Mohammad Kaif: “I still believe Fakhar Zaman has to open the innings for Pakistan”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif said he still believes Fakhar Zaman should be opening the batting for Pakistan.

Lately, the men in green have been experimenting at the top of the order, with Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and limited overs captain Babar Azam all having played as openers.

While the men in green have settled on Azam and Ayub being their go-to opening duo, Kaif thinks having Zaman at the top of the order has its merits since he is accustomed to opening the batting and renowned for his power-hitting abilities.

“I still believe Fakhar Zaman has to open the innings for Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Zaman recently featured in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and scored 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 then amassed 98 runs in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, which included a top score of 78, at an average of 49 and a strike-rate of 168.96.

Pakistan are now playing a four-match T20I series against England and currently trail 1-0.

After that, they will be in action 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

MORE PAKISTAN CRICKET NEWS: He had more pace, swing and zip in 2017, Misbah-ul-Haq admits Pakistan pacer is not the bowler he once was

[TS_Poll id=”65″]