Former West Indies legend Ian Bishop has called for a change in the batting approach of Pakistan’s star openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, ahead of their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 opener against the co-hosts, the USA, on June 6 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
Bishop stressed the need for Babar and Rizwan to adopt a more aggressive style early in their innings to keep pace with the evolving demands of T20 cricket and provide the Men in Green solid foundation at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Notably, the Pakistan cricket team recently restored their trusted opening pair of Babar and Rizwan during the T20I series against England after experimenting with young talent Saim Ayub as the keeper’s partner against New Zealand.
Ian Bishop warns Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan over their approach in T20Is
However, the senior and experienced duo achieved incredible success as the openers for Pakistan in T20I cricket, but the former West Indies pacer and commentator believes a shift in their strategy is a must for the Men in Green to excel at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
Furthermore, Bishop urged the Pakistan team management to offer opportunities to young players like Ayub and Mohammad Harris, who could bring fresh energy to the team at the top of the batting order.
The legendary cricketer acknowledged that Babar and Rizwan are likely to continue as the preferred openers due to their experience, but they need to change their template to boost Pakistan’s chances in the mega event.
He pointed out that the current strike rates of Babar and Rizwan may not be sufficient for the T20 World Cup 2024, especially on challenging pitches in the USA and Caribbean, so it is important for them to fuel their pace to set a strong foundation for the Pakistan team.
They need to change their template at T20 World Cup 2024: Ian Bishop
Ian Bishop said on Star Sports: “If you’re asking me what I want versus what will happen to Pakistan, I will tell you that I need and hope that down the road, I don’t know if it’s immediate but down the road guys like Saim Ayub, I know Mohammad Harris is not in the reckoning right now, but he’s another young man. They’ve left back at home that I think until for T-20 cricket. But these guys are still very young and living the way.”
The cricket expert added, “So, the experience of Babar and Riwan, they probably will go back there. But again, that’s a template that needs to change with those two players who I think from what we’ve seen T20 cricket going to even in a World Cup of challenging pitches, they need to shift another gear up in the way they approach their batting.”
Notably, Babar recently body-shamed Azam Khan in front of the Pakistan team on the ground during the practice session. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter has always been on the receiving end of verbal assaults for his obesity, but Babar’s disrespectful behavior towards him was not expected by many, especially ahead of their T20 WC24 opener against the USA.
