe, he started by conceding two boundaries, sending down a couple of half-volleys in the first over. He was Pakistan’s second-most expensive bowler, and his fitness was also under scanner when he evidently struggled to run two when Pakistan needed three off the last ball. Shaheen was run out, with the Zimbabwe fielders targeting the striker’s end to throw the ball to close off the game.

What’s happening in the pressure moments?

The tactics against India in the last over have been scrutinised. India needed 16 to win off Nawaz’s last over when wicketkeeper Rizwan stood back, and Nawaz abandoned spin in favour of seam. Nawaz avenged Dubai by getting Hardik Pandya first ball and proceeded to have Dinesh Karthik stumped, but a six, a wide and a no-ball that also resulted in three byes did not help matters. Babar looked frazzled as the pressure piled on.

On Thursday, the decision to promote the visibly unfit Shaheen to face the last ball of the match when Pakistan needed three has been questioned. Shaheen did play a crucial knock against India, but he was far from 100 percent fit. The move backfired when he struggled to complete two runs despite wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva’s fumble. Naseem Shah or Haris Rauf could have been better options with better fitness.

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