Fakhar Zaman: “We keep making changes in the middle order [but] the inclusion of Azam Khan and Iftikhar has made us better”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman has praised the impact power-hitters Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan have had, saying they have “made us better”.
Iftikhar has become a core part of the middle order, while Azam is seen as a superstar in the making.
In the recent five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Iftikhar made 31 runs at an average of 15.50 and a strike-rate of 100.
Azam, meanwhile, missed the series after suffering a grade one tear in his right calf muscle.
Following their 2-2 draw with the Black Caps, the men in green took on Ireland in a three-match T20I series and Iftikhar struck 42 runs at an average of 42 and a strike-rate of 221.05.
As for Azam, he finished with 48 runs at an average of 48 and a strike-rate of 266.66.
“We keep making changes in the middle order [but] the inclusion of Azam Khan and Iftikhar has made us better,” Zaman was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Next up for Pakistan will be four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Afterwards, they will feature in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will take place in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
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
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