Sohail Tanvir Suggests Splitting Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in Pakistan’s T20 Squad
ISLAMABAD – Former Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir has voiced concerns over the continued inclusion of both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in Pakistan’s T20 International (T20I) playing XI. He believes the national team would benefit by selecting just one of the two and replacing the other with a more explosive batter to meet modern T20 demands.
Speaking about the duo’s similar batting approach, Tanvir explained that while both are exceptionally skilled, their conservative starts often slow down the innings—something detrimental in the fast-paced T20 format, where momentum is key. Although they accelerate later, Tanvir stressed that the delayed aggression is frequently too little, too late.
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Sahibzada Farhan a Better Fit?
Tanvir highlighted Sahibzada Farhan as a promising alternative, noting his current form and impressive stats: 245 runs in 6 innings with a strike rate of 161.18. In comparison, while Rizwan may have more runs, his strike rate is significantly lower. Babar, on the other hand, currently doesn’t feature in the top 10 for runs, average, or strike rate in recent T20 matches.
A Call for Tactical Shift
The former fast bowler urged both Babar and Rizwan to modernize their batting styles, recommending that they adopt a more attacking mindset early in their innings. He clarified that this doesn’t mean swinging at every ball but accelerating from the start to set the tone for the innings.
Specifically addressing Babar Azam, Tanvir encouraged him to expand his shot selection and draw inspiration from adaptable players like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, who have successfully evolved their games to suit T20 cricket.
Conclusion
Tanvir’s remarks come amid rising scrutiny of Pakistan’s T20 performance and lineup stability. His suggestions reflect a broader demand from fans and analysts for a more aggressive and dynamic approach, especially as global T20 standards continue to evolve.
