Sharjeel Khan: “I could have performed better than the current opening duo of [the] Pakistan team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Senior Pakistan top order batsman Sharjeel Khan has taken a dig at the current openers, saying he would perform better than them.
Lately, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, and Sahibzada Farhan have been opening the batting for the men in green.
Farhan and Zaman have put up solid performances as of late, while Ayub has been inconsistent.
Based on his assessment of the trio’s batting, Sharjeel considers himself a stronger candidate for the opener role than any of them.
“I could have performed better than the current opening duo of [the] Pakistan team,” the 36-year-old was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now facing South Africa on home soil and began with a two-Test series, which concluded as a 1-1 draw.
As for the three-match T20I series, the men in green won 2-1.
Ayub made 108 runs in three games, which included a top score of 71 not out, at an average of 54 and a strike-rate of 150.
Farhan, meanwhile, scored 71 runs at an average of 23.66 and a strike-rate of 118.33.
As for Zaman, he did not feature in the series as he was part of the reserve players.
Pakistan and South Africa will now compete in a three-match ODI series between November 4 and 8.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka from November 11 to 15, after which they will join a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem