Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman: “There are many factors that shape up an aggressive opener: natural game, the mindset and the demand of the team. I think having an attacking mindset is of the utmost [importance]”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistan top order batsman, said the key to being an aggressive opener is to have “an attacking mindset”.
He added that going hard at the opposition bowlers needs to be part of the batsman’s natural game as well.
Zaman is seen as a hard-hitting batsman, with many people believing the 34-year-old should be opening the batting in T20Is for Pakistan since he can score quick runs.
Currently, Pakistan have experimented with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub at the top of the order.
“There are many factors that shape up an aggressive opener: natural game, the mindset and the demand of the team. I think having an attacking mindset is of the utmost [importance],” Zaman told PCB Digital.
The Mardan native recently featured in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and amassed 104 runs in two games, which included a top score of 61, at an average of 52 and a strike-rate of 133.33.
He has been picked for Pakistan’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland from May 10 to 14 and four-match T20I series against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series:Â 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