Wahab Riaz: “Naseem has bowled well in quite a lot of matches”
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Newly-appointed Pakistan chief selector Wahab Riaz admitted that fast bowler Naseem Shah had been bowling well prior to suffering his shoulder injury in the Asia Cup.
Ian Bishop: “Top knock from Fakhar Zaman. The freedom of spirit and controlled aggression is wonderful”
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Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop said he loves seeing Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman’s “controlled aggression” when batting, calling it “wonderful.”
Aaqib Javed: “He did not win anything as captain in [the] Pakistan Super League. People say he is a good captain, but where did he show his good captaincy?”
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Lahore Qalandars head coach Aaqib Javed has questioned whether Babar Azam, at any point, showed he was the right man to captain Pakistan.
Mohammad Kaif: “Somehow feel this Pakistan team was too soft, their pacers too nice. Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib were intimidating. They would stare at you, even sledge. Babar, Shaheen, Rauf – they lacked that aura, they looked too friendly”
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Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif believes Pakistan batsman Babar Azam and the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were nowhere near as intimidating as the legendary fast bowling trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.
Shahid Afridi: “I wanted Babar to be on the list of top captains. He has been captaining for 3-4 years. During this period, there was never a sword hanging over his captaincy. We all supported him”
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Former interim chief selector Shahid Afridi said there was “never a sword hanging over” Babar Azam during his time as Pakistan captain.
Misbah-ul-Haq: “Spin bowling was the major issue, it was out of form and you had to figure out ways to sort it. Shadab and Nawaz’s performances weren’t convincing even in [the] Asia Cup”
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Former Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq pointed out that spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz haven’t been convincing at all as they have been out of form for months.
Mickey Arthur: “He (Zaman) changes games whenever he bats, the longer he bats the more dominant we become”
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Recently removed team director Mickey Arthur acknowledged that the longer opener Fakhar Zaman bats, the more dominant Pakistan become.
Mohammad Amir: “Was it the system who told him not to play Abrar Ahmad or bench Fakhar after [the] first match”
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Left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir has questioned whether former captain Babar Azam or the entire Pakistan cricket system was at fault for underutilising spinner Abrar Ahmed and opening batsman Fakhar Zaman.
Wasim Akram: “Babar Azam has to learn how to focus as a batter and score runs, leaving the captaincy baggage behind. It is easier said than done”
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Legendary Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Wasim Akram has urged batsman Babar Azam to leave “the captaincy baggage behind” and focus on scoring runs.
Mohammad Rizwan: “If he plays like he normally does, he’ll be fine and score quickly”
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Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan is confident middle order batsman Saud Shakeel will be able to “score quickly” if he keeps playing his natural game.
