Inzamam-ul-Haq: “You’re making Babar open and forcing Fakhar to do the same, even though he hasn’t opened for Pakistan in three years. Your number three batter has had his position changed”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq believes Fakhar Zaman is being forced to open the batting.
Inzamam noted that the 34-year-old hasn’t played as an opener for Pakistan for three years, but is still being put at the top of the order.
Zaman recently made his international comeback in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where he 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 scored 24 runs in the opening game against New Zealand.
However, his campaign came to an end in that match as well as he suffered an oblique injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament.
In addition to Zaman, Inzamam questioned why Babar Azam is opening the batting, noting that the 30-year-old is best suited at the number three spot.
“You’re making Babar open and forcing Fakhar to do the same, even though he hasn’t opened for Pakistan in three years. Your number three batter has had his position changed,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the Champions Trophy, which led to them getting eliminated in the group stage.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
The men in green will now tour New Zealand for a white-ball series, which will comprise five T20Is and three ODIs that will be held 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
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