Babar Azam: “Apart from [the] brilliance from Fakhar and Rizwan, the batting of Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan in the lower order has been promising”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam expects more good things from middle order batsmen Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan after saying their batting “has been promising”.
Iftikhar has become a regular face in the Pakistan team, while Azam is being given chances to show what he can do at the international level.
Iftikhar was involved in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and scored 31 runs at an average of 15.50 and a strike-rate of 100.
Azam, meanwhile, was ruled out of the series after suffering a grade one tear in his right calf muscle.
The big-hitting pair then featured in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, with Iftikhar amassing 42 runs at an average of 42 and a strike-rate of 221.05.
As for Azam, he struck 48 runs at an average of 48 and a strike-rate of 266.66.
In addition to praising the duo, Babar also lauded top order batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan for their superb batting as of late.
“Apart from [the] brilliance from Fakhar and Rizwan, the batting of Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan in the lower order has been promising,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan are now playing a four-match T20I series against England, which is level at 0-0 after the first game was rained off.
After this, the men in green 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
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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