By Zainab Shafiq 
Shahid Afridi, the former captain of Pakistan, expressed his reservations regarding the Men in Green’s batting order in the crucial Asia Cup Super 4 match against Sri Lanka. According to him, the team’s batting strategy did not align with the demands of the situation.
Despite facing early setbacks, Pakistan managed to stage a recovery, largely thanks to the performances of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed. Abdullah Shafique, the opener, showcased his skills by scoring an impressive 52 runs off 69 deliveries.
However, Fakhar Zaman’s struggle with form continued as he contributed only 4 runs. Captain Babar Azam appeared promising but could only muster 29 runs from 35 balls. Mohammad Haris (3) and Mohammad Nawaz (12) also departed swiftly, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position. It was the partnership between Mohammad Rizwan (86* off 73) and Iftikhar Ahmed (47 off 40) that rejuvenated Pakistan’s innings, propelling them to a competitive total of 252-7 in 42 overs.
Afridi raised questions about Pakistan’s decision-making in the batting order, suggesting that they missed an opportunity. “Did Pakistan miss the trick? We could have made better choices in the batting order. What do you guys think?” he inquired on X. He added, “In my opinion, this was not the best batting order given the situation.”
It’s important to note that Pakistan must secure a victory to confirm their place in the Asia Cup final. The winners of today’s match will face India on September 17.
Earlier, Pakistan had to make last-minute changes despite announcing their playing XI a day prior to the game. This departure from their usual practice was due to unforeseen circumstances. Opener Fakhar Zaman and emerging batter Abdullah Shafique were initially included in the lineup, but injuries to Imam-ul-Haq (back spasm) and Saud Shakeel (fever) forced Pakistan to make unexpected alterations.
Also, see:
Asia Cup Super 4 match: Will rain spoil the play during Pak vs SL?