Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir believes Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are unwilling to leave their comfort zone. Both Azam and Rizwan have often been criticized for their subdued strike rate despite the fact they play in the Powerplay overs.

Amir revealed that Rizwan was made to open after former Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq gave the wicket-keeper a chance at the top of the order in place of Fakhar Zaman.

Meanwhile, both Azam and Rizwan have been consistent performers for Pakistan in the T20I format and the duo is regarded as the best in the world. However, both of them haven’t been able to deliver the goods in the first two matches of the T20 World Cup against India and Zimbabwe.

Thus, Pakistan find itself in troubled waters after losing its first two matches and they will need to turn the tables in the upcoming matches.

“All of this started when Misbah (Misbah-ul-Haq) became the head coach and he made (Mohammad) Rizwan open and sacrificed a Fakhar (Zaman), who was Pakistan’s opener in T20 cricket at that time,” Amir said in Hindi on 24 News HD.

“Good players can perform anywhere. In order to save your place in the team, you said you can’t bat at number 5, and because of that Fakhar was sacrificed. Both openers (Rizwan and Babar Azam) are limited, and are not ready to get out of their comfort zone,” he added.

Meanwhile, Azam and Rizwan could only add one run against India while the duo added only 13 runs against Zimbabwe. Pakistan has been heavily reliant on the shoulders of Azam and Rizwan and their middle order hasn’t been at its best.

As both Azam and Rizwan haven’t hit the straps in the T20I showpiece, the team has found themselves in trouble.

Pakistan will play their third match of the tournament against the Netherlands on Sunday at the Perth Stadium, Perth.