Agha Salman And...? Pakistan's 3 Star Players Who Will Fail In 2nd T20I vs Zimbabwe

Debashis Sarangi

Agha Salman has struggled with the bat of late [Source: @Nomancricket29/X]Agha Salman has struggled with the bat of late [Source: @Nomancricket29/X]

After securing an emphatic victory in the first T20I, Pakistan are gearing up to face Zimbabwe in the second game of the three-match series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Led by Agha Salman, Pakistan had an outstanding start to the T20I leg, defeating Zimbabwe by 57 runs in the first match. 

Batting first, Pakistan posted a respectable 165-run total, thanks to valuable contributions from Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan Niazi. In response, the Chevrons were bowled out for a paltry 108-run total, losing the game by a comprehensive margin. 

So, as the visitors get ready for the penultimate clash, let's see which players might not live up to the expectations in this contest. 

Agha Salman 

Why will Agha Salman fail in PAK vs ZIM 2nd T20I?

  • Since being roped in as Pakistan's vice-captain, Agha Salman hasn't done anything significant with the bat. 
  • In his last seven white-ball outings, Salman has managed only 64 runs at a miserable average of 9.14. He looked out of sorts in the first T20I, getting dismissed for a sloth-paced 19-ball 13. 
  • Although Bulawayo's spin-friendly pitch might help him become effective as a spinner, Salman might not succeed with the bat, thanks to his poor form. 

Jahandad Khan

Why will Jahandad Khan fail in PAK vs ZIM 2nd T20I?

  • Jahandad Khan is a bowling all-rounder who can score some handy runs lower down the order apart from chipping in with a few overs of medium pace. 
  • However, the young cricketer hasn't been assigned a specific role in Pakistan's T20I side. As of now, he has seemed to be more of a bits-and pieces player. 
  • The all-rounder hasn't been impressive in whatever limited opportunities he has got for the national side. So, it won't be surprising if he has another dull day on the field today. 

Saim Ayub

Why will Saim Ayub fail in PAK vs ZIM 2nd T20I?

  • Saim Ayub is one of the most promising batters in Pakistan's cricketing circuit. Despite being talented, Saim's career hasn't taken off due to his inconsistency with the bat. 
  • His international career has been a mix of highs and lows so far. Although he was impressive on the Australia tour, Saim hasn't done anything significant on this tour apart from a century in the second ODI. 
  • He threw away his start in the first game and has managed only 333 runs at a horrendous average of 15.1 in 22 innings in T20I cricket. So, given that he plays a risky brand of cricket, we shouldn't be surprised if he fails with the bat today.