(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Pakistan batter Babar Azam is likely to lose his opening spot to Saim Ayub as the team management is keen to try a new opening combination in T20Is, starting from the five-match series against New Zealand.
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar joined hands as Pakistan’s openers in T20Is. The duo played a massive role in Pakistan’s first-ever World Cup win over India in 2021 when the Men in Green attained a 10-wicket victory.
However, lately, both Rizwan and Babar have come under the scrutiny for their low strike-rates. Therefore, the Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, high-performance coach Yasir Arafat and team director Mohammad Hafeez have decided to pair Saim Ayub with Rizwan at the top, as reported.
Ayub, who has just played eight T20Is so far, is a stroke player and his presence at the top could benefit Pakistan to increase the run-scoring in the powerplay.
Reportedly, Rizwan and Ayub practiced batting with the new ball in the nets at Auckland, while Babar and Fakhar Zaman spent most of their time playing the spinners.
Babar is likely be pushed down to No.3, while Fakhar is expected to follow him in the batting order.
The first T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled at the Eden Park, Auckland on January 12.