Atiq-uz-Zaman: “You deserve a chance now. It will be no-brainer not to play you instead of average keepers”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman firmly believes that it’s a “no-brainer” to pick wicketkeeper-batsman Rohail Nazir in the national team as he deserves his chance now.
Nazir, one of Pakistan’s promising young talents, shone brightly in the latest Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QeA Trophy) season for Islamabad Region, scoring 460 runs in five matches, which included two centuries and two fifties, at an impressive average of 65.71.
The 24-year-old followed that up with 160 runs in seven games, which included a top score 81, at an average of 26.66 for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited in the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) tournament.
The 24-year-old then played for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited in the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) tournament and amassed 160 runs in seven games, which included a top score of 81, at an average of 26.66.
However, his form dipped in the President’s Cup Grade-I competition, where he managed 46 runs in four matches at 6.57 for the same side.
Despite Nazir’s form cooling off after an outstanding QeA Trophy campaign, Atiq maintained that the Islamabad native is ready for international cricket.
“You deserve a chance now. It will be no-brainer not to play you instead of average keepers,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Pakistan team are currently competing in the 2026 T20 World Cup, where they began with wins over the Netherlands and United States of America before losing to India.
Their next match will be against Namibia on February 18 in Colombo.
Pakistan Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
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