Azhar Mahmood: “We have not finalised who would be opening the inning. It (the opening pair) could be Babar-Saim, Saim-Rizwan and even Fakhar Zaman can also open the innings”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has confirmed there is a possibility big-hitting batsman Fakhar Zaman could open the batting in T20Is.
Recently, limited overs captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub have all played as openers in the shortest format.
However, Mahmood admitted that the team management is still finalising who will be the go-to duo at the top of the order and subsequently reiterated that players like Zaman could have an outside chance as well.
“We have not finalised who would be opening the inning. It (the opening pair) could be Babar-Saim, Saim-Rizwan and even Fakhar Zaman can also open the innings,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
In the recent five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Zaman made 104 runs in two games, which included a top score of 61, at an average of 52 and a strike-rate of 133.33.
Next up for Pakistan will be a three-match T20I series against Ireland from May 10 to 14.
After that, they will play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan