Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistani cricketer, was appointed as the interim selector for the ongoing series against New Zealand post-Najam Sethi took over as the new chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and given that Afridi would continue as the chief of the selection committee for a few more months, the right-handed batter announced that the players with less than a strike rate of 135 would not be considered for selection for T20Is.
However, this decision did not go well with many of his fans who claimed that it would not be ideal to choose based on the players’ strike rate as anyone could stand up on their given day and produce a match-winning knock, in the shortest format of the game in specific. However, there were a few others who claimed that it was a welcome decision and could prove vital in grooming players for the future, given that T20Is are the most advanced and loved version of the game.
No batter will be selected in T20 with below 135 strike rate: Shahid Afridi
Notably, Pakistani players have been facing a lot of criticism and hate for their low strike rate in multinational tournaments, almost costing them titles time and time again. Fans opined that it was the low strike rate of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan that cost the Pakistani team the finals against England in the recently concluded 20-20 World Cup 2022.
“No batter will be selected in T20 for Pakistan who doesn’t have a strike rate of more than 135 in domestic cricket,” Afridi was quoted as saying to Geo News. It remains to be seen if the move would work in favour of the team, although one has to agree that the newly appointed selection committee is giving their all to set things right.
It would be up to the players to come up with the right intent and play for the team, rather than for personal records. If at all cricketers with over 135 strike rate are roped into the squad, it remains to be seen if they could emulate the same intent in the international arena.
As things stand, let us take a look at a few Twitter reactions to Shahid Afridi’s statement:
babar crying in corner
— Tasty (@MalumHeMeko) January 2, 2023
Pakistan's opening pair after this statement : pic.twitter.com/3L0VS6rllW
— Rahul Sharma (@CricFnatic) January 2, 2023
Then what about Babar and Rizwan who plays Test Cricket in T20Is?
— Cricket Crazy (@CrazyinCricket) January 2, 2023
Then Babar & Rizwan should be dropped first.
— SavageCreature (@SavageCreature) January 2, 2023
Babar aur Rizwan ka to 125 ka hai Afridi bhai!
— Shriyam Shrivastava (@LoneRanger2698) January 2, 2023
And you’ll see him slecting batter with S/R under 135. SAfridi is a biggest joke
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurramiqbal09) January 2, 2023
Babar And Rizwan Thanks for Your service
— VISHAL ?? (@VISHALVK18R) January 2, 2023
Phir tu koi bi ni hoga
— Tipu Baloch (@TipuBaloch5) January 2, 2023
Abe kya bol rha hai ?
— Abhishek (@ydvabhishek31) January 2, 2023
