Hussain Talat: “Pakistan players in the middle order, who can play all forms of cricket, there are very few left. Maybe 4-5 players left, and if you ask them, they also don’t want to play (in that position)”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Hussain Talat has observed a worrying trend within Pakistan cricket, noting that players are reluctant to bat in the middle order because they risk being dropped if they don’t score runs immediately.
Mohammad Rizwan: “We don’t have enough experienced middle order batters like Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Imad Wasim”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Mohammad Rizwan has admitted that the national team don’t have experienced middle order batsmen like Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Imad Wasim.
Inzamam-ul-Haq: “This is certainly not the way a team should be selected. From No. 1 to No. 5 all are openers! It is shameful that we cannot find middle order batters in all of Pakistan”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Legendary Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said “it is shameful” that the men in green “cannot find middle order batters”.
Ahmed Shehzad: “You have picked your friends and given them 40 matches to prove their worth and this is hurting Pakistan cricket. You can give 40 matches to this [42]-year-old (points to Imran Nazir), and he will also give you performances at this age”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad believes 42-year-old aggressive opener Imran Nazir would be able to score runs if limited overs captain Babar Azam were to give him a prolonged run in the team.
Babar Azam: “The middle order needs to step up”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has taken aim at the team’s middle order batsmen, saying they have to “step up”.
Rashid Latif: “We only have two middle order players – Salman Ali Agha and Haris Sohail”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Rashid Latif, the former wicketkeeper-batsman, said Haris Sohail and Salman Ali Agha are the only two confirmed middle order batsmen Pakistan have right now.
Nasser Hussain: “Pakistan’s openers aren’t the problem. It’s the middle-order, they aren’t picking leg-spinners like Hasaranga in the Asia Cup and Adil Rashid… and that’s where the wheels are coming off”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Former England captain Nasser Hussain said Pakistan’s middle order batsmen have been the team’s Achilles heel in T20Is as they have not performed consistently.
Mohammad Yousuf: “As you mentioned the middle order, scoring quick singles are very essential for them”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Iconic Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf said it is essential that the middle order batsmen keep rotating the strike through quick singles.
Salman Butt: “If you need him as a middle order batter then play Shan Masood or Kamran Ghulam”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Ex-Pakistan captain Salman Butt said Shan Masood and Kamran Ghulam are better choices as middle order batsmen than Mohammad Haris.
Younis Khan: “We know we lack in middle order batting and we are working on it. We are finding batters for [the] middle order”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Pakistan batting coach Younis Khan said “we know we lack in middle order batting” and are looking for players to solve this problem.
