Pakistan cricket has often been described as a team that is inconsistent and unpredictable, a team that can surprise, even shock, their fans and opponents alike. But the appointment of Babar Azam as their captain, a player who has been a phenomenal batter and currently one of the best in the game, has brought back consistency in Pakistan cricket, more so in their batting. Another reason for that has been the rise of Mohammed Rizwan as their all-format batter, especially in T20I.
Currently ranked number two in the ICC Rankings for T20I batters, Azam has been one of the most dominant batters in the last few years. 2204 runs at an outstanding average of 46.89 and a strike rate of 130.64 shows his consistency and ability to bat long in a format where a higher average along with a high strike rate is rare.
Usually a number three batter, opening the innings for Pakistan, Azam has scored 1430 runs at an average of 46.13, which is slightly less than his average of 49.28 batting at number three. Since December 2020, Babar Azam averages 32.6, but his strike rate has shot up to 142.98, and it’s the phase where he also scored his maiden T20I century.
In that period, Azam has opened only in 10 innings but his partner has been Rizwan, who ever since he started opening the batting, has been striking at a scarcely believable average of 80.0 and a strike rate of 139.02. Since December 2020, no batter has scored more runs than Rizwan’s 880 runs in 17 innings.
Rizwan’s rise has been astronomical. Before he started opening the innings, he just had 185 runs in 15 innings, averaging 16.81 at a poor strike rate of just 96.35. A move up the order has completely changed his style of play and his fortunes in the T20I format. Along with skipper Azam, Rizwan has formed a formidable opening partnership for Pakistan.
Opening the batting together in 10 innings, the Azam-Rizwan pair has racked up 521 runs. The pair averages 52.1 runs, striking at 152.76. The duo has scored the fourth-highest opening partnership in T20I, scoring 197 runs against South Africa.
With the T20 World Cup taking place in UAE, the experience of Azam and Rizwan in those conditions will be hugely beneficial for Pakistan. The consistency at which the pair has managed to score runs for Pakistan has helped their middle-order to express themselves while batting. For Pakistan to recreate their 2009 magic in the tournament, a lot will depend on how this opening pair performs. It is fair to say that Azam and Rizwan are currently the two batting pillars of the current Pakistani team.