Colombo, Sri Lanka – Web Desk: Pakistan’s campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka has been hit by severe top-order failures, putting the team’s semi-final prospects in jeopardy. Captain Salman Ali Agha and key batsmen, including Babar Azam, have struggled to deliver, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position.
Analysts and former players have criticized the team’s selection strategy. Salman Ali Agha and Mike Hesson’s strict selection policies are being blamed for Pakistan’s lackluster performance, as the captain failed to lead from the front both with bat and tactical decisions. Former fast bowling legend Wasim Akram lamented that players rarely consult him now, saying, “Advice should be sought at the right time, not after mistakes occur.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also commented on Pakistan’s dropping of in-form T20 players like Fakhar Zaman and top spinner Abrar Ahmed despite their strong performances. Experts noted that Pakistan’s “half-baked” all-rounder policy has limited specialist batsmen and bowlers from playing, leaving the team vulnerable against top opposition.
In terms of individual performances, opener Sahibzada Farhan has been Pakistan’s highest scorer with 283 runs in six matches at an average of 70.75, including one century, two fifties, 28 fours, and 13 sixes. Conversely, Babar Azam, recalled after the Asia Cup, managed only 91 runs at an average of 22, with a top score of 46 against the USA.
Other top-order batsmen struggled as well: Saem Ayub scored 70 runs at an average of 14, while captain Salman Ali Agha contributed only 60 runs at 12. Wicketkeeper Usman Khan added 52 runs at 13, despite being preferred over Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris.
All-rounders provided mixed results. Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten 29 against the Netherlands secured Pakistan’s first win, but he was underutilized in bowling in other matches. Shadab Khan accumulated 103 runs and five wickets across five matches. Spinner Usman Tariq led the team with 10 wickets in five matches, while Shaheen Afridi claimed seven wickets.
With semi-final qualification looking increasingly difficult, Pakistan faces urgent challenges in both strategy and selection as the tournament progresses.
