Pakistan’s middle-order woes have long been a topic of heated discussion, but veteran cricketer Sohaib Maqsood has just exposed the real reason behind the struggles after the Men in Green suffered a narrow 11-run defeat in the first T20I match against South Africa.
The Men in Green’s middle and lower-middle order faltered again, with Tayyab Tahir scoring only 18 runs while the rest of the players could not even face 10 balls, and have to face a setback in the first match of the series Ongoing three-match T20I against South Africa at Kingsmead.
Sohaib Maqsood accuses Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan, the captain and wicketkeeper of the Men in Green, was the lone warrior with an impressive knock of 74 runs off 62 balls, while number three batsman Saim Ayub quickly made 31 runs off 15 balls, but others could not write down. any contribution, and fell 11 runs short of the target in the first T20I.
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Ahead of the second T20I match between South Africa and the Men in Green on Friday, December 13 at the SuperSport Park cricket stadium in Centurion, Sohaib Maqsood said the real problem is not the players themselves, but the outdated approach to T20 cricket.
Maqsood boldly stated that if Men in Green change their approach to the game, similar to what top performing nations do, the middle order will improve dramatically. He predicted that within 12-16 months, Pakistan could have a reliable middle-order lineup if it changes its focus on T20Is.
The problem is the roles assigned to Pakistan’s middle-order batsmen: Sohaib Maqsood
Sohaib Maqsood also pointed out that the biggest challenge is the roles assigned to Pakistani players in the lineup, and that often leads to fans and selectors unfairly labeling them as failures. Therefore, he firmly believes that the solution lies in restructuring the Men in Green T20 strategy.
Maqsood posted on 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 your method of playing T20 cricket, not the players. I bet you will change the way T20 cricket is played like in countries with better players; Your middle order will begin to develop and eventually, in 12 to 16 months, you will have adequate middle order players. The problem is the roles assigned to middle-order batsmen, which makes fans call them tullers.”
We have been hearing for years Pakistan ka middle order fazool hai same middle order ONE day aur TEST main tu theek hai actually the problem is your method of playing T20 cricket, not the players. I bet you change the way T20 cricket is played as the best playing countries in your Middle… httpyes://t.dooh/rkldo7FFdtodo
– Sohaib Maqsood (@sohaibcricketer) dmydomymetrobmyr 12, 2024
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam should not play together in T20Is: Maqsood
However, Maqsood expressed his respect for Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, calling them PAK’s best players, but believes that as long as both of them play together in the T20I team, the Men in Green’s middle order will find it difficult to form.
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He mentioned that in the last two years, the fourth and fifth batters have averaged only 10 balls each, so they should not 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 it and I have enormous respect for both of them. But, as long as Babar and Rizwan play together in the T20I team, Pakistan’s middle-order will never be formed.
The reason for this is that when both are fit, most of the overs, 13-14 overs, both play. Look at the record. The average number of balls faced by Pakistan’s 4th and 5th numbers over 2 years was 10 balls and the players who receive between 9 and 10 balls, it is their responsibility to win the match, or the players who receive between 40 and 50 balls.