Shoaib Akhtar: “He’s a good talent and an impact player, but only if he understands when to hit, when not to hit, and how to rotate strike”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowling great Shoaib Akhtar knows power-hitter Mohammad Haris can be an “impact player”, but urged him to be smarter with his shot selection.
Akhtar noticed that Haris has certain technical flaws when batting and also advised him to pick the right deliveries to hit.
On top of that, the Rawalpindi Express wants the 24-year-old to get better at rotating the strike so that he doesn’t solely have to rely on boundaries to get runs.
“Haris – again – when the ball comes close to the body, he manages, but against the ball coming in, he gets stuck; if it’s away, he chases it. He’s a good talent and an impact player, but only if he understands when to hit, when not to hit, and how to rotate strike – mixing boundaries with singles according to the pitch,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Haris recently took part in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he scored 131 runs in seven matches, which included a top score of 66, at an average of 21.83 and a strike-rate of 133.67.
Pakistan are currently facing South Africa and began by drawing the two-Test series 1-1.
The two sides were then involved in a three-match T20I series, which the men in green won 2-1.
Three ODIs are now taking place, with the men in green holding a 1-0 lead.
After the South Africa series, Pakistan will challenge Sri Lanka in three ODIs from November 11 to 15, before competing in a T20I tri-series alongside 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
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