'Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar need to start working on their strike rates': Pakistan's T20 World Cup-winning captain hits out at top-order batters

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan who led them to their T20 World Cup title win in 2009 edition has advised the top-order batters to increase their strike rates as the format has evolved of late. Younis wants them to attack more in the powerplay overs. 
 

Speaking at an event in Karachi, Younis said that the batters should be flexible about their batting position in the format. In addition, he wants bowlers to be able to cope up with pressure situations as well.
 

"I think our top-order batters like Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar need to now start working on their strike rates and make better use of the power play," the 46-year-old said.

His former teammate Rashid Latif made a controversial statement as he said that the captaincy change has affected the environment in Pakistan's dressing room.
 

"I don't think Babar should have expected the white ball captaincy again after the board removed Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain after just one series," he said on his YouTube channel.
 

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter also said that Shaheen should not have taken captaincy in the T20I format and backed Babar instead.

 

ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant blames Delhi's hot weather, Sanju Samson's review for slow over-rate that led to one-match suspension before RCB clash
 

Maiden loss to Ireland, strike rate still an issue

After the drawn five-T20I series against New Zealand, Pakistan were stunned by Ireland in Dublin as they lost the last over thriller by five wickets. Pakistan posted 182/6 on the board after they were asked to bat first.
 

While opener Saim Ayub scored at a strike rate over 150 in his 29-ball 45, Rizwan got run out for a single-digit score. Skipper Babar scored 57 runs from 43 balls at a strike rate of 132.56 whereas Zaman scored 20 runs from 18 balls. 
 

After the match, Babar admitted that the par score was 190. This was Pakistan’s first T20I loss to Ireland. Pakistan will have a chance to level the series on May 12 in the second T20I of the three-T20I series. 
 

After the completion of T20I series against Ireland, Pakistan will play a four-T20I series against defending champions England before flying to the Americas for T20 World Cup 2024. 
 

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