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Pakistan’s batting woes: Life after Babar and Rizwan | The Express Tribune
KARACHI:
For years, Pakistan’s T20I fortunes revolved around the calm consistency of Mohammad Rizwan and the class of Babar Azam at the top of the order. Together, they forged one of the most reliable opening partnerships in modern T20I cricket, a duo that often laid the foundation for Pakistan’s victories. Now, with the team moving away from the pair in search of a more aggressive approach, the effects are becoming glaringly obvious.
From 2021 to 2023, Rizwan and Babar opened in 51 T20I innings together, amassing over 2,000 runs at an average of 44.3 with a strike rate of nearly 130. No other pair in world cricket during that period came close to their output. They shared 9 century stands and 12 fifty-run partnerships, a record that speaks volumes of their consistency.
Perhaps their most memorable run came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, when their unbeaten 152-run stand stunned India and set the tone for Pakistan’s campaign. For a side often accused of fragility at the top, Rizwan and Babar were not just openers – they were a shield against collapse.
Fast forward to 2025, and Pakistan’s opening combination has shifted. Youngsters like Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Mohammad Haris have been given opportunities to bring flair and intent to the top order. While the strategy reflects a desire to modernize the T20 approach, the lack of stability is hurting Pakistan.
In the last 10 T20Is, Pakistan’s new opening combinations have averaged under 22 runs per stand, with only one fifty partnership. The contrast is stark compared to Rizwan and Babar’s era, where a 40+ start was almost routine. The struggles are evident in matches against top opposition, where early wickets expose an inexperienced middle order too soon.
What Pakistan is Missing
Babar’s role as an anchor and Rizwan’s ability to rotate strike while accelerating later provided balance. Their game might not have matched the high-voltage aggression of Indian or English openers, but it brought reliability. Crucially, their partnerships ensured Pakistan rarely started in chaos.
Now, with inconsistent starts, the middle order faces scoreboard pressure, and bowlers no longer enjoy the cushion of defendable totals. Against India recently, Pakistan’s openers fell cheaply, and the team limped to 127/9 – a total that Rizwan and Babar might have doubled with a solid stand.
The challenge for Pakistan is clear: balancing the aggression of the new breed with the proven solidity of their former stalwarts. Dropping both Rizwan and Babar simultaneously has left a leadership vacuum at the top. While the intent is to evolve, the execution shows that experience and consistency still matter.
If Pakistan are to mount serious challenges in upcoming tournaments, they must revisit their formula – whether by reinstating one of the seasoned campaigners alongside a youngster or by redefining roles to ensure their openers can both survive and score briskly.
Because right now, the absence of Babar and Rizwan isn’t just a tactical shift – it’s a gap Pakistan is struggling to fill.
DUBAI: Indian cricketers participating in the Asia Cup are keeping a noticeable distance from Pakistani net bowlers during their practice sessions at Dubai’s ICC Academy, following strict instructions from team management, sources said on Tuesday.
The change comes after a recent controversy when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav shook hands with Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi at the Asia Cup trophy unveiling. The image went viral, prompting a furious backlash from Indian media and social platforms, putting the team under pressure.
At the ICC Academy, net bowlers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India regularly assist teams during practice. In the past, it was common for these bowlers to take photos with star players, including Virat Kohli. However, this time the Indian team management has barred any such interactions.
The sources confirmed that Indian players have been told not to engage in casual conversations or take photographs with Pakistani net bowlers. To enforce this, net bowlers are asked to hand over their mobile phones before practice sessions, which are only returned once training ends.
Analysts say the move reflects political pressure and growing “war hysteria” back home in India, which is now shaping the behaviour of players on the field. They argue that what was once a neutral and friendly environment at ICC Academy has been overshadowed by tensions, limiting the players’ freedom to practise and interact openly.
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Orlando Magic big man Jonathan Isaac is releasing his new signature sneaker, the Judah 2, which will feature six Bible verses.
For Isaac, an outspoken Christian with many conservative views, the goal of the shoe is to not be afraid to voice your opinion. But suddenly, with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, that goal means that much more.
“It’s about free expression,” Isaac told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “It’s about I’m a Christian guy, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and king of the world and lord and savior of my life, and I want to wear these shoes as a tribute to Him. And anybody who wants to do the same, join me.
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Jonathan Isaac said Charlie Kirk was a “respectable man.” (IMAGN/Getty)
“If you disagree with me, I’ve always tried my best with whatever stances I’ve taken to be graceful about it and truly try to care and understand the person that’s on the other side of it. Maybe we agree to disagree, but I’m never the type to try to impose myself on anybody else.”
Isaac befriended Kirk over the years, appearing on his podcast and texting back and forth on occasion. Like many others, Isaac took the terrible news hard.
Charlie Kirk poses at The Cambridge Union on May 19, 2025, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. (Nordin Catic/Getty Images for The Cambridge Union)
OREGON COACH DELIVERS POWERFUL UNITY MESSAGE AFTER ASSASSINATION OF DUCKS FAN CHARLIE KIRK
“It’s tough to put into words. … Really the only thing that I can say is just to speak to who Charlie was. Everybody will talk about what Charlie has said and his stances and stuff like that – Charlie had my respect,” Isaac said. “Not because I agreed with everything he had ever said or done. Some of the conversations we had was even me disagreeing with things he said. But we always had civil discourse, and he was always prepared to talk about why he thought what he thought. To me, that’s a respectable man.”
One of Kirk’s goals was similar to Isaac’s with his new sneakers.
“Let’s build this thing as a brand to unite Christians, lovers of God, lovers of country all across the nation, and give them a touchpoint to know each other, recognize each other, but also, to have their faith right in front of them,” Isaac said of his sneaker, and why he places Bible verses on them.”
The Judah 1 was “completely sold out,” according to Isaac, so he wanted to step up his game this go-around.
Jonathan Isaac looks on against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at Kia Center on April 08, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
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“I was like ‘let’s take it to another level’ in terms of the design. I wanted to move the verse from the back of the shoe to the front of the shoe…” he said. “Just ones that speak to me and to the team. What would be encouraging as a believer to be in a basketball game? What would you want to read? What would you want to hear?
“One of our shoes, the Judah 2 Mighty Warrior, the verse is the Angel calling Gideon a mighty warrior when Gideon didn’t think of himself as a mighty warrior to begin with. So that little verse is, ‘I’m stepping onto the court, I’m lacing my shoes.’ And right there on the tongue, I have a verse that says ‘I am a mighty warrior.’ And that encourages you to go out and play your best.”
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The New England Revolution fired manager Caleb Porter on Monday, with assistant coach Pablo Moreira taking over on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Hired in December of 2023, Porter spent parts of two seasons in New England, and departs with a regular season record of 17-35-12 (W-L-D).
“I am very grateful to Caleb Porter for the energy, effort, and dedication he has brought to the Revolution over the last two years,” said sporting director Curt Onalfo. “I have the utmost respect for Caleb and all the tireless work he’s invested in the club, and we wish him the best moving forward.”
New England is poised to miss the postseason for the second year running, with Porter in charge for both campaigns. While the Revs haven’t yet been mathematically eliminated, they trail the Chicago Fire, which currently occupies the ninth and final playoff spot, by 10 points with four matches left in the regular season.
Porter arrived in New England having twice won MLS Cup, the first with the Portland Timbers in 2015, and the second with the Columbus Crew in 2020. Porter also managed the Crew to the 2021 Campeones Cup title, defeating Cruz Azul, 2-0.
However, the Tacoma, Washington, native also experienced some considerable fluctuations in team performance over the years. The Timbers failed to reach the postseason in two of Porter’s five seasons in charge, while the Crew missed the playoffs in three out of the four campaigns that Porter was manager.
Porter began his managerial career at the collegiate level, managing the University of Akron from 2006-12, winning an NCAA title in 2010.
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