Ramiz Raja: “You can play Saim Ayub in the middle order because Shadab is not fit at No.5. If a proper batter comes in, it will bring some stability in the middle order”
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Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja believes opening batsman Saim Ayub should be demoted and replace Shadab Khan at the number five spot.
Mohammad Hafeez: “He’s a very good package for T20 cricket. As a batsman, he should bat at number 5 or number 6 and play the best role for Pakistan cricket. As a fielder, he’s absolutely fantastic”
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Former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez believes spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan is a “very good package for T20 cricket” and should be batting at number five or six.
Azhar Ali: “So, whether it’s Babar or Rizwan opening, they should come down to number three, or if Rizwan can play at 5 or 6”
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Former Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has admitted there is a chance Mohammad Rizwan may have to be demoted to number five or six if the current opening conundrum cannot be resolved.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: “Azam is the best performer in domestic cricket at [number] 5 [and] 6. His average and strike-rate is the best in Pakistan at these positions”
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Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi said wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan is the best option at number five or six based on his performances in domestic cricket.
Mohammad Rizwan: “I can say that the captain and selection committee are still pondering over players for the fourth, fifth and sixth batting spots”
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Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has announced that the men in green still have three open spots in their squad ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
Pakistan power-hitter Azam Khan: “There’s no one close to my batting numbers at the No.5 and No.6 positions in Pakistan. In the last four years, only twelve batters have scored runs at an average of more than 25 and a strike-rate in excess of 145 in T20 cricket”
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Wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan firmly believes there is no other Pakistan batsman as good as him at the number five or six spot in T20Is.
Aamer Sohail: “I think the only thing Pakistan cricket needs to do is they have to find good spinners. Also, I think somebody at number five in the batting department is needed”
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Former Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail believes the national team are lacking two key players right now, namely a good spinner and “somebody at number five in the batting department.”
Andrew Puttick: “He’s betting in a very important position, number five, where you need to be flexible and adaptable, and he certainly is that so I’m expecting great things going forward from Saud”
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Andrew Puttick, who has been Pakistan’s batting coach, said he expects “great things” from middle order batsman Saud Shakeel in the future.
Shahid Afridi: “Iftikhar can be brought back to number five – given the fact that (Mohammad) Rizwan wants to play on number four, so it’s a good opportunity to take chances and try different combinations”
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Shahid Afridi, the former interim chief selector, wants to see Pakistan big-hitting batsman be given a chance to bat at number five in ODIs.
Colin Munro: “You know the guys contributing to winnings performances in certain situations, so someone like Shadab who bats at four for us – four or five is his spot, he’s a proper batsman”
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Colin Munro, the big-hitting New Zealand batsman, said Shadab Khan should be batting at number four or five for Pakistan.
