Shoaib Akhtar: “Kamran Ghulam, Saim Ayub, and Faisal Akram have shown good potential”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan seamer Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan spinner Faisal Akram and the batting duo of Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam “have shown good potential”.
Faisal made his international debut during Pakistan’s ODI series against Zimbabwe in November 2024 and took five wickets at an average of 16.
Ayub had been absolutely outstanding prior to fracturing his ankle as he scored three ODI centuries and a career-best 98 not out in T20Is. It should be noted that all these scores came during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Ghulam, meanwhile, burst onto the international scene as he struck 118 in his Test debut against England in October 2024.
Since then, he has made a number of solid contributions with the bat, including a career-best 103 in the ODI series against Zimbabwe. On top of that, he posted half-centuries in both the ODI and Test series against South Africa.
With Faisal, Ayub and Ghulam having performed well, Akhtar hopes to see them maintain their momentum going forward.
“Kamran Ghulam, Saim Ayub, and Faisal Akram have shown good potential,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan recently played in the 2025 Champions Trophy, but Ayub and Faisal were not part of the squad.
Ghulam, meanwhile, made the cut but did not feature in any of the matches as the men in green crashed out in the group stage.
Pakistan are now touring New Zealand and began in disappointing fashion as they were battered 4-1 in the T20Is.
The two teams are now involved in a three-match ODI series, which the Black Caps lead 1-0 after securing a 73-run win in the 1st ODI in Napier.
The 2nd ODI began on April 2 in Hamilton.
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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