“Babar and Rizwan can take retirement” - Twitterati react after Shahid Afridi demands strike rate of 130-135 for selection in Pakistan’s T20 squad

Pakistan’s interim chief selector Shahid Afridi has reportedly said that players who do not have a strike rate in the range of 130-135 in domestic T20 competitions will not be considered for selection in the national T20 squad. Many users on Twitter quoted the former Pakistan captain as saying so to Geo News.

Afridi was named the interim chief selector recently after a recent shift of power in the Pakistan Cricket Board. Former captain Ramiz Raja was sacked as the PCB chief last month and replaced by Najam Sethi.

According to reports, Sethi and Afridi met current Pakistan captain Babar Azam in a closed-door interaction to discuss plans to revamp Pakistan cricket and improve the team’s overall performance.

On Monday, January 2, a statement by Afridi, setting a benchmark strike rate for selection in Pakistan’s T20 squad went viral. The former all-rounder was known for his exceptional strike rate during his playing days. It wasn’t clear whether the interim selector’s diktat was for uncapped Pakistan players featuring in domestic T20 competitions or for all players, including international stars.

Assuming the latter, Twitterati trolled captain Babar Azam and senior keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. While the duo are Pakistan’s top two run getters in T20Is, their strike rate has often been a bone of contention.

Here are some amusing reactions post Afridi’s ‘striking’ statement:

Mehran मेहरान 🇮🇳

@mehranzaidi

@CricCrazyJohns Babar ka kya hoga phir?

190

@CricCrazyJohns Babar ka kya hoga phir?

Cricket Crazy

@CrazyinCricket

@CricCrazyJohns Then what about Babar and Rizwan who plays Test Cricket in T20Is?

68

@CricCrazyJohns Then what about Babar and Rizwan who plays Test Cricket in T20Is?

No One Knowz ❁

@NoOne_Knowz

@CricCrazyJohns Remove babar and rizwan then

45

2

@CricCrazyJohns Remove babar and rizwan then https://t.co/B5RrA5cm1w

Lloyd Peters

@lloydcpeters

@CricCrazyJohns Hang on, what is Barbar and Rizwan's strike rate in that case? This may only be for uncapped players...

@CricCrazyJohns Hang on, what is Barbar and Rizwan's strike rate in that case? This may only be for uncapped players...

Edged and Gone

@itzz__Black

@CricCrazyJohns Wow. So once u r in the international team u can play less than 130 SR. Boom boom ball

31

@CricCrazyJohns Wow. So once u r in the international team u can play less than 130 SR. Boom boom ball 🔥 https://t.co/2If9a6gEtI

Rushikesh Panzade

@rushipanzade98

@CricCrazyJohns What kind of a random parameter is this?? U have to look at all the aspects including his impact in the side..agr 134 SR hai and 45+ average so is he not good enough to play for Pakistan?? SR is important bt thats not the only thing to look at while selecting

2

@CricCrazyJohns What kind of a random parameter is this?? U have to look at all the aspects including his impact in the side..agr 134 SR hai and 45+ average so is he not good enough to play for Pakistan?? SR is important bt thats not the only thing to look at while selecting

hitman 45

@Binitrana12

@CricCrazyJohns it means no batsman from pakistan can play t20 now because no batsman has strike rate 135 except all rounder .. Only Sadab Khan, Nawaz has a strike rate of 135

1

@CricCrazyJohns it means no batsman from pakistan can play t20 now because no batsman has strike rate 135 except all rounder .. Only Sadab Khan, Nawaz has a strike rate of 135

hardy🇮🇳🙏

@hardiks72357020

@CricCrazyJohns 120 strike rate be like

2

@CricCrazyJohns 120 strike rate be like😉 https://t.co/zWoNWwyaBn

Kavin.Piriyan

@kavin_piriyan

@CricCrazyJohns So he is going to select players like him..hit one six and get out.. playing according to the situation is the matter.. remember the innings of ben stokes in the 2022 t20 world cup final.. winning the match is more important than strike rate

9

@CricCrazyJohns So he is going to select players like him..hit one six and get out.. playing according to the situation is the matter.. remember the innings of ben stokes in the 2022 t20 world cup final.. winning the match is more important than strike rate

Sarthak Tripathi

@Tsarthak_26

@CricCrazyJohns Babar and rizwan = bye bye t20 rankings

@CricCrazyJohns Babar and rizwan = bye bye t20 rankings

Shobhit Kukreti

@KukretiShobhit

@CricCrazyJohns Afridi ka strike rate to bhut tha but average 20 . Aisa zulm bhi Mt kro

@CricCrazyJohns Afridi ka strike rate to bhut tha but average 20 . Aisa zulm bhi Mt kro

Shamsi (MSH) ❤

@ShamsiHaidri18

@CricCrazyJohns Pak captain strike rate 130 @SAfridiOfficial how it will work?

@CricCrazyJohns Pak captain strike rate 130 @SAfridiOfficial how it will work?

Vishnu

@vis_vizs

@CricCrazyJohns I think none of the Pakistan top 5 batters have 130+ str in T20I ,only Imad and shadab have 130+ str in current Pakistan team..

1

@CricCrazyJohns I think none of the Pakistan top 5 batters have 130+ str in T20I ,only Imad and shadab have 130+ str in current Pakistan team..

V 🇮🇳

@Criclover_V

@CricCrazyJohns Let's have a minute of silence for Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam . Maybe T20 captaincy can be on the cards for Shadab Khan or Shaheen Afridi .

@CricCrazyJohns Let's have a minute of silence for Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam . Maybe T20 captaincy can be on the cards for Shadab Khan or Shaheen Afridi .

Rahul Sharma

@CricFnatic

@CricCrazyJohns Pakistan's opening pair after this statement :

48

@CricCrazyJohns Pakistan's opening pair after this statement : https://t.co/3L0VS6rllW

VIRAT TILL DEATH

@ViratTilldeath

@CricCrazyJohns Babar after seeing this news

6

@CricCrazyJohns Babar after seeing this news 😭 https://t.co/2BIeyTyKOT

SD SD

@SDSD64867634

@CricCrazyJohns Toh matlab babar rizwan dono ko nikal doge??? Bhayankar comedy horhi ha

@CricCrazyJohns Toh matlab babar rizwan dono ko nikal doge??? Bhayankar comedy horhi ha😂😂

N∩⋊∩⊥

@SuvTK7

@CricCrazyJohns Babar & Rizwan can take retirement

@CricCrazyJohns Babar & Rizwan can take retirement

Arfa Feroz Zake

@ArfaSays_

Let's forget about sixteen member T20 squad because ChiefSelector Shahid Afridi will find it near to impossible in choosing playing eleven incase Lala is seriously thinking to select only those players for Pakistan who have 135 plus strikerate in T20. #PAKvNZ

66

3

Let's forget about sixteen member T20 squad because ChiefSelector Shahid Afridi will find it near to impossible in choosing playing eleven incase Lala is seriously thinking to select only those players for Pakistan who have 135 plus strikerate in T20. 😬 #PAKvNZ

While Babar Azam has a T20 strike rate of 127.55, Rizwan’s strike rate in the format is 125.49.

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“Babar Azam hamari team ka backbone hai” - Shahid Afridi

On Saturday, PCB interim chief selector Afridi threw his weight behind Pakistan captain Babar Azam while adding that he wants to improve the team’s bench strength. The former player told reporters:

“Babar Azam hamari team ka backbone hai (Babar Azam is the backbone of our team). He is one of our top performers. I liked it when he challenged the New Zealand team for the chase. And as a selection committee, we want to be a shoulder for him and support him."

He added:

“Also, I liked what he said in the post-match presser after the draw. He said the team is focusing on cricket and is unaware of what is being said outside. So, Babar should focus on the game only. The selection committee will always support him to come up with better combinations so that he feels confident on the field,” he added.

On his plans for the team during his tenure as interim selector, the former player said:

“I want to create two teams for Pakistan before my tenure ends in order to improve bench strength.”

Pakistan are currently taking on New Zealand in a two-match Test series at home. While the first Test ended in a draw, the second began in Karachi today (January 2).

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