Aaqib Javed: “Both Faheem and Khushdil are better choices to play in the subcontinent conditions as compared to Australia or South Africa”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed said all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah “are better choices to play in the subcontinent”.
He noted that while the duo would do well in subcontinent conditions, they may not have the same level of success if they were picked for tours of Australia or South Africa.
His comments come after both Faheem and Khushdil were recalled to the national team for the recent ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
In the tri-series, Faheem only played one game and scored 22 runs while going wicketless.
Khushdil, meanwhile, amassed 22 runs in three matches at an average of 11 and also took one wicket at an average of 127.
Khushdil was then involved in the 2025 Champions Trophy and went on to score 107 runs in two games, which included a career-best 69, at an average of 53.50.
Bowling-wise, he ended up with one wicket at an average of 83.
As for Faheem, he didn’t feature in any of Pakistan’s matches during the tournament.
“Both Faheem and Khushdil are better choices to play in the subcontinent conditions as compared to Australia or South Africa,” Aaqib was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Pakistan are now playing a limited overs series against New Zealand and trail 3-1 in the T20I series heading into the 5th T20I on March 26 in Wellington.
Faheem was not picked for the T20Is, but Khushdil has accumulated 40 runs in four games at an average of 13.33.
He has also claimed one wicket at an average of 46.
Once the T20Is are over, Pakistan and New Zealand will play three ODIs, which will start on March 29 in Napier.
Both Khushdil and Faheem have been picked in the ODI team.
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