Shoaib Malik: “You need to see that if high-scoring matches are happening, then you will have to open with Saim Ayub. But if high-scoring games are not happening, then it depends on the conditions, if it’s those 160-170 score matches again, then I guess Babar and Rizwan should open”
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Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik believes the men in green should have two opening combinations for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
He noted that if Pakistan are chasing a big score, Saim Ayub needs to be opening the batting as he is capable of scoring quick runs and getting the team off to a fast start.
However, if the target is around 160 to 170, Malik feels that it might be better to let limited overs captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan open.
“You need to see that if high-scoring matches are happening, then you will have to open with Saim Ayub. But if high-scoring games are not happening, then it depends on the conditions, if it’s those 160-170 score matches again, then I guess Babar and Rizwan should open,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
The Pakistan team recently played a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which ended as a 2-2 draw.
They then proceeded to defeat Ireland 2-1 in a three-match T20I series.
Currently, Pakistan are playing four T20Is against England and trail 1-0 after following the second match by 23 runs.
Afterwards, they will be involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will take place in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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