Basit Ali: “Fakhar Zaman is a game-changer who can hit three sixes in an over – something this team is missing. We need a player with that kind of power, but unfortunately, there is no one in the current line-up who can deliver that impact”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has urged the selectors to retain batsman Fakhar Zaman in the team going forward as he is a “game-changer who can hit three sixes in an over”.
Zaman made his international comeback in the ongoing ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa after last playing for his country in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
In the opening game against New Zealand, he was the standout batsman for Pakistan as he hammered 84 runs off 69 balls, which included seven boundaries and four sixes.
Having already made his presence felt in his first game back, Basit stressed the importance of keeping the 34-year-old in the team, pointing out “there is no one in the current line-up who can deliver that impact”.
“Fakhar Zaman is a game-changer who can hit three sixes in an over – something this team is missing. We need a player with that kind of power, but unfortunately, there is no one in the current line-up who can deliver that impact,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After the ODI tri-series, Pakistan will feature in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be played from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah