'The thing that bothers me is the strike rate of our batters' - Shahid Afridi on Pakistan's middle overs approach

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has expressed serious concerns regarding the team's performance during the middle overs of their matches after witnessing their poor performance in the second T20I of the series against England.

Afridi, known for his aggressive playing style and sharp cricketing acumen, highlighted these issues in a recent interview. According to him, Pakistan’s batting during this crucial phase requires significant improvement to enhance their overall performance and competitiveness.

"The thing that bothers me is the strike rate of our batters, especially in between the seven to thirteen over phase," Afridi said in an interview with ICC. He emphasised the need for a run rate of eight to nine runs per over during these critical overs to boost their overall score.

Despite these concerns, Afridi remains optimistic about Pakistan's chances in the upcoming tournament. He believes that the team’s strong fast-bowling attack is a significant advantage.

"I feel Pakistan should make the final. The reason is that the conditions (in the West Indies and USA) suit our team," Afridi remarked.

Afridi praised the skills of pacers such as Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Amir, calling them the best in the world. He said that their depth and versatility can make a big impact against top-tier batters.

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Reflecting on Pakistan's performance in the previous T20 World Cup, where they finished as runner-up to England, Afridi seemed hopeful that the team’s spinners would regain their form. He also urged the batting line-up to step up and show their strength. Afridi showed strong support for team captain Babar Azam, encouraging him to maintain his excellent form and make decisive calls.

"But if I had to pick one, I would pick the captain Babar Azam, because he is the leader. I want him to perform well, make timely decisions which will take the team to victory," Afridi added.

Pakistan are set to start their campaign in Group A, which includes India, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. Their first match will be against the USA on June 6 in Dallas. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if Pakistan can rise to Afridi’s challenge and bring home the title.