Former Pakistan captain backs middle-order roles for Babar, Rizwan

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has shared his insights on the ongoing debate surrounding Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s roles in Pakistan’s white-ball setup.

He believes the star duo is being misused at the top of the order and should return to their original positions in the middle order. Speaking during a discussion on a local news channel, Younis defended Babar and Rizwan amid criticism of their recent performances, suggesting that their skill sets are better suited to anchoring the innings rather than providing explosive starts.

“Babar and Rizwan should definitely be part of the T20 side, but not as openers. Their original and best position is in the middle order, where they can anchor the innings and provide stability when needed,” Younis stated.

Once considered the backbone of Pakistan’s white-ball lineup, the pair has recently come under fire for their slower, anchor-style approach at the top—an approach now seen as outdated in today’s fast-paced T20 format, which demands aggression and high strike rates from the outset.