'Why middle-order batters are in the team?' - Mohammad Hafeez questions Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz's promotion vs NZ

Team Pakistan completed an easy victory over the hosts New Zealand in their second game of the tri-series. The Men in Green were very disciplined with the ball as they restricted the Kiwi side to an under-par score and chased down the total easily in the end. 

The skipper Babar Azam played extremely well for his 70+ score, followed by some good batting performances from Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz. While Shadab scored 34 runs in just 22 balls hitting two fours and the same number of sixes, Nawaz took 19 deliveries to score 16 runs and stroked two boundaries. 

Meanwhile, former Pakistani skipper Mohammad Hafeez has questioned the team management's tactics for promoting Shadab and Nawaz ahead of batters including Haidar Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Asif Ali. The former Pakistani batter said that Pakistan's middle-order woes persist ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Promotion of Shadab and Nawaz will give short-term success: Hafeez 

"Promotion of @76Shadabkhan at no 4 & @mnawaz94 at no 5 can give short-term success but wil put more pressure & doubts in the minds of middle order batters. Why they r there for??? If no confidence on them then why they r with the team?? Middle order wil remain an isssue," wrote Hafeez on his Twitter handle. 

Promotion of @76Shadabkhan at no 4 & @mnawaz94 at no 5 can give short-term success but wil put more pressure & doubts in the minds of middle-order batters. Why they r there for??? If no confidence on them then why they r with the team?? Middle order wil remain an issue… #PAKvNZ

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 8, 2022

Pakistan's batting problems have been exposed several times in the recent past. One of its prime examples was seen during the first T20I encounter against England, Pakistani openers Babar and Mohammad Rizwan gave an excellent start to the Men in Green after stitching a partnership of 85 runs in just 9.3 overs.

However, as soon as both the openers went back to the pavilion, the home team could only manage to score 158 runs in its allotted 20 overs and also lost seven wickets in the process. Pakistan not only lost that match but went on to suffer a series defeat against the English side.