Five reasons why Pakistan are the kings of T20

The Cricketer gives you the lowdown on why Pakistan are the current kings of T20 cricket

Pakistan are currently ranked by the ICC as the no.1 T20I side in the world. After completing a 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand at the start of November, they have now recorded a world-record 11 consecutive T20 series victories.

This consistent winning is at odds with their performances in Test and ODI cricket. For example, they were the lowest-ranking team to qualify for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, which they went on to win. While in 2018, they managed to lose a home Test series to a weak Sri Lanka side, and then go away to England and pull off an unlikely draw.

We have been looking into why they have managed to turn into such a T20 winning machine and have come up with five reasons.

1. Babar Azam

There are things that can be done to change the culture of a team, and they can have a massive impact, but often success relies on something as simple as having very talented cricketers - and Babar Azam is that.

Since making his T20I debut for Pakistan back in September 2016, Azam's form for his country has been nothing short of sensational. He is currently ranked by the ICC as the no.1 T20I batsman, and holds the world record of being the fastest batsman to 1,000 runs (in just 26 innings).

It comes as no surprise that the beginning of Pakistan's 11-series streak coincided with Azam's debut, and during that streak he has scored 1031 runs at an average of 54.26, and a strike rate of 124.36. 

^{Babar Azam is currently the no.1 T20I batsman}

2. Bowling Attack

A key reason why Pakistan have been able to win so many games is the strength of their powerful but versatile bowling attack.

Boasting the likes of Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, Pakistan have dismissed their opposition 31 times, which is more than anyone else. They have also defended a total of under 150 on 40 occasions out of 44. Even if the likes of Babar Azam fail to fire, the bowling attack still has a good chance of winning them the match.

3. Age Balance

The range of players that former captain and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has been selecting for the side has been a perfect mix of young and old.

He has shown no fears about throwing the likes of 18-year-old Shaheen Shah Afridi into the team after just two first-class games, and the youngster has rewarded this by taking 11 wickets at an average of 18.45 in his first 7 T20Is.

Inzamam and coach Mickey Arthur have also been able to eke out the best of experienced heads like the 38-year-old Mohammad Hafeez and 36-year-old Shoaib Malik, which has proved invaluable in bringing talents like Afridi through.

4. Fielding

While, the old adage is that catches win matches, Pakistan have been creating a new one - run-outs win matches.

Fuelled by the youthful vigour brought of the likes of Afridi and Shadab Khan, they have been able to affect 25 run-outs in their past 28 matches.

Affecting this many run-outs is not just about the individual wicket each run-out causes, it is also about how it changes the way other teams play against you. Sides are very aware of data like this, and they use it to inform how they play. If they are seeing that Pakistan have such a knack of running players out, they will be less keen to take those quick singles on.

5. Pakistan Super League

Due to political bitterness between Pakistan and India, Pakistani players have been unable to compete in the IPL. The introduction of the Pakistan Super League three years ago has made up for this by allowing Pakistani players to test their abilities against some of the best foreign players in the world.

"With three years of the PSL under our belts, we can see the difference in the way the Pakistani youngsters are performing in a confident manner, and adapting so well at the international level," former captain Misbah-ul-Haq told PakPassion.net.

^{Islamabad United celebrate winning the 2018 Pakistan Super League}