Aamir Sohail: “To force a batsman of such an aggressive temperament to play slow for first 10-15 overs is not right and put extra pressure on him”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Ex-Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail has blamed Pakistan’s team management for opening batsman Fakhar Zaman’s disappointing Asia Cup campaign.

Sohail pointed out that since Zaman was told to curb his aggressive approach and mindset during the first 10 to 15 overs, it had an adverse effect on his batting.

So much was expected of Zaman during the Asia Cup, especially as he came into the tournament having scored scored 515 runs in five ODIs against Zimbabwe, which included two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 257.50.

Zaman made history during the series as he struck a career-best 210 not out in the fourth ODI.

Zaman joined an elite club following his spectacular knock as he became just the sixth player to score a double century in ODI cricket.

His knock was the fifth-highest in ODI history and the highest by a Pakistani batsman.

In addition to his spectacular double century, Zaman also became the fastest batsman to score 1,000 ODI runs with his knock of 85 in the fifth ODI.

However, the 28-year-old fell well below expectations as he only mustered 56 runs in five games at an average of 11.20.

“Fakhar Zaman came to UAE with the backdrop of some really excellent performances, such as the one that saw him score a double hundred in an ODI recently,” Sohail wrote in his blog for PakPassion. “To force a batsman of such an aggressive temperament to play slow for first 10-15 overs is not right and put extra pressure on him during the Asia Cup, with some disappointing results.

“Of course, he will not always succeed when he plays aggressively and takes chances but then that is what he is there for and that is exactly why we are playing him in the team. If Fakhar fails, then we should have another batsman at the number 3 position who should stabilise the situation which is his job.”