Ahmed Shehzad: “Third consecutive duck for Abdullah Shafique. Where is Fakhar Zaman?”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has asked where Fakhar Zaman is as he wants the veteran batsman to replace opener Abdullah Shafique.
Zaman has missed Pakistan’s last few limited overs series against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
He revealed that he had been suffering from hyperthyroidism, but recently featured in the Champions T20 Cup, where he played for the Markhors.
In 10 games, Zaman scored 303 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 30.30 and a strike-rate of 132.31.
Shafique, meanwhile, has been experiencing a dip in form, which will no doubt be a major concern for the men in green as he is one of their brightest future prospects.
During the tour of Australia, Shafique amassed 113 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 64 not out, at an average of 56.50.
He then proceeded to make 83 runs in three ODIs against Zimbabwe, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 41.50.
As for the ongoing tour of South Africa, the 25-year-old from Sialkot was dismissed for a duck in all three ODIs.
With his form having gone downhill, especially in the recent ODI series against the Proteas, Shehzad wants to see Zaman back in the team.
“Third consecutive duck for Abdullah Shafique. Where is Fakhar Zaman?” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Centurion by two wickets.
The 2nd Test will get underway on January 3 in Cape Town.
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