Atiq-uz-Zaman: “Saifullah Bangash from Karachi was wasted by the PCB; he was very talented”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman has blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not making full use of “very talented” wicketkeeper-batsman Saifullah Bangash.
Bangash was identified as a potential star, but has never been given the opportunity to make his international debut.
The 29-year-old from Karachi averages 27.25 with the bat in first-class cricket, 22 in List A cricket and 19.70 in T20s.
He last played for the Karachi Region Blues in the National T20 Cup in 2023 and amassed 55 runs in four matches at an average of 55 and a strike-rate of 127.90.
“Saifullah Bangash from Karachi was wasted by the PCB; he was very talented,” Atiq was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Bangash was not part of the Pakistan team for the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the men in green were eliminated in the group stage.
Pakistan began with back-to-back losses to the United States of America and India before bouncing back to claim wins over Canada and Ireland.
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