Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has criticized the team management for breaking up the highly successful opening partnership of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand.
Babar and Rizwan were known for their prolific partnership, having scored 2400 runs together at an average of nearly 49 runs per innings. However, despite their consistent performances, they have faced criticism for their relatively low scoring rates in T20I cricket.
In the current series against New Zealand, Babar has been batting at No. 3, while Saim Ayub has been opening alongside Rizwan. Despite a promising start in the first game, the new opening pair has struggled to build substantial partnerships in subsequent matches.
Expressing his displeasure, Ramiz Raja questioned the decision to split the renowned opening pair, stating, “So much pressure was created to break the opening pair of Babar and Rizwan. When you bring in new players, they may perform well in leagues, but international cricket is a different beast where there is pressure, and the focus of the entire world is on you. You broke the opening pair that was famous worldwide.”
Ramiz emphasized the difficulty of establishing a successful opening partnership in international cricket, suggesting that it takes time and effort to develop such a combination. He criticized the management for not persevering with the established pair, especially considering Babar’s recent form and success at No. 3 in the series.
Despite Pakistan’s struggles in the ongoing series, with the team trailing 0-3 with two matches remaining, Ramiz Raja reaffirmed his support for Babar Azam’s captaincy. He clarified that his support extends to any captain leading the Pakistan side, emphasizing the broader leadership role beyond just on-field performance.
Babar Azam’s leadership has been under scrutiny following Pakistan’s recent series losses in both Tests and T20Is. Despite his individual success with the bat, questions have been raised about his tactical decisions and the team’s overall performance under his leadership.
As Pakistan looks to bounce back in the remaining matches against New Zealand, the management’s decision to break up the successful opening partnership will continue to be a point of debate in the cricketing circles.
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