Pakistan in T20s; Experimentation and Lingering doubts

Ariha Fatimah|

The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa offered a mix of experimentation, redemption, and lingering questions. Coming off an electrifying Test win against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, South Africa entered the series with a fresh squad led by Heinrich Klaasen. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s revamped white-ball unit, fresh from series in Australia and Zimbabwe, aimed to balance experimentation with competitiveness under coach Aqib Javed.

Pakistan brought back Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the series. However, the team’s struggles in the T20 format persisted.

South Africa had had a horrible T20 year with no bilateral wins and an unforgettable loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India, where they let a winning position slip.

For Pakistan, the series loss highlighted issues with their top order, particularly in their approach during steep chases and underutilisation of powerplay. The opening combination remains a significant area of concern. While Saim Ayub showed promise and the lower order brought in the fire power Pakistan needed, the RizBar duo’s inability to adapt in critical moments hurt Pakistan. It looks like the days of RizBar opening for Pakistan in T20is are finally over.

Pakistan made a few changes to their lineup for the third T20I, a dead rubber after South Africa clinched the series 2-0. However, the team could not test the shuffled playing XI as the match was abandoned due to rain without a single ball being bowled.

Pakistan’s busy Test season and their focus on hosting the Champions Trophy in two months mean T20Is are taking a backseat.

However, the question remains: is Pakistan’s T20 setup ready to compete at the highest level? With inconsistent strategies and underwhelming performances, there’s much to address before the T20 World Cup 2026.