Fakhar Zaman says Pakistan have adopted a more aggressive mindset of batting first – “We will play for 200-plus runs.”

Fakhar Zaman said the humiliating five-wicket defeat to Ireland two weeks ago has finally prompted Pakistan to adopt a more aggressive approach when batting first. Pakistan won the series 2-1 but had to chase targets in either victory, a situation historically in which they excelled.

So this new mindset is likely to become evident at some point in the next three T20Is against England, the reigning T20I world champions and the team that has most pushed the envelope in aggressive white-ball batting over the past decade.

Pakistan travel to Edgbaston on Saturday after a string of unconvincing performances and intense scrutiny of their top-order when batting first after the first-match at Headingley was abandoned. Prior to their series win against Ireland, Pakistan drew a T20I series at home against a badly understrength New Zealand. In five of Pakistan’s 13 T20Is this year in which they have batted first, they have scored scores of 158, 134, 178, 178 and 182.

With three of those matches ending in defeat, attention is now focused on the intentions of the top-order batting, led by captain Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan.

“Our mindset and attitude has changed a lot after we lost the first game against Ireland,” Zaman said. “Nobody likes to lose, we know that, but if we carry on with the mindset we had after the first game, I think we’ll see a different side.”

“We have meetings after every match and the mindset that we have now is to first get 200 or 200-plus runs with our batting. If we go into the World Cup with this mindset, our bowling is world class but batting is always talked about. What I want to say is that with our batting, the mindset that we have and the mindset that we are batting with, you will see that we will play for 200-plus runs. You will see the intent.”

At the heart of it all will be Babar, and the question is not whether he can score but whether, as new coach Gary Kirsten said recently, he can be persuaded to play with more freedom.

Kirsten joined the Pakistan national team ahead of the series against England and early impressions have been positive, but she admits it’s too late for her to make a big impact ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“There are too many new coaches,” Zaman joked when asked about Kirsten, “but Gary is a really great guy. He’s new but he doesn’t feel new because he integrated into the team from the day he arrived. He likes to talk to everybody, he likes to hear our stories and how we play cricket and his own culture. We’re really looking forward to working with him.”

“He didn’t have a lot of time but I really liked his mindset, the way he sat and talked to us like we were friends. With the World Cup coming up, I’m not going to listen to anyone right now.” [about his own batting]It’s not easy to tinker when the tournament is so close, so I’ll just keep playing like I am now and practice with him afterwards.”

With Saim Ayub moving up to the top spot, Zaman has batted at No. 4 this year, one position lower than the position he has been playing in for Pakistan since April 2021. Despite a lackluster PSL, his numbers in international matches have been impressive, averaging 36 and hitting close to 155 with the bat, while also excelling against spin in the middle overs.

“In cricket, if you’re in good form you just have to try to develop that form,” he said. “Whether it’s 10, 15 or 20 runs, you want it to contribute and have an impact on the team. As a middle-order batsman, you’ll be in a situation where you come on to bat in the 15th or second over, so my role is to give my all and make it easy for the other batsmen.”