Sohaib Maqsood: “You think Pakistan will go with one of [our] young spinners? As we don’t have [a] fast-bowling all-rounder, [it] may be time to go with Arafat Minhas”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood wants to see young all-rounder Arafat Minhas given a proper run in the national team since he can have an impact with both the bat and ball.
Minhas is capable of scoring runs and has shown he can take wickets with his left-arm spin.
So far, the 19-year-old has played four T20Is, three of which came during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
However, his most recent appearance for the men in green came during their three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he struck an unbeaten 22 and conceded just 17 runs off his four overs.
Lately, Minhas has been featuring for the Panthers in the Champions T20 Cup and scored 12 runs in three games to go with three wickets at an average of 22.33.
Since Pakistan don’t have a fast-bowling all-rounder at the moment, Maqsood feels that the Multan native is the next best option.
“You think Pakistan will go with one of [our] young spinners? As we don’t have [a] fast-bowling all-rounder, [it] may be time to go with Arafat Minhas,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During their tour of Zimbabwe, Pakistan triumphed 2-1 in both the ODI and T20I series.
They are now in South Africa and kicked things off on a disappointing note as they lost the T20I series 2-0.
In the ongoing ODI series, Pakistan lead 1-0 going into the 2nd ODI on December 19 in Cape Town.
After the ODIs, Pakistan and South Africa will play two Tests, which will begin on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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