Younis Khan Backs Babar Azam in T20Is
Babar Azam's position in the batting order has sparked discussion among former cricketers, with Younis Khan suggesting a move to the middle order to maximize his abilities and provide stability to the team, given his impressive record and natural style of play.
Babar Azam remains Pakistan's most crucial T20 batsman, with Sohaib Maqsood and Younis Khan offering suggestions to optimize his performance, including a potential change in batting position or a new opening partner to enhance his elite run-scoring abilities.
Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has proposed that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should be utilized in the middle order in T20Is, where they can build innings and provide stability, given their natural style of play. This suggestion comes as Azam has been used as an opener or at number three in recent matches. Younis Khan believes that their slower strike rates at the top of the order are a result of their playing style, and a change could benefit the team.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have a remarkable record, scoring 3,300 runs in 73 matches, including 15 half-century stands and 10 century partnerships. Azam has individually scored 4,223 runs in 128 matches, averaging 39.83 with a strike rate of 129.22. Rizwan has scored 3,414 runs in 106 T20Is, averaging 47.41 with a strike rate of 125.37. Despite their impressive statistics, there have been suggestions for Azam to step down as Peshawar Zalmi's leader and take a break to focus on his batting, citing the pressure of captaincy as a reason for his struggles.
The debate surrounding Babar Azam's batting position and the role of captaincy in his performance continues, with various former cricketers offering their insights. Younis Khan's suggestion to use Azam and Rizwan in the middle order could potentially optimize their skills and contribute to the team's success in T20Is.