The 2024 edition of the Pakistan Super League came to an exciting end on March 18 as Shadab Khan?s Islamabad United defeated Mohammed Rizwan?s Multan Sultans by two wickets, and the game was a last-ball thriller. With PSL 2024 done and dusted, the focus now shifts to the preparations of Pakistan for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup in June.



Before the commencement of the 2024 T20 World Cup on June 2, the Pakistan national cricket team will play a total of 10 T20 international matches against England and New Zealand. The matches against these two world-class teams will prove to be really important in terms of finalizing the Pakistan 2024 T20 World Cup squad. The Shaheen have failed to lift the T20 World Cup trophy since their famous win in 2009, and they would be looking to go one step ahead this time around as they finished as the runners-up in 2022.



All the participating nations must submit their 15-member squad by the last week of April, as the tournament is scheduled to start in June. This article will provide you with information regarding Pakistan?s predicted 15-member squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.



Pakistan?s last T20 World Cup campaign was full of ups and downs, as they lost against Zimbabwe and India in the group stage games, before going on to win three games on the trot, which allowed them to qualify for the semi-finals. They defeated Kane Williamson-led New Zealand in the semis but fell short against Jos Buttler?s England by five wickets in the final.



Since their defeat against England in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Shaheens have gone on to play 16 T20 International games, but the upcoming 10 T20 International matches will decide the fate of some players. The likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammed Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah are pretty much confirmed to board Pakistan?s flight to the West Indies and USA for this year's World Cup. Beyond these five names, not a lot of players are considered to have their spots fixed for the 2024 T20 World Cup but Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed are likely to be picked.



A lot of news has surrounded Pakistan Cricket these days as some players have decided to reverse their retirements. Spin bowling All - Rounder Imad Wasim, who had a pretty good PSL 2024 on March 23, announced his decision to come out of retirement and made himself available for Pakistan for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. He retired from International Cricket in November 2023 but Shaheen Shah Afridi convinced him to come out of retirement.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/04/Shaheen-Afridi-1-1024x684.jpg" alt="PAK vs IRE: Tensions Rise in Pakistan Cricket, Shaheen Afridi NOT Happy with PCB with Babar Azam's Reappointment as White-Ball Captain" class="wp-image-128936" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: X.com</figcaption></figure>



WATCH: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistan-started-2024-t20-world-cup-preparation-in-army-style-video-viral/">Pakistan started 2024 T20 World Cup preparation in Army-Style</a>



?He (Shaheen Shah Afridi) called me after I decided to retire but I told that we will talk about this after the end of PSL 2024?, Imad Wasim said.



?I am delighted to announce that, following my meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board officials, I have reconsidered my decision to retire and am happy to declare my availability for Pakistan for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for reposing trust in me and I will give my best to bring success for my country. Pakistan comes first for me!? Imad Wasim wrote on his X handle.



Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi wanted seamer Mohammad Amir to reverse his retirement decision and play in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, and his wish has been granted as Mohammed Amir decided to come out of retirement on March 24 and made himself available for selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup.



?I still dream to play cricket for Pakistan. Some positive discussions took place between the Pakistan Cricket Board officials and myself, and they made me feel that Pakistan Cricket needs me and that I can still play cricket for Pakistan.? Amir wrote on his X handle.



Mohammed Amir was in fabulous form in the recently concluded PSL 2024. Given the form he is in and the experience he carries, it's almost certain that he will be picked in Pakistan?s 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. It will be a joy for the Pakistani fans to witness the trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammed Amir, and Naseem Shah handing the pace bowling unit of the Shaheens in the 2024 T20 World Cup.



The upcoming ten T20 international matches will be really important for the likes of Azam Khan, Saim Ayub, and Mohammed Haris as some good innings and a good wicket-taking spell can help these players secure their spots in the Pakistan World Cup squad.



Last month, the central contract of pacer Haris Rauf was terminated by the PCB due to his refusal to participate in Pakistan's test series against Australia since the test matches clashed with the matches of the Big Bash League. But on March 24th, the PCB reinstated the central contract of the 30-year-old, meaning that Rauf will be available for selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup.



Recently, a UAE cricketer of Pakistani origin, Usman Khan, was called up by the PCB for the training camp, which is currently ongoing and will end on April 8th.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/04/Usman-Khan.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-128943" /></figure>



For now, Usman Khan is registered as a United Arab Emirates cricketer, but it remains to be seen whether the PCB can make a deal with the UAE Cricket Board to allow Usman Khan to represent Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup.



Recently, Babar Azam was reappointed as the white ball captain of Pakistan, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi in that position. There's a lot of controversy regarding this news, but Pakistani fans would be hoping that under the leadership of Babar Azam, the Men in Green would hopefully go on to lift their second T20 World Cup trophy.



Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistans-18-member-squad-against-new-zealand-expected-pakistan-vs-new-zealand-t20i-series/"> Pakistan?s 18-Member Squad against New Zealand</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pakistan's predicted 15 member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/04/Babar-Azam.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-128942" /></figure>



Babar Azam (Captain), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (if he switches his cricket board), Haseebullah Khan, and Azam Khan.



Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/t20-wc-2024-indias-t20-world-cup-squad-is-set-to-be-selected-in-aprils-last-week/"> </a><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/t20-wc-2024-indias-t20-world-cup-squad-is-set-to-be-selected-in-aprils-last-week/">India?s T20 World Cup squad is set to be selected in April?s last&nbsp;week</a>

Pakistan's predicted 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup

pakistans-predicted-15-member-squad-for-the-2024-t20-world-cup

The mega event of this year, the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, is just two months away, as the tournament is slated to start from 2nd June. The tournament will be held in the West Indies and USA this time, and all the participating teams have begun their preparations for this year's mega event.?



The players of Pakistan are pretty pumped up as they are currently going through some rigorous training sessions with the Pakistan army and the training camp will take place till 8th April. Besides the training camp, Pakistan Cricket has been a hot topic in recent times as a lot of changes have been made in their Cricket team. Babar Azam has been reappointed as the T20i skipper following back to back defeats in the shortest format of the game. They lost the five match T20i series against New Zealand 4-1 under the captaincy of Shaheen Shah Afridi and some changes had to be made. Babar has been appointed as the skipper once again and this time around, the Shaheens would be looking to lift their second T20 World Cup Trophy under Babar's leadership.&nbsp;



Bowling All-Rounder Imad Wasim and seamer Mohammad Amir have decided to come out of retirement and have made themselves available for selection for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite Pakistan Cricket featuring constantly in the news, they have to find solutions to some problems and one of them is the opening combination.?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pakistan's best opening combination for the 2024 T20 World Cup</h2>



Under the captaincy of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Shaheens altered their opening combination as Babar Azam was asked to bat at number three in-order to let Saim Ayub open the innings with Mohammad Rizwan. But the duo of Ayub and Rizwan failed miserably at the top as they failed to register even a single 50+ partnership in the five T20 international matches against New Zealand.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/04/Saim-Ayub.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-128978" /></figure>



The decision of going away from Babar and Rizwan as the opening duo hurt the Shaheens but now that Babar Azam is back as the skipper, fans will be given another opportunity to witness the most successful opening combination of Pakistan in T20i internationals in action at the 2024 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;



As openers in T20i cricket, the duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have managed to score 2830 runs in 60 T20 International Games at an outstanding average of 48.79. Their highest opening stand in T20i Cricket is an unbeaten 202* runs against England in 2022. But, the strike rate of the duo has had a negative effect on the team, with both players opting to bat conservatively more often than not. But this time around, we may witness different versions of Babar and Rizwan, as the duo will be looking to put in their maximum efforts to help Pakistan lift their second T20 World Cup title.



Another opening combination which Pakistan may try is letting the duo of Saim Ayub and Babar Azam open the innings.The duo have played phenomenally well for Peshawar Zalmi as the openers and the highest opening stand between the two is 162 runs against Quetta Gladiators in 2023.&nbsp;



Saim Ayub is someone who likes to attack from the word go and with Saim at the other end attacking the bowlers, Babar can take his own sweet time to build his innings and settle down at the crease with ease. But it remains to be seen which opening combo we will get to witness in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;



Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistans-predicted-15-member-squad-for-the-2024-t20-world-cup/"> </a><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistans-predicted-15-member-squad-for-the-2024-t20-world-cup/">Pakistan?s predicted 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup</a>

Who Will Open the Inning for Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024? | Pakistan Opening Combinations

who-will-open-the-inning-for-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-2024-pakistan-opening-combinations

The Pakistan National Cricket team, under the leadership of reappointed skipper Babar Azam participated in some military drills during their two - week military training camp at Kakul?s Army School of Physical Training (ASPT). The PCB decided to organize a training session with the army of Pakistan and the players of the Men in Green were witnessed going through heavy workouts in a video posted by the PCB on their X handle. Pakistan Cricket has been all over the news since the last few weeks with Babar Azam getting reappointed as the white ball skipper and he has replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi in that position.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1774480684385452407?t=SJM8yvedChRwLh1unjWPLA&amp;s=08
</div></figure>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Haseebullah, Mohammad Hairs, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Irfan Khan Niazi, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Ali, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Wasim jr, Mohammad Amir and Haris Rauf are the players that are participating in the Military training camp in Kakul, Abbottabad.</code></pre>



In order to get the Shaheens back on track for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to reappoint Babar Azam as the white ball captain of the Men in Green. In November 2023, following Pakistan's humiliating defeat against India in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Babar announced his decision to resign as the skipper from all formats of the game.



Following Babar Azam?s resignation as the skipper, the 29 year old was replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi as the captain in T20 International games and Shan Masood in the longest format of the game.



The 1-4 series defeat against New Zealand in January 2024 was the only series the Shaheens played under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi.



The 2009 T20 World Cup winners are set to lock horns against the Black Caps in a five match home T20i series in April. Then they will travel to Ireland for a two-match T20i series and then they will be playing four T20 International matches against England before the 2024 T20 World Cup.



Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pakistans-18-member-squad-against-new-zealand-expected-pakistan-vs-new-zealand-t20i-series/">Pakistan?s 18-Member Squad against New Zealand</a>

Pakistan started 2024 T20 World Cup preparation in Army-Style,?Video?Viral

pakistan-started-2024-t20-world-cup-preparation-in-army-style-video-viral

PAK vs USA: Ahead of Pakistan's campaign in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, renowned broadcaster and cricket expert Ian Bishop has raised a key concern for the Babar Azam-led Pakistan. Once again recalling the long-standing debate of the strike rate in the T20Is, Bishop targeted Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and hoped that the two would change their approach in the T20 World Cup 2024.



Notably, the pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been quite successful for Pakistan for a number of years. The two have scored tons of runs for their teams and stand tall atop the list of T20I pairs to have scored the most number of runs in the format accounting for a massive 3154 runs collectively in 66 T20I innings. 



For a bit of perspective, the next best T20I pair is Paul Stirling and Andrew Bilbirnie from Ireland, who have jointly scored 2151 runs in 76 T20I innings.



Despite being so successful in amassing runs for their team, the two have been at the receiving end due to their poor strike rate. While skipper Babar Azam scores at a strike rate of 130, Mohammad Rizwan has recorded 128.17 as his strike rate in the T20I format.



Meanwhile, Pakistan tried Saim Ayub as opener alongside Mohammad Rizwan during the T20I series against New Zealand. He also opened the innings for Pakistan in the 2nd T20I against England, which saw him return with a sub-par 2 runs off 7 deliveries.



Talking about the potential of young players like Saim Ayub, Ian Bishop advocated their inclusion in the team with enough opportunities to set them up.



"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," Bishop said in a conversation with Star Sports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pakistan's Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan needs to shift gears</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/03/Mohammad-Rizwan-Babar-Azam-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="PAK vs USA: No Babar Azam-Mohamamd Rizwan opening pair? Pakistan need change in batting approach | Ian Bishop's advice for Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024" class="wp-image-128666" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: SportsTak</figcaption></figure>



The renowned commentator further opened up on the template that Pakistan has been following which needs to be changed a bit to tackle the challenge of the tricky surfaces in the World Cups.



"So, the experience of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, 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 T 20 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," Bishop added.



Pakistan will play their opening game in the ongoing <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/t20cricketworldcup/index">T20 World Cup</a> 2024 against the United States on June 06. The Men in Green are slotted with the likes of India, USA, Ireland and Canada in Group A for the ongoing event.



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-ireland-t20-world-cup-2024-match-details-time-venue-squads-and-live-streaming-details-of-ind-vs-ire-wc-t20-2024/">India vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2024: Match Details, Time, Venue, Squads and Live Streaming Details of IND vs IRE WC T20 2024</a>



<a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/opinion/story/opinion-what-helped-lotus-bloom-in-tmc-vs-bjp-battle-for-bengal-10-reasons-2547508-2024-06-03?utm_source=articlepage&amp;utm_medium=mustread&amp;utm_campaign=recommendation"></a>

PAK vs USA: No Babar Azam-Mohamamd Rizwan opening pair? Pakistan need change in batting approach | Ian Bishop's advice for Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024

pak-vs-usa-no-babar-azam-mohamamd-rizwan-opening-pair-pakistan-need-change-in-batting-approach-ian-bishops-advice-for-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-2024

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made significant changes to its central contracts policy for cricketers, opting to reduce the duration from three years to one year, while maintaining the current pay levels. These decisions were made during a meeting in Lahore, chaired by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and attended by key figures including red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, selectors Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.



Key points from the meeting include:



Contract Duration: Central contracts will now be revised to 12-month periods. Players' fitness, behavior, and form will be assessed annually.



Fitness Tests: Mandatory fitness tests will be conducted every three months for centrally and domestically contracted players, supervised by the head coaches.



NOCs for Foreign Leagues: Players will need to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for participating in foreign leagues. The priority is to ensure their fitness and availability for the national team.



Domestic Cricket Participation: All players must participate in domestic cricket, with selectors monitoring this before making national team selections.



Disciplinary Measures: A zero-tolerance policy on disciplinary issues has been adopted. Instances of player groupings will incur strict penalties to maintain team unity and morale.



Grassroots Cricket: Plans to upgrade high-performance centers nationwide are in place, with new centers to be established in Islamabad and Peshawar. Gillespie and Kirsten will oversee these initiatives.



<ol></ol>



These changes come in the wake of Pakistan's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup, where the team failed to advance to the Super Eight stage after losses to India and the USA. The PCB aims to overhaul its policies to improve the national team's performance and uphold high standards in both domestic and international cricket.



For more details, you can visit <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/pcb-to-reduce-central-contracts-duration-but-decides-against-pay-cut-for-pakistan-cricketers/article68406121.ece">The Hindu article</a>.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/champions-trophy-2025-india-not-travel/" data-type="post" data-id="143288">Revealed: What will happen if India don?t travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025? How will it affect World Cricket</a>

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Final Decision on Players Salary, 12-month Contracts Only

pakistan-cricket-board-pcb-final-decision-on-players-salary-12-month-contracts-only

Pakistan Cricket: Pakistan cricket finds itself at a crossroads after a dismal ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, where they failed to secure a single victory. With an eye on rebuilding for the future, the selectors have surprised the World by dropping Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam out of the T20I side.
PCB have announced the squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs in mid-March. Notably, star batter Babar Azam and skipper Mohammad Rizwan have been left out of the T20I squad, a decision that raises questions about their role in the shortest format.
While both players remain part of the ODI setup, their absence from the T20I side suggests a potential shift in strategy, possibly influenced by concerns over their strike rates in white-ball cricket. Is this the beginning of a new era for Pakistan's T20I team or just a temporary experiment?
<h2>Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Stats in T20Is</h2>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 79.8186%; height: 108.516px;" border="1"><colgroup><col style="width: 23.1863%;"><col style="width: 6.96568%;"><col style="width: 6.26334%;"><col style="width: 9.95733%;"><col style="width: 8.3926%;"><col style="width: 9.10384%;"><col style="width: 8.10811%;"><col style="width: 9.81508%;"><col style="width: 6.82788%;"><col style="width: 11.3798%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 36.1719px;">
<td>Player</td>
<td>Mat</td>
<td>Inngs</td>
<td>Runs</td>
<td>Avg</td>
<td>SR</td>
<td>100s</td>
<td>50s</td>
<td>4s</td>
<td>6s</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 36.1719px;">
<td>Babar Azam</td>
<td>128</td>
<td>121</td>
<td>4223</td>
<td>39.83</td>
<td>129.22</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>447</td>
<td>73</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 36.1719px;">
<td>Mohammad Rizwan</td>
<td>106</td>
<td>93</td>
<td>3414</td>
<td>47.41</td>
<td>125.37</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>285</td>
<td>95</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>The Strike Rate Debate: Why Were Babar and Rizwan Dropped?</h2>
While Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been among the most consistent run-scorers for Pakistan in T20Is, their approach has often come under scrutiny. The modern T20 game demands high strike rates, especially during the powerplay, where teams aim to maximize scoring opportunities.
Since 2022, both Babar and Rizwan have had relatively lower strike rates compared to top openers from other leading teams. Their cautious starts have often led to criticism, as Pakistan has struggled to post imposing totals in high-scoring matches.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_6764e6f55e630.jpg" alt="">
In current times, these two players have been in the top five of the players with the worst strike rate in the T20I format.
<table class="table" dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-baot="1" style="width: 69.161%; height: 120px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 48.2771%; height: 20px;">Player</td>
<td style="width: 28.0795%; height: 20px;">Country</td>
<td style="width: 23.6459%; height: 20px;">Strike-rate</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 48.2771%; height: 20px;">Pathum Nissanka</td>
<td style="width: 28.0795%; height: 20px;">Sri Lanka</td>
<td style="width: 23.6459%; height: 20px;">121.15</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 48.2771%; height: 20px;">Mohammad Rizwan</td>
<td style="width: 28.0795%; height: 20px;">Pakistan</td>
<td style="width: 23.6459%; height: 20px;">122.26</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 48.2771%; height: 20px;">Andy Balbirnie</td>
<td style="width: 28.0795%; height: 20px;">Ireland</td>
<td style="width: 23.6459%; height: 20px;">122.34</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 48.2771%; height: 20px;">Babar Azam</td>
<td style="width: 28.0795%; height: 20px;">Pakistan</td>
<td style="width: 23.6459%; height: 20px;">127.34</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td style="width: 48.2771%; height: 20px;">Litton Das</td>
<td style="width: 28.0795%; height: 20px;">Bangladesh</td>
<td style="width: 23.6459%; height: 20px;">128.36</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Pakistan’s interim head coach, Aaqib Javed, has emphasized the need for a more aggressive style in T20 cricket. “We need to play fearless and aggressive cricket in the T20 format and that’s why we have brought in new players,” he said.
“Nowadays teams are scoring over 200 in T20 cricket. We also need batters who could utilize the first six overs of the batting powerplay and play big shots.”
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_6763b833eb401.jpg" alt="">
What Pakistan's head coach is talking about is totally understandable, as when the strike rates of these two players are compared to Indian openers, Babar and Rizwan stand nowhere close to Indian players.
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"><col style="width: 50%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Players</td>
<td>Strike Rate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Abhishek Sharma</td>
<td>193.84</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yashasvi Jaiswal</td>
<td>164.31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sanju Samson</td>
<td>162.09</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rohit Sharma</td>
<td>142.81</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shubman Gill</td>
<td>139.27</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
While their exclusion from the T20I squad suggests that Pakistan is looking beyond them in this format, it may not be the end of their T20I careers. Babar and Rizwan still bring immense experience, and if they can adapt their game to a more aggressive style, they could find a way back into the setup.
For now, Pakistan is betting on a younger, more attacking approach. The New Zealand tour will be a crucial test for the new-look squad, and if the fresh faces deliver, it might just mark the beginning of a new era in Pakistan’s T20 cricket.

Is the Pakistan Team Moving Past Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in T20I?

Pakistan dropped Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I squad for New Zealand, prioritizing aggressive batting. Their low strike rates prompted this shift, with Salman Ali Agha leading a revamped, fearless squad.

NO Babar Azam, NO Rizwan! Is this the beginning of a new era for Pakistan's T20I team? Check the in-depth analysis of their removal from the T20I squad.

is-the-pakistan-team-moving-past-babar-azam-and-mohammad-rizwan-in-t20i-

Sahibzada Farhan a Peshawar opener created a history in Multan on March 21, after Pakistan's fabulous run chase of 200 victory over New Zealand in Auckland. In the National T20 Cup, he broke the record by scoring an unbeaten 162 runs off 72 balls in against Quetta which is the highest score by a Pakistani batter in T20s.
And in the past, the record for the highest score for Pakistan was held by Kamran Akmal. From the Lahore against Islamabad in Rawalpindi, Kamran Akmal hit an unbeaten of 150 from 71 balls in 2017. 
Highest individual T20 scores by any Batsman 
Farhan's 162 runs is now the joint third-highest run score in the T20. Chris Gayle is at the top and scored an unbeaten of 175 runs for RCB against Pune Warriors in the 2013 edition of IPL. Aaron Finch holds the second spot for this list where he scores 172 runs off 76 balls against Zimbabwe in 2018.
It is a coincidence that with exactly the same score of Farhan, there is three more batsmen who hit 162 and share the third spot with Farhan, Zimbabwe's Hamilton Masakadza, Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai, and South Africa's Dewald Brevis. Hamilton scored 162 not out from 71 balls. Afghan Hazratullah scored 162 not out against Ireland, and Dewald Brevis who is known for his hitting capability took 57 balls to score 162 runs.
Big win for Peshawar 
By record-breaking 162 runs off Farhan with 14 fours and 11 sixes, which helps Peshawar post 239/1 on the board. Quetta top-order batter scattered in this run chase, Hasebullah khan, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 18 runs from 13 balls. Lateefullah facing 11 balls just scored 5 runs, and Captain Abdul Bangalzai was very slow in this giant run chase he only managed to score 56 runs from 47 balls. An Off-spinner Usman Tariq took a 4-wicket haul, and Quetta was all out for 113. And by 126 runs off a huge margin Peshawar won the match.
Farhan's T20I numbers
Farhan managed to play his first T20I match in 2018 against Australia. Farhan has been always in and out of the Pakistan side. The last time Farhan played for Pakistan was against Zimbabwe in 2024 when Pakistan toured Zimbabwe. So far, Farhan has only scored 86 runs from 9 innings at an average of 9.55. His 39 runs was his highest run which he scored against Australia in T20I. In last year's series with New Zealand and Australia Farhan failed to prove his spot in the T20I series.

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