Mohammad Rizwan: “Irfan Niazi is one of the guys we are looking at for power-hitting. Hopefully, he will continue doing well”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Mohammad Rizwan revealed up-and-coming batsman Irfan Khan is “one of the guys we are looking at for power-hitting”.
Irfan has shown a lot of promise at the domestic level and is starting to get more chances in international cricket since making his debut in April 2024.
The 21-year-old recently featured in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia and scored 22 runs in three ODIs at an average of 22.
He followed that up with 47 runs in three T20Is at an average of 23.50.
After the Australia series, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe and Irfan kicked things off with 10 runs in three ODIs at an average of five.
As for the T20Is, he played in two matches but only batted once, scoring 27 not out.
In the ongoing tour of South Africa, he accumulated 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50 before going on to amass 16 runs in two ODIs at an average of eight.
While he has yet to make a big score, Rizwan likes what he has seen from the Mianwali native so far.
“Irfan Niazi is one of the guys we are looking at for power-hitting. Hopefully, he will continue doing well,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-Test series, which started 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
[TS_Poll id=”115″]