PAK vs ENG: ‘High Time For Pakistan’s Middle Order To Perform’- Inzamam-ul-Haq

Pakistan started the seven-match T20 series against England at home with a defeat. England won by six wickets in the first T20 in Karachi on Tuesday. After losing the toss, Pakistan scored 158 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.

Mohammad Rizwan has scored 68 runs off 46 balls with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes. Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman scored his 17th T20I half-century and continued his Asia Cup form.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said that there is a problem in the middle order of the Pakistan cricket team and it is high time for the Babar Azam-led team to realize this as soon as possible before the T20 World Cup.

‘High Time For Pakistan’s Middle Order To Perform’: Inzamam-ul-Haq

“Pakistan’s performance has not been up to the mark. They should have scored more and as usual, they have repeated the same mistakes. Our top order again did well and the problem lies in the lower order as we have seen in the Asia Cup as well.”

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former Pakistan cricketer said that Pakistan were 15-20 runs short with the bat and middle-order batsmen should play with a strike rate of 150. He feels Pakistan made good changes in the playing XI and players should be backed even though could not perform well in the match.

“Batters coming in at 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th number, should hit the strike rate of 150. Then only we can achieve the target. It’s not that England played well, but Pakistan were 15-20 runs short. Things would have been different if Pakistan had 175 plus on board.”

“These changes are good for the team and though they could not perform well in the first match against England, we should back them. The team combination is better now than the one we had in Asia Cup.”

Babar Azam Isn’t Looking Out Of Form – Inzamam-ul-Haq

The legendary cricketer added that Pakistan’s top-order batsmen performed well and Babar isn’t looking out of form as he scored 31 runs off 24 balls. He that in the absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Pakistan team is lacking experience in the bowling department.

“It augurs well that Mohammad Rizwan, who is constantly contributing with the bat, also taking care of his strike rate now. Also, though Babar Azam played a short knock, he isn’t looking out of form. He made 24-ball 31.”

“Though Naseem Shah is a talented bowler, he has a little experience of T20Is. He needs to spend more time with seniors. But at the same time, Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Rauf have improved a lot. Others too should learn from them.”

The second T20 match of the seven-match T20I series between England and Pakistan will be held on September 22 in Karachi on Thursday.

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