Jennifer
Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan was recently showcased as a power hitter by a popular India Sports Broadcast Network, inviting sharp reactions from fans. Rizwan and Babar Azam are known for their slow batting style suited for ODIs. The two batters have received criticism from fans for their low strike rate and ineffective batting style in the ongoing Pakistan Super League. (PSL)
Notably, in Mohammad Rizwan’s last game playing for Multan Sultans, he could only manage 30 runs off 27 balls as his team fell short by 22 runs in the chase against Lahore Qalandars. As such, calling him a power hitter is a move despised by many online. Fans were quick to troll the broadcaster and Rizwan himself. However, he is not the only Pakistan batter struggling with a low run rate in the shortest format. National skipper Babar Azam and batter Sarfaraz Ahmed were also among controversies recently.
Sarfaraz Ahmed was criticized for his slow batting against Lahore Qalandars in PSL
In the game between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars, Gladiators skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed’s slow innings of 27 off 28 created a lot of controversies as his side missed out on what should have been a regular chase. They could only reach 131/7 within their 20 overs.
Sarfaraz, however, shifted the blame onto his bowlers. He said, “We made a lot of mistakes. We didn’t ball well in the first ten overs, even after taking seven wickets. It was a complete setback performance from our team. We aimed to restrict Lahore under 100 runs, but it didn’t happen as we didn’t ball at the right areas. We gave away 52 runs in the next six overs, which easily shifted the momentum towards the Qalandars.”
In Babar Azam’s last PSL game against the Karachi Kings, he could not get off the mark in two deliveries before getting out of the third one. However, he looked in fine touch in the game before that, hitting 75 off just 58 against Islamabad United. Babar will continue to be a fan favourite, but the low strike rate among prominent batters will remain a major issue for Pakistan Cricket to ponder upon.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
— 18×Alien (@18xAlien) March 5, 2023
Ye kiya kisne tah ?
— Sohail (@Face_The_2ruth_) March 5, 2023
Power hitting ka pata nahi, but I find Rizwan better batsman than Babar Azam
— Chirag Shetty (@chirag0543) March 5, 2023
😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/hA7byxL7xE
— ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA👻 (@SyedSul15512811) March 4, 2023
— King (@King54101137) March 4, 2023
— Raghav Aneja (@RaghavA02401572) March 5, 2023
— Siddharth Tomar (@Siddharth17_Apr) March 4, 2023
— ℕ𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕟☣यादव 𓃵🔱 (@YadavNY11) March 4, 2023
