Mohammad Hafeez: “Pakistan needs a lucky draw to decide who will bat at number five – Usman or Nafay”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez said the team might as well hold a lucky draw to decide whether Usman Khan or Khawaja Nafay should bat at number five.
His remarks come amid ongoing changes to Pakistan’s batting order, which have created uncertainty over defined roles within the line-up.
Usman has been part of the T20I setup for some time but has struggled for consistency, registering just two fifties in 38 matches.
Nafay, regarded as one of Pakistan’s promising young talents, has played four T20Is, scoring 54 runs at an average of 13.50 and a strike-rate of 154.28.
“Pakistan needs a lucky draw to decide who will bat at number five – Usman or Nafay,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by TOK Sports.
Pakistan recently took on Bangladesh in a two-Test series, which they lost 2-0. However, they ended up bouncing back in their three-match ODI series against Australia as they triumphed 2-1.
Next up for the men in green will be a tour of the West Indies, which will comprise two Tests in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
They will then travel to England for three Tests, which will be held between August 19 and September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah