Iftikhar Ahmed: “I think Akif is a product for international cricket and he is showing that he is ready for international cricket. Players like him should be developed”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan power-hitter Iftikhar Ahmed believes left-arm fast bowler Akif Javed “is showing that he is ready for international cricket.
His comments come after the 24-year-old, who has yet to make his Pakistan debut, impressed in the Champions T20 Cup, where he took 15 wickets in 10 matches for the Markhors at an average of 20.86.
Having shown plenty of promise in domestic cricket recently, Iftikhar feels that exciting talents like Akif “should be developed” as they can have long and successful careers.
“I think Akif is a product for international cricket and he is showing that he is ready for international cricket. Players like him should be developed,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Iftikhar wasn’t picked for Pakistan’s recent limited overs series against Australia and Zimbabwe.
He also wasn’t selected for the ongoing tour of South Africa, where the men in green lost the T20Is 2-0 before rebounding to claim a 3-0 win in the ODIs.
Pakistan and South Africa will now play two Tests, with the first match beginning 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