Imam-ul-Haq on Babar Azam: “I and Babar have been playing together for [the] last couple of years and have registered some big partnerships. Coordination between me and Babar will help the team in South Africa”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq said he and captain Babar Azam have registered some big partnerships in the past.
Imam has been included in Pakistan’s ODI squad for the tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The 25-year-old, who is the nephew of former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, said if he and Azam can forge hefty partnerships against South Africa, it will really benefit the men in green.
“My performance has been good in [the] recent past and I feel confident to continue that form against South Africa,” he was quoted as saying by Ary Sports.
“I and Babar have been playing together for [the] last couple of years and have registered some big partnerships. Coordination between me and Babar will help the team in South Africa.
“South Africa is not an easy opponent, especially in their home conditions.”
Pakistan will play three ODIs and four T20 Internationals against South Africa before heading to Zimbabwe for two Tests and three T20 Internationals.
Pakistan departed for South Africa on March 26 and the tour will commence on April 2 and conclude on April 16. The ODI series will be played first.
The men in green will then head to Zimbabwe on April 17 and play the three-match T20 series from April 21 to 25 in Harare.
Both Tests will take place at the same venue, with the first match starting on April 29 and the second Test getting underway on May 7.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the national team will travel back to Lahore from Harare on May 12.
Pakistan’s Test Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Tabish Khan, Hasan Ali, Shahnawaz Dhani, Nauman Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan.
Pakistan’s ODI Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Qadir, Hasan Ali.
Pakistan’s T20 Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Qadir, Hasan Ali, Arshad Iqbal.