Mohammad Naeem: “I’ve learned a great deal from Fakhar bhai – he’s one of the best white-ball players in the world, and having him as a mentor has been invaluable”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Up-and-coming Pakistan batsman Mohammad Naeem believes big-hitter Fakhar Zaman is “one of the best white-ball players in the world”.
Naeem admitted that he was lucky to have the 35-year-old mentoring him when they both played for the Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Zaman ended up being the second-highest run-scorer in PSL 10 with 439 runs in 13 matches, which included four fifties, at an average of 33.76 and a strike-rate of 152.96.
As for Naeem, he struck 314 runs in 12 games, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 26.16 and a strike-rate of 162.69.
“I’ve learned a great deal from Fakhar bhai – he’s one of the best white-ball players in the world, and having him as a mentor has been invaluable,” the 26-year-old was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After PSL 10, Zaman represented Pakistan in their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, but only made one run in the one match he played.
Pakistan then toured Bangladesh for another three-match T20I series and Zaman finished with 52 runs in two games at an average of 26 and a strike-rate of 123.80.
Next up for the men in green will be a tour of the West Indies, where they will play three T20Is and three ODIs from August 1 to 12.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
[TS_Poll id=”65″]