IND vs PAK: 3 Reasons Why Mohammad Rizwan Is Destined To Fail In ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022

IND vs PAK: 3 Reasons Why Mohammad Rizwan Is Destined To Fail In ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. The venue of the 2022 T20I World Cup tournament in Australia. India will play their opening match of the T20I World Cup 2022 on October 23 against Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground. India is part of group 2 in the tournament with teams like Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh in their pool.

The last time the two teams met at the 2021 T20I World Cup, Pakistan had beaten India by 10 wickets in their Super 12 match in Dubai to register their first-ever win against their neighbours in World Cups.

Babar Azam hit an unbeaten 68, while Mohammad Rizwan smashed an unbeaten 79. Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a terrific spell of 3/31 with three prized scalps of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli.

Mohammad Rizwan should be the wicketkeeper and the other opener for Pakistan in T20I World Cup 2022. He was the highest run-getter in Asia Cup 2022 with 281 runs averaging 56.2 in 6 T20Is.

He continued his dream run in the subsequent T20Is at home against England- 316 runs in 6 T20Is averaging 63.2 and 201 runs in 5 T20Is in the New Zealand tri-series averaging 50.25. He was the 2nd highest run-getter in the New Zealand tri-series. He is in the form of his life and is ICC’s top-ranked T20I batter. He has amassed 2460 runs in 73 T20Is averaging 52.34.

IND vs PAK: 3 Reasons Why Mohammad Rizwan Is Destined To Fail In ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022

1. Mohammad Rizwan Is A Slow Starter- Has A Low Strike Rate

Mohammad Rizwan averages 52.34 in T20Is but has a career strike rate of only 128.16. Although he averaged more than 50 in the last three tournaments-Asia Cup 2022, New Zealand Tri-Series and England 7-match T20Is his strike rate was never above 140. In Asia Cup 2022, his strike rate was only 117.57 despite being the leading run-scorer with 281 runs in 6 T20Is.

In the last ICC T20 World Cup 2021 too, his strike rate was a mere 127.73 where he averaged 70.25 in 6 T20Is having amassed 281 runs in 6 T20Is. He was criticized for his slow strike rate of 112.24 in Asia Cup 2022 final against eventual winners Sri Lanka. He scored 55 but took 49 balls as Pakistan lost the match and Asia Cup.

2. Overdependence On Mohammad Rizwan

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been the pillars of Pakistan’s batting lineup for the last couple of years. They have been the most prolific opening pair in the international circuit of late as they have piled on 1897 runs in 37 innings averaging 54.2 batting together as openers.

Pakistan is over-dependent on the openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. If they fail, the likes of inexperienced and out-of-form middle-order players like Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, and Iftikhar Ahmed will be exposed. Pakistan’s middle-order has lately faced immense criticism over the last few weeks, especially during their home series against England where they lost 4-3.

3. Poor Record And Less Experience In Australia

Mohammad Rizwan has played only 3 T20Is in Australia and scored only 45 runs averaging a mere 15. He had scores of 14,0 and 31 in the 3 T20Is. He has an overall Strike Rate of 90 in Australia. The less experience in tough Australian conditions will haunt him in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.