ENG vs PAK: 'This is Not PSL, It's International Cricket' - Shoaib Malik Urges Pakistan to Alter Batting Order

Former skipper Shoaib Malik has adviced Pakistan to fix the batting order in the upcoming matches against England before heading into a big tournament like T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to be held in June.

Pakistan suffered a 23-run loss to England in the second T20I at the Edgbaston Cricket Stadium in Birmingham on Saturday (May 25). The visitors, who announced their squad for the show-piece tournament on Friday (May 24), failed to chase down 184.

After skipper Jos Buttler's 84 off 51 balls helped England reach 183 in the first innings, Pakistan lost openers Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub early, but Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman kept them alive with a 50-run stand.

Although Babar departed in the ninth over, Fakhar remained at one end as he saw Shadab Khan and Azam Khan fall quickly before he himself was dismissed in the 13th over.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim kept Pakistan within reach of the target, but the duo also fell in quick succession, leaving the team at 147/8 in 17.3 overs. With 36 needed off 17 balls, England gained upperhand and sealed the win.

Fakhar was the highest run-getter for Pakistan with 45 off 21. Pakistan could have got the target had they used the right batters at the right time, an advice the former skipper gave the team after the match via social media.

Following Pakistan's failure in the achievable run-chase, Shoaib Malik said Pakistan should use a batting order meant for international cricket and not the one that would be used in Pakistan Super League (PSL).

"This is not PSL this is international cricket that too, just before T20 World Cup. IMO, the batting order should be...Fakhar, Rizwan, Babar, Azam, Iftkar, Imad, Shadab," Shoaib posted on X, suggesting Fakhar should open along with Rizwan.

The former skipper also said Babar should allow batters like Iftikhar and Azam Khan to spend enough time in the middle as he feels expectation for the duo to score at brisk pace with very little time in not fair.

"Captain needs to utilise the options on bench wisely. Moving forward, the captain should give time & enough overs to Azam & Iftikhar to settle first, expecting them to score 12-14 rightaway is unfair. All the best for remaining matches!!!," Malik added.

If Pakistan do use that batting order, then they will need to drop opener Saim to accomodate Fakhar as the opener. This will also allow them to play another bowler or use Usman Khan in the middle order. However, it is very unlikely any change will happen in the upcoming matches.

Babar & Co will next face England in the remaining two matches of the series in Cardiff on Tuesday (May 28) and London on Thursday (May 30) before they head straight into the T20 World Cup 2024 without any warm up match.