Zaheer Abbas: “If you are going with your key player then it will be a waste to ask him to bat him at four, send him as an opener he will have more chances and overs to score”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas believes it would “be a waste” to use Babar Azam at number four in T20Is.
Instead, Abbas suggested Azam should return to opening the batting, where he would have more time and opportunities to build an innings.
The 31-year-old previously served as Pakistan’s primary opener in the format before losing his spot at the top of the order due to concerns over his strike-rate.
“If you are going with your key player then it will be a waste to ask him to bat him at four, send him as an opener he will have more chances and overs to score,” Abbas was quoted as saying by Khel Shel.
Azam recently captained the Peshawar Zalmi to the title in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and played a key role in his side’s successful campaign as he was the highest run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches, which included two centuries and three fifties, at an average of 73.50 and a strike-rate of 145.90.
Azam returned to international duty after PSL 11 and made 115 runs in one Test against Bangladesh, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 57.50.
He then proceeded to amass 125 runs in three ODIs against Australia, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 41.66.
Azam will now take charge of the Pakistan Test team after he replaced Shan Masood as captain.
His first assignment as skipper will be a two-Test series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
Following this, Pakistan will take on England in a three-Test series from August 19 to 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