Mohammad Amir: “Khawaja Nafay should replace Babar Azam or Usman Khan in [Pakistan’s] T20 line-up”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir believes batsman Khawaja Nafay can replace Babar Azam or Usman Khan in the T20I team.
Azam’s strike-rate has been a persistent concern, with critics arguing that his approach places undue pressure on the middle order.
Usman, meanwhile, has been given ample opportunities but has struggled for consistency, managing just two fifties in 38 matches.
With Nafay waiting in the wings, Amir feels it may be time to hand the 24-year-old an extended run in the national team to demonstrate his ability at the international level.
“Khawaja Nafay should replace Babar Azam or Usman Khan in [Pakistan’s] T20 line-up,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X.
Pakistan recently played a Test series against Bangladesh and an ODI series against Australia, which they lost 2-0 and won 2-1 respectively.
The men in green will return to action soon as they are scheduled to take on the West Indies in a two-Test series in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
Pakistan will then travel to England for three Tests 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