Ahmed Shehzad: “For Fakhar Zaman, it is being said that he will win matches when he plays, but tell us, Fakhar has been playing T20s for 10 years; when will he perform?”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad wants to know when top order batsman Fakhar Zaman will perform in T20Is.
He pointed out that Zaman has been playing this format for close to 10 years but has struggled to score consistently, both as an opener and when batting lower down, such as at number four.
Shehzad added that many people consider the 35-year-old to be a match-winner, but he has yet to see it for himself.
“Fakhar Zaman won a match in the Champions Trophy. He performs well in ODIs, but what is his status in T20s? For Fakhar Zaman, it is being said that he will win matches when he plays, but tell us, Fakhar has been playing T20s for 10 years; when will he perform?” he was quoted as saying by ARY News.
“He cannot settle as an opener, nor can he settle at number four, and the narrative is that when he goes, he will win the game, so when will he go?”
Pakistan recently took on South Africa at home, but Zaman missed the Test and T20I series.
He did get the opportunity to feature in the three ODIs, where he struck 45 runs at an average of 15.
The Mardan native is now involved in Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and scored 32 runs in the 1st ODI.
Following this, Pakistan will participate in a T20I tri-series alongside Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
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, 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, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem