The controversy about the strike rates of T20I batters especially Virat Kohli refuses to end. Salman Butt, former Pakistani opener, joked that critics giving their opinions on players’ strike rates despite lack of adequate experience in international cricket are quite funny.
Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam have been criticized for their slow strike rates by experts. In particular, during the first part of IPL 2024, Kohli’s strike rate was heavily criticized.
Butt who was on a show said this: “It is hard to talk about an issue like strike rate when you do not average 30 in international cricket and have never played outside Asia.”
“Babar is absolutely right in saying that neither can he bat like Saim, nor can Saim bat like him; this is the one who will score on nine out of ten occasions.”; he just does for India what Kohli does for them.” Aap chahe Kohli dance kare, Babar dance kare toh Michael Jackson lage ¡gaana gayein toh Noor Jahan lage ye nahi ho sakta‼
Pakistan has been successful throughout its history in Twenty20 internationals as demonstrated by winning twenty-nine and losing only fifteen matches since the inaugural edition. They have reached the semi-finals six times out of the eight editions of the event.
They finished as runners-up in 2007 and lost to England in 2022 final match.
“In that final Shaheen’s injury made difference because at that time pressure was on them (England). Our spinner had to be given an over which made a differece,” Babar said on Pakistan Cricket Board podcast.
“Our performances in the last two T20 World Cups have been good but unfortunately we could not finish it high. Also we were runners up at T20 Asia Cup 2022. So at the back of our minds, we are thinking about how we have played two finals and a semi-final and how we can overcome the mistakes which had derailed our campaigns,” he added.
