As the T20 World Cup 2024 heats up, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has sparked a new debate by calling Pakistan’s batting line-up ‘weak.’
With the highly anticipated game between arch-rivals Pakistan and India set for June 9 at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Kaif’s comments have added an extra layer of intrigue.
Mohammad Kaif’s Take on Pakistan’s Batting
Kaif didn’t hold back in his assessment of Pakistan’s batting lineup. He stated that apart from one or two players, most of Pakistan’s batters play at a strike rate of 120 to 125, which he believes is insufficient for T20I cricket.
“Everyone knows Pakistan’s batting is weak. Fakhar Zaman plays a little fast. If he fires, he can probably win the match alone,” Kaif told Star Sports.
“Iftikhar Ahmad plays fast, but other than that, everyone plays at a strike rate of 120 to 125. You are not that scared of their batting but are scared of their bowling.
Kaif did acknowledge the presence of aggressive hitters like Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed. He praised Zaman for his ability to single-handedly win matches when in form, and he recognized Ahmed’s quick scoring ability.
However, Kaif’s comments suggest that beyond these two, Pakistan’s lineup lacks the explosive power needed to dominate in T20 cricket.
Praise for Pakistan’s Bowling Attack
While Kaif was critical of Pakistan’s batting, he had nothing but praise for their bowling attack. He highlighted the danger posed by pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, particularly recalling Naseem’s impressive spell against India in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
“They will have Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Naseem Shah didn’t come to play in the World Cup in India. He was injured, but he is fit here. This will be a bouncy pitch,” Kaif added.
“Naseem Shah is a very good bowler. If you talk about the Melbourne match that Virat Kohli won, if you see Naseem Shah’s first spell, he got a nick and the catch was dropped at slip.”
The India-Pakistan rivalry in T20 World Cups has historically been dominated by India. Out of the seven encounters, India has won five matches, with Pakistan winning only one.
The remaining match ended in a tie, with India clinching victory via a bowl-out in 2007. Pakistan’s sole victory came in 2021 when Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan led the Green Shirts to a ten-wicket victory.
As the teams prepare for their upcoming clash, Kaif’s comments are sure to resonate. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if Pakistan can prove him wrong by delivering a stellar batting performance or if their renowned bowling attack will once again be their saving grace.
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