Janice R. Andrews
Former captain Shahid Afridi is optimistic that Pakistan will make it to the T20 World Cup final once more, but he is concerned about the batsmen’s poor middle-overs strike rate. Afridi’s insights illuminate Pakistan’s advantages and disadvantages as they get ready for the competition, especially in the crucial stretch between overs seven and thirteen.
Known for his explosive batting and captivating leadership, Afridi feels that although Pakistan has the finest pace attack in the world, their batsmen’s middle-over performance needs a lot of work. As the T20 World Cup’s tournament ambassador, Afridi informed the ICC, “The thing that bothers me is the strike rate of our batters, especially in between the seven to thirteen over phase.” He underlined that in order to create a competitive total at this time, it is crucial to sustain a run rate of eight to nine runs per over.
The 47-year-old former all-rounder, who was a member of Pakistan’s 2009 championship squad, is still upbeat about Pakistan’s prospects in the competition. He thinks the Pakistani squad would perform well in the West Indies and the United States, where the World Cup is being staged. Pakistan ought to get to the final, in my opinion. The environment is ideal for our squad, which is the explanation,” Afridi said.
According to Afridi, Pakistan’s potent speed attack is one of their best advantages. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, and Haris Rauf make up a formidable combination in the team. “No bowling lineup in any cricket team in the world, in my opinion, is as powerful as this one. Our four quick bowlers are all very skilled, and even the bowlers who are warming up the bench, like Abbas (Afridi), are quite skilled with the slower ball. It’s a fantastic assault,” said Afridi. He thinks that this elite bowling unit will be crucial in the competition against elite batting players.
Pakistan lost the summit match against England by five wickets, finishing second in the previous season of the prestigious competition. Afridi is hoping that this time the squad may advance higher and win the championship. Given their ability and the advantageous circumstances, he underlined the fast bowlers’ obligation. “The guys with their exceptional skills will perform well if they play against elite hitters in this World Cup. Every name will have a great deal of responsibility for them as well,” he continued.
Afridi also emphasized that, despite their recent form issues, Pakistan could still mount a strong spin attack. “Our team’s spinners are excellent, as can be seen. Even though they might not be in form right now, I have faith that they will. We are quite strong while batting,” he remarked. The seasoned cricket player is optimistic that the spinners will find their form again and make a big difference in the team’s performance.
He supported captain Babar Azam in his efforts to take the initiative and win the tournament. “Every member of the team is vital to the group. However, based on their recent performances, Babar, Muhammad Rizwan, Fakhar (Zaman), Shaheen, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Shadab (Khan) all have a significant role to play and will be crucial at the World Cup, according to Afridi.
One of the best batters in the world of cricket, Babar Azam, will be essential to Pakistan’s success. In order to solve the middle-over strike rate problem, his ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when necessary will be crucial. In a similar vein, Pakistan’s innings will be determined by the efforts of Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order. Pakistan has a powerful bowling assault thanks to the explosive potential of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi with the new ball and Haris Rauf’s experience in the dying overs.
Pakistan has a fantastic chance to display their ability on a worldwide platform at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pakistan supporters have a lot to look forward to with Afridi’s support and a well-rounded squad that includes both established players and up-and-coming talent. But the team’s ability to regularly post competitive totals or successfully pursue targets will depend on how well they handle the crucial problem of the middle-over strike rate.
Pakistan will be scrutinized for their middle-over batting performance even if their pace attack is still their greatest asset. Afridi’s worries serve as a reminder that even the best teams must constantly hone and modify their tactics. Pakistan’s chances of winning the T20 World Cup may depend on their capacity to manage their middle overs aggressiveness and prudence in an effective manner.
