Imran Nazir: “Pakistan should go with [an] attacking mindset in ODIs. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub should open the innings for Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan batsman Imran Nazir believes Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman should be the go-to openers in ODIs.
He noted that the men in green “should go with [an] attacking mindset” and therefore need two batsmen who can score quick runs and dominate opposition bowlers.
For Nazir, the two players that fulfil these requirements are Ayub and Zaman.
“Pakistan should go with [an] attacking mindset in ODIs. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub should open the innings for Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ayub has been in great form over the past few months as he made three ODI centuries and a career-best 98 not out in T20Is. This all occurred during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
However, the 22-year-old is currently sidelined with a fractured ankle, which he sustained during the two-Test series against South Africa.
As for Zaman, he made his international comeback in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and amassed 135 runs in three matches, which included a top score of 84, at an average of 45 and a strike-rate of 120.53.
He then featured in the 2025 Champions Trophy and made 24 runs in the opening game against New Zealand before being ruled out for the rest of the tournament with an oblique injury.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India, which led to their Champions Trophy campaign coming to an end in the group stage.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Next up for the men in green will be a limited overs tour of New Zealand, where they will play five T20Is and three ODIs from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir