Former West Indies legend Ian Bishop has called for a change in the batting approach of Pakistan’s star openers. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, ahead of their first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against co-hosts USA on June 6 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
Bishop highlighted the need for Babar and Rizwan to adopt a more aggressive style early in their innings to keep pace with the changing demands of T20 cricket and provide the Men in Green with a solid foundation in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Notably, the Pakistan cricket team He recently restored his reliable opening pair of Babar and Rizwan during the T20I series against England after experimenting with young talent Saim Ayub as a wicketkeeper’s partner against New Zealand.
Ian Bishop warns Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan about his approach in T20Is
However, the senior and experienced duo achieved incredible success as Pakistan’s openers in T20I cricket, but the former West Indies pacer and commentator believes that a change in their strategy is imperative for the Men in Green to excel in the current T20 World Cup 2024.
Furthermore, Bishop urged the Pakistan team management to offer opportunities to young players like Ayub and Mohammad Harris, who could bring new energy to the team at the top of the batting order.
The legendary cricketer acknowledged that Babar and Rizwan are likely to continue as the preferred openers due to their experience, but they need to change their squad to boost Pakistan’s chances in the mega event.
He noted that Babar and Rizwan’s current strike rates may not be enough for the 2024 T20 World Cup, especially on challenging pitches in the US and the Caribbean, so it is important for them to push their pace to establish a foundation. solid for the Pakistan team.
They need to change their squad in the 2024 T20 World Cup: Ian Bishop
Ian Bishop said on Star Sports: “If you ask me what I want versus what will happen with Pakistan, I will tell you what I need and I hope in the future, I don’t know if it’s immediate, but in the future, guys like Saim Ayub, I know Mohammad. Harris is not on the roster at this time, but he is another young man. They have left that at home I think even for T-20 cricket. But these guys are still very young and they live like this.”
The cricket expert added: “So based on Babar and Riwan’s experience, they will probably go back there. But again, that’s a model that needs to change with those two players who I think, from what we’ve seen in T20 cricket, even on a World Cup of challenging pitches, they need to change gears in the way they approach their batting .”
Notably, Babar recently embarrassed Azam Khan in front of the Pakistan team on the ground during the practice session. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman has always been the subject of verbal abuse due to his obesity, but many did not expect Babar’s disrespectful behavior towards him, especially before his first T20 WC24 match against the United States.