Pakistan top-order batter Sahibzada Farhan has revealed how criticism from Iftikhar Ahmed on his strike-rate played a pivotal role in reshaping his batting approach, helping him evolve into a more aggressive and modern-day T20 opener.
Speaking in a recent interview, Farhan reflected on a period where he consistently dominated domestic cricket but still struggled to earn recognition at higher levels.
Despite finishing as the leading run-scorer in multiple editions of the National T20 Cup, the right-hander admitted he often felt overlooked.
I finished as the leading run-scorer across the last four seasons of the National T20 Cup, but I was not considered good enough for high-level T20 cricket,” Farhan said, highlighting the frustration he experienced despite his consistency.
A turning point came during a candid dressing-room conversation with Iftikhar, who questioned Farhan’s scoring rate at the top of the order. The remark initially did not sit well with him.
“After the first two seasons, Iftikhar Ahmed told me you cannot play as an opener with a strike rate of 132. I did not like him saying that and found it odd that he was criticising my low strike rate despite me scoring the most runs across two editions,” Farhan recalled.
However, similar advice from coach Abdur Rehman reinforced the need to adapt to the evolving demands of T20 cricket. Sahibzada Farhan admitted that he initially struggled to understand why strike rate was being prioritised over aggregate runs.
“Abdur Rehman, our coach from Peshawar, also told me that scoring at a strike rate beyond 140 would be beneficial for me. I did not truly understand the logic behind it and thought that being the leading run-scorer should be significant in itself,” he said.
That mindset gradually shifted as he began focusing on power-hitting and increasing his scoring tempo. The opener revealed that he consciously worked towards pushing his strike rate beyond 150, while also targeting dominance in six-hitting charts.
“But I [slowly] realised I need to improve my strike rate and push it closer to 150. I began aiming to be the leading six-hitter in every tournament from that point. I started to practise power-hitting,” he said.
The results followed quickly. In the 2023 National T20 Cup, Farhan amassed 492 runs at a staggering strike rate of 178.90, smashing 29 sixes in just 12 innings.
He continued that momentum in 2025, where he once again emerged as the leading six-hitter, clearing the ropes 40 times in just seven innings while also scoring three centuries. Overall, he scored 605 runs in only seven innings during the 2025 tournament.
Sahibzada Farhan believes these improvements have translated into performances at higher levels as well, claiming success in international tournaments and franchise cricket through his more aggressive approach.
He also shed light on the work behind the transformation, revealing an intense training routine focused on range-hitting across different match scenarios.
“There is a lot of effort behind my six-hitting. I practise range-hitting with new balls, old balls, and worn-out balls,” he said, adding that such preparation has been key to his evolution as a batter.
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