Pakistan Cricket Team has gone through a lot of changes ever since the recent ODI World Cup in November 2023. Be it in the coaching department, captaincy role, or the team combinations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the arrival of Gary Kirsten as head coach in ODIs and T20Is, right before the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup. With the arrival of the former World Cup-winning coach, there were expected to be some radical changes in the team combinations and selections.
It was reported that skipper Babar Azam would bat alongside Saim Ayub at the top of the innings in the upcoming T20I World Cup. Mohammad Rizwan was reported to bat at number three, while Fakhar Zaman would follow Rizwan in the batting order.
However, in-game decisions have turned out to be different than the ones on paper. In Pakistan's first T20I against Ireland on Friday, the batting order looked quite different, and one which would leave former Team Director, Mohammad Hafeez, elated.
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Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten prefers Mohammed Rizwan and Saim Ayub as openers?
Kirsten, who is currently with Gujarat Titans as batting coach and mentor, has already assumed his duties as the head coach of Pakistan.
In Pakistan's first T20I against Ireland, the order in which the batters took the field, has surprised a few. Babar Azam was demoted to number 3, with southpaw Saim Ayub and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan leading the batting sequence.
Former Pakistan International and First Team Director, Mohammad Hafeez made a bold decision of demoting Azam to number 3, from his original role as an opener. Hafeez, during his time as director, backed his decision by expressing that Babar Azam would anchor the role at number three, playing his normal game without the pressure of scoring runs at a fast pace.
Headcoach Gary Kirsten has endorsed the out of box decision of Mohammad Hafeez who took a strong decision to send Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub as openers and demoted Babar Azam at one down in T20. #T20WorldCup
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) May 10, 2024
MORE: When will PCB announce Pakistan squad for T20I World Cup 2024?
What next for Pakistan?
Pakistan are currently in Ireland, for a three-match T20I series. The inaugural match was scheduled for Friday, May 10. The second match of the T20I series will be played on Sunday, May 12, at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, in Dublin.
MORE: Who will be Pakistan's opening batsmen at T20I World Cup 2024?
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