Pakistan’s T20 conundrum continues as questions arise over their approach following a defeat to New Zealand in the third T20I. Babar Azam, while defending Pakistan’s batting display, faced criticism over a perceived slowdown during the middle overs, a concern emphasized by Shadab Khan, who stressed the need for “impactful innings” in T20 cricket.
Despite posting a competitive 178 on a batting-friendly pitch, Pakistan found themselves outgunned by New Zealand, who chased down the target with ease, largely thanks to Mark Chapman’s blistering 87 off 42 balls.
Babar, speaking after the match, defended Pakistan’s batting effort, stating, “We did well with the bat,” and downplaying the impact of the middle-overs slowdown. However, Shadab highlighted the importance of making a difference with the bat, pointing out the team’s need for more consequential innings.
The slowdown in question occurred after the powerplay, with Pakistan managing just 51 runs in the following seven overs as New Zealand tightened their grip on the game. While Babar and Rizwan contributed runs, their scoring rate faltered during this crucial phase.
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Pakistan’s head coach, Azhar Mahmood, admitted that Pakistan fell short by 15 to 20 runs, acknowledging the team’s struggles during the middle overs. He credited Chapman’s exceptional innings but emphasized the need for improvement in Pakistan’s batting approach.
Shadab, who played a crucial innings of 41 off 20 balls, expressed his flexibility in batting positions but emphasized the importance of making quick and impactful runs in T20 cricket, a sentiment echoed by many in modern cricket.
Overall, Pakistan faces a familiar challenge in T20 cricket, with the need to balance consistent scoring with the ability to deliver match-winning performances.
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