Pakistan’s middle-order woes have long been a hotly debated topic, but veteran cricketer Sohaib Maqsood revealed the real reason for the struggle after a narrow 11-run defeat in the Men in Green’s first T20I against South Africa.
Green’s middle and lower-middle order again faltered, with Tayyab Tahir scoring just 18 runs, while the rest of the bowlers failed to even face 10 balls and had to face failure in the ongoing three-match T20Is. series Opener against South Africa at Kingsmead.
Sohaib Maqsood accuses Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwa
Mohammad RizvanThe Green Men captain and wicketkeeper was the lone warrior with a stunning knock of 74 runs from 62 balls, while number three batsman Saim Ayub made 31 runs off 15 balls, but the others failed to contribute. , and they fell 11 runs short of the target in the first T20I.
Ahead of the second T20I between South Africa and the Men in Green at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Centurion on Friday, December 13, Sohaib Maqsood said the real problem is not the players themselves but the outdated approach to T20 cricket.
Maqsood boldly claimed that the middle order would improve dramatically if the Green Men changed their approach to the game like the top performing countries. He predicted that within 12-16 months, Pakistan could have a reliable middle order if they change their approach in T20Is.
The problem is the roles given to Pakistan’s middle-order batsmen: Sohaib Maqsood
Sohaib Maqsood also pointed out that the biggest problem is the roles given to Pakistani players in the squad, which often leads to them being unfairly labeled as failures by fans and selectors. So, he strongly feels that the solution lies in a change in the Green Men’s T20 strategy.
Maqsood wrote in X: “We have been listening for years. Pakistan’s middle order is fazool. The same middle order is One day and TEST and the problem is not the players but the way you play T20 cricket. I guess you will change T20 cricket as the best playing countries; your middle order will start to develop and eventually you will have proper middle order performers within 12-16 months. The problem is with the roles given to middle-class fighters, which makes them call chumps by the fans.
We have been listening for years Pakistan ka middle order fazool hai same Middle order ONE Aur TEST main tu theek hai actually the problem is not the players but the way you play T20 cricket. I bet you will change the way you play T20 cricket. … httpetc://t.che/rkLC7ffdaC
— Sohaib Maqsood (@sohaibcricketer) December 12, 2024
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam should not play together in T20Is: Maqsood
However, Maqsood expressed his respect for Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azamcalls them the best PAK players but he believes that as long as both play together in the T20I team, THE Men in Green will struggle to form in the middle order.
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He noted that the 4th and 5th strikeouts have averaged just 10 possessions each over the past two years, so they can’t be blamed for the losses. Maqsood said in the video, “Look Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam are the best Pakistani players. I have no doubt about that and I have a lot of respect for both of them. However, with Babar and Rizwan playing together in the T20I team, Pakistan’s middle order will never take shape.
The reason for this is that when both of them are in form, they play a lot of overs, 13-14 overs, both of them. Look at the record. Pakistan’s No. 4 and No. 5 have averaged 10 balls over 2 years and players who get 9-10 balls are their responsibility to win the match, or players who get 40-50 balls.”
