Faheem Ashraf: “I have my own name – I am Faheem, I cannot be Abdul Razzaq or Azhar Mahmood. With time, people will judge what is good and what is not, but my focus is simply on doing what is best for Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf said he is determined to establish his own identity and cannot be compared with legends such as Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood.
He acknowledged that he must forge his own path as an all-rounder and accept that people will judge his performances along the way.
Regardless of the criticism he faces, the 32-year-old said his primary objective remains doing “what is best for Pakistan”.
“I have my own name – I am Faheem, I cannot be Abdul Razzaq or Azhar Mahmood. With time, people will judge what is good and what is not, but my focus is simply on doing what is best for Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Faheem is currently playing first-class cricket as he is representing Khan Research Laboratories in the President’s Trophy Grade-I competition.
So far, the Kasur native has scored 183 runs in four matches, which includes two half-centuries, at an average of 45.75.
He has also taken eight wickets at an average of 38.50.
Faheem wasn’t picked for Pakistan’s recent three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which the men in green won 2-1.
He was, however, included in the side for the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England, which will be held from October 18 to 31 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Pakistan’s Squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Imran Randhawa, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Maaz Sadaqat, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Moqim
Pakistan’s Squad for the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Moqim