Wasim Akram: “Fakhar Zaman was opening for Pakistan since two [to] three years but later Babar and Rizwan replaced him and Fakhar was sent to number four. People say his stats are better at number four but Fakhar is a specialist opener”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram wants Fakhar Zaman to open the batting again instead of playing at number four.
He noted that Zaman was Pakistan’s go-to opening batsman for two to three years before he was demoted when limited overs captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan established themselves as the first-choice openers in T20Is.
Wasim pointed out that the 34-year-old’s statistics may be better when he bats at number four, but it doesn’t change the fact that he “is a specialist opener”.
“Fakhar Zaman was opening for Pakistan since two [to] three years but later Babar and Rizwan replaced him and Fakhar was sent to number four. People say his stats are better at number four but Fakhar is a specialist opener,” the Sultan of Swing was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Zaman recently played in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but only managed to muster 33 runs in four matches at an average of 8.25 and a strike-rate of 110.
Pakistan lost to the United States of America and India before fighting back to defeat Canada and Ireland.
Even though they won those two games, it was not enough to earn them a spot in the Super Eights.
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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