Pakistan Cricket Team has a reputation for being one of the most dominant teams in the shortest format of the game. However, their middle order has been a cause of concern for them as they have not been able to find a stable combination. In their recent matches, they played with four openers in the same team, leaving out the talented young opener M.Haris who was in good form. We take a look at their potential candidates for the middle order in T20I and how they can balance their batting line-up.
Haris-Saim Failure In the Middle Order
Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub are two young guns who impressed everyone with their aggressive batting in the PSL. However, they have not been able to replicate their form on the international level. M.Haris showed glimpses of his talent in the T20 World Cup 2022 but has been inconsistent since then. The main reason for this is that he has been batting out of position in the middle order. Saim Ayub too has faced the same problem as he has not been given the opportunity to open the innings and express himself.
Promotion of Imad and Shadab
Pakistan have a problem when it comes to openers in their T20I team. They have four openers in their squad, but only two can bat at the top. In order to accommodate them, Pakistan have experimented with Imad and Shadab as pinch-hitters in the middle order, but the strategy has failed miserably.
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With no proper middle order in T20I, Pakistan are wasting their openers in lower positions and forcing their lower-order batter to bat higher up the order. But none of this is working and Pakistan are facing a huge challenge due to their lack of a reliable middle order.
Has PSL Failed To Produce Middle-Order Batters?
PSL has been a great platform for the Pakistan Cricket Team to discover many talented players, but it has not been able to produce quality middle-order batters. This is because most teams prefer to rely on foreign batters in the middle instead of local ones, which is why Pakistan is struggling with their middle order in T20I.
Possible Contenders
Ifthikhar Ahmad is one of the few options that Pakistan has for their middle order in T20I and the only one who has been playing regularly at the highest level. He has demonstrated his ability to score runs and hit big shots, but he has also been prone to inconsistency and unreliability. He has been unable to cement his place in the team and has often thrown away his wicket after getting a start.
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Bismillah Khan is a young wicket-keeper batter who has impressed everyone with his performance and skill in the domestic circuit but has not been given a chance to play in the PSL or at the international level. He has the ability to rescue his team from difficult situations as well as play aggressively. He could be a potential solution for Pakistan’s middle order in T20I if he gets an opportunity to showcase his talent.
Umar Akmal is also an option but he’s also known for his brutal hitting but inconsistency. His discipline is also a problem as he can’t hold his tongue and has even threatened to reveal players’ secrets if he’s not allowed into the team.
However, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah have already been given a chance but they failed even after a number of matches and are out of the team right now, but you never know they could make a comeback into the team.
