Babar Azam: “We had a discussion about where Haris would play if he is selected. If he had been included, his position would have been in the lower middle order. We are quick to make comparisons without thinking about his position in the batting order”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has confirmed that big-hitting batsman Mohammad Haris would bat in the lower middle order if he were to return to the national team.
In Haris’ last T20I for Pakistan, which was against New Zealand in April 2023, he came in at number three.
This means if he earned a recall to the Pakistan squad, he would be demoted down the batting order.
“We had a discussion about where Haris would play if he is selected. If he had been included, his position would have been in the lower middle order. We are quick to make comparisons without thinking about his position in the batting order,” Azam was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Azam recently led Pakistan in their five-match T20I series against New Zealand in April 2024 and accumulated 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then proceeded to make 132 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31 in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
Pakistan are now facing England in a four-match T20I series, which is tied at 0-0 after the first game was rained off.
After this, they will be involved 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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