Mohammad Akram: “We negotiated for Rizwan last year and Naseem as well, but you cannot disturb your core to build a team”
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Peshawar Zalmi director of cricket Mohammad Akram has revealed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise tried to sign wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Naseem Shah last year.
Rizwan is one of Pakistan’s best batsmen and most consistent run-scorers, while Naseem is arguably the men in green’s top bowler right now.
However, the deal for both players didn’t work out as Akram pointed out that it would have cost the Zalmi some of their core players.
“We try to pick as many players from the region. Even if we don’t pick them, we try to carry them with us in camps, etc. We negotiated for Rizwan last year and Naseem as well, but you cannot disturb your core to build a team. You have to maintain it and build a team around it,” he told Zalmi TV as quoted by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rizwan and Naseem both represented Pakistan in the recent 2024 T20 World Cup, with the former scoring 110 runs in four matches, which included a top score of 53 not out, at an average of 36.66 and a strike-rate of 90.90.
As for Naseem, he took five wickets in three games at an average of 14.20 and an economy rate of 5.91.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup:Â 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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