What Should be Pakistan's Opening Combination in T20 World Cup? [Statistical Analysis]

Pakistan men’s T20I cricket team faces multiple challenges leading up to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup as the team travels to multiple locations before heading to US and West Indies for the major event.

The national team plays twelve T20Is – five against New Zealand (home), three against Ireland (away) and four against England (away) – before departing for the coveted T20 mega-event in June.

Babar Azam

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Babar opening for the T20I side in the New Zealand series commencing shortly. He averages above 60 and hits (on average) close to three boundaries during the first six overs.

Being the captain of the side, it is expected that he’ll play the role of an anchor who stays at the crease during the entirety of the innings.

Babar’s T20 powerplay stats (franchise):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
105	1900	61.3	125.4	271	22	41.9

Babar’s T20I powerplay stats (international):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
77	1,288	36.10	120.0	179	4	42.2

*statistics are of openers during powerplay only

Mohammad Rizwan

Babar’s partner-in-crime during the previous ICC events, Rizwan formed a formidable duo who used to give the national side a solid start during the powerplay overs.

Critics started to question the lack of intent from both the batters as they are commonly known to play as anchors. Rizwan’s 2024 hasn’t gone to plan, as he has scored runs at a meagre strike-rate of 102.8 with a dot ball percentage of 52.

Rizwan’s T20 powerplay stats (franchise):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
72	1305	72.5	127.4	151	44	43.3

Rizwan’s T20I powerplay stats (international):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
63	1,201	63.2	119.0	128	38	44.0

Saim Ayub

Fan-favorite Saim Ayub sparkled during Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 which led to the stakeholders constructing an opinion that he’ll open for the national side during the upcoming ICC event.

A plus-point to add for the left-hand batter is that he has consistently opened the innings with Babar Azam for Peshawar Zalmi which further pushes his case to open for the national side.

Fakhar Zaman

A matchwinner on his day, Fakhar started his international career opening the innings. In recent times, he has been dropped down to the middle-order after the exits of stalwarts Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.

But is Fakhar’s best utilization in the middle-order or as a powerplay basher? These things will need to be looked at before making a final call on the team line-up.

Fakhar’s T20 powerplay stats (franchise):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
85	1,377	32.8	124.5	168	36	42.6

Fakhar’s T20I powerplay stats (international):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
36	575	24.0	131.60	77	12	42.3

Mohammad Haris

Playing second fiddle to Rizwan in the national team, Haris hasn’t opened the innings in 2024. He was switching gloves with Haseebullah Khan during PSL 9 as the PZ franchise didn’t pick a primary wicket-keeper.

Haris has the experience of playing league cricket in West Indies and Canada, which could play to his advantage in booking a ticket to the ICC event.

Haris’ T20 powerplay stats (franchise):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
23	399	30.7	152.9	50	16	40.2

Haris’ T20I powerplay stats (international):

Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	4s	6s	Dot %
4	29	7.20	93.5	3	2	67.7

Sahibzada Farhan

A high achiever from Pakistan’s domestic circuit, Farhan seems to be weakest link out of the above-mentioned options. His strike rate improved during 2024, 118.4, but it still doesn’t warrant a place for the right-hand batter in the national side.