2023 was a year which saw a lot of upheaval in Pakistan cricket. The year that has gone past forced the decision-makers of Pakistan cricket to introspect and look for corrective measures. However, in this article, we will focus on the positives and look at Pakistan’s Top 3 batters across formats in 2023.
1. Babar Azam
It was an underwhelming year for Babar Azam and if he still features among the top batters for Pakistan in 2023 then it should not be a tough job to guess the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket. The former Pakistan captain failed to show up with impactful performances for his team on big occasions like the ODI World Cup. This might be the most difficult phase in his cricketing career as he also had to relinquish the captaincy after a lacklustre show in the World Cup. Babar would hope for a resurgence with the bat in 2024 and Pakistan cricket needs its best batter to get back to his best.
2. Mohammad Rizwan
The wicketkeeper-batter had a mixed-bag performance in 2023 but he was one of the consistent batters for Pakistan in the middle order. This year Mohammad Rizwan amassed 1312 runs in 30 innings at an average of 62.47. His unbeaten 131-run knock against Sri Lanka at the ODI World Cup would be one of the major highlights for him in 2023. Rizwan will be crucial for Pakistan in the upcoming year as he plays a pivotal role in T20 cricket and his contribution might be decisive for Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
3. Fakhar Zaman
It was a roller-coaster ride for the left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman in 2023. He went through a lean patch just before the World Cup but made a roaring comeback with an outstanding century against New Zealand in a must-win encounter in the ODI World Cup. His aggressive batting approach distinguished him from his teammates who were criticised for the lack of intent. Now that he is back in form Pakistan fans would hope that he continues this form in the next year as well.