“I Didn’t Like It” – Sahibzada Farhan Responds to Iftikhar Ahmed’s Blunt Strike Rate Warning

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan has said a change in approach to his strike rate has been central to his development as a T20 opener, following feedback from senior players and coaches during his domestic career.

Farhan, who had been among the most consistent performers in the National T20 Cup, admitted that high run tallies alone were not enough to secure recognition at higher levels. Despite finishing as a leading run-scorer across multiple seasons, he said his performances did not translate into opportunities initially.

A key moment came after a discussion with Iftikhar Ahmed, who questioned whether Farhan’s scoring tempo was suitable for modern T20 cricket.

“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 said.

Further guidance from coach Abdur Rehman reinforced the need to adjust his approach. Farhan said he initially struggled to understand why scoring speed was being prioritised over consistency.

“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.

Focus on Power-Hitting

Farhan said he later shifted focus towards increasing his scoring rate and improving his six-hitting ability. The adjustment brought immediate results, including a standout campaign in the 2023 National T20 Cup where he scored 492 runs at a strike rate of 178.90.

He carried that form into the 2025 edition, finishing with 605 runs in seven innings and leading the six-hitting charts with 40 maximums.

“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.

Farhan added that the changes have helped him perform more effectively in both domestic and higher-level competitions.