Fakhar Zaman says Pakistan have started batting aggressively – ‘We will play for 200 and over’

That way a new concept is likely to be revealed sometime in the next three T20Is when they face England, the reigning T20I world champions and the team that has thrashed the white-ball attack in the last decade.

Pakistan face Edgbaston on Saturday – after the first match at Headingley was washed out – after a string of disappointing performances and increased scrutiny from their top order when batting first. They drew the T20I series against a very tired New Zealand team at home before winning the series against Ireland; in five of the 13 T20Is this year when Pakistan batted first, they made 158, 134, 178, 178 and 182.

“After we lost the first game against Ireland, after that the mentality we did, the physical condition was very different,” said Zaman. “No one likes to lose, we understand that. But after that first game, the idea we have, if we continue with that, you will see a different side.

“We have meetings after every game and the idea we have now is that batting starts with hitting 200 or 200-plus. I’m talking about this idea, that if we take it to the World Cup … it’s always talked about. our batting, even though the bowling is world class. What I mean is, batting our, the mentality we have, and we are batting, you will see we are going to play with 200-plus You will see the goal.”

Kirsten joined the Pakistan squad ahead of the England series and early looks have been positive, however admitting it is too late to make a big impact ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“There are too many new coaches,” Zaman quipped when asked about Kirsten. “But Gary is a good guy. He is young but we don’t feel young because the day he arrived he played with the team. He likes to talk to everyone. He likes to hear our story, the way we play cricket. And his culture. We are very happy to work with him.

“He hasn’t had much time yet but his attitude, the way he sits and talks with us as if we are friends, I really liked that. The World Cup is very close, so there is no one I will listen to right now. [about his own batting]. When you consider things with a very close competition it is not easy. So I will continue to play the way I am and work with him after that.”

Saim Ayub’s rise to the top means Zaman is ranked No. 4 this year, one place lower than the position he has held for Pakistan since April 2021. Despite the disappointing PSL, his world numbers have been good: he is rated 36 again. batting around 155, and being good against spin in the middle overs.

“In cricket, if you are in form you should try to extend that form,” he said. “Whether I make 10, 15 or 20, I want to make sure that it helps the team, that it has an impact. In the middle, you get situations like you bat in the 15th over, or the 2nd over, so my role is to work hard and make it easy for others .”