Need 1 Or 2 Badtameez Type Batsmen In The Middle-Order: Inzamam-Ul-Haq On Pakistan's ODI Set-Up

Former Pakistan captain and chief selector Inzamam-Ul-Haq has expressed his disappointment about Pakistan batsmen’s inability to raise their tempo. Zimbabwe came quite close to Pakistan’s first innings total of 281 in the first ODI in Rawalpindi, losing by 26 runs eventually. Inzamam-Ul-Haq believes that the national set-up needs one or two slam-bang batsmen in the middle-order to get to 300-350 runs.

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Haris Sohail top-scored for Pakistan in Rawalpindi against Zimbabwe, striking 71 in 82 deliveries at a strike rate of 86.58. Apart from captain Babar Azam, who perished for 19 at a strike rate of 105.55, none of the other top six reached more than Sohail’s strike rate of 86.58. Brendan Taylor spearheaded the tourists’ reply with 112 off 117 balls; however, he was unsuccessful in taking Zimbabwe over the finish line.

Inzamam-Ul-Haq lamented the lack of batsmen in the top five, who could play the big shots and play at a rapid strike rate. The 120-Test veteran calls for the management to thrust ‘badtameez’ type of batsmen in the middle-order instead of players, who could only play textbook shots. Inzamam feels that the current trend of ODI cricket requires batsmen to muster 300-350 totals. The second ODI begins in Rawalpindi on Sunday while the same venue would also host the third ODI and the three T20 internationals.

Below is the tweet which says Inzamam-Ul-Haq’s words:

Inzamam-ul-Haq “There is no one in the Pakistan top 5 who can hit big or can play at a fast strike-rate. We need 1 or 2 badtameez type of batsmen in the middle-order because it becomes difficult to score 300-350 runs if you only have proper batsmen” #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 31, 2020