Ramiz Raja on Babar Azam and Saim Ayub: “Number four is not Babar’s ideal position. Honestly, he should open the innings. Considering Saim Ayub’s current form, he can be utilised as a floater in the middle order”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes Babar Azam should be reinstated as an opener in T20Is, with Saim Ayub shifting into a floating role in the middle order.
Shahid Afridi: “We need runs from Saim Ayub instead [of] performance with the ball. Babar Azam should open in case Saim does not score”
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Iconic Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has urged opening batsman Saim Ayub to focus on scoring runs rather than taking wickets with his spin bowling.
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam: “I’ve never said that I won’t play at a certain position because my performance might be affected. I’m ready to play at any number according to the team’s requirements”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam has made it clear that he never said he wouldn’t bat at a certain position.
Mohammad Amir: “Look at Agha – he was a middle-order batter and has now moved to number three, while an opener has been pushed down to number four”
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Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has questioned T20I captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to promote himself to number three while pushing an opener down to number four.
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”
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Legendary Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas believes it would “be a waste” to use Babar Azam at number four in T20Is.
Shoaib Malik: “Our best batsman was Babar Azam, they brought him from opener to number 3 then dropped him and after that brought him to number 4”
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Former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has questioned the handling of Babar Azam’s batting position in T20Is.
Atiq-uz-Zaman: “I’m not sure he’s going to agree to bat [at] number six as well in [the] future. If I was him, I would never agree to that”
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Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman cannot understand Fakhar Zaman’s demotion down the batting order, insisting the experienced top order batsman should not accept a role at number six.
Mike Hesson: “Babar Azam is not being considered as a wicketkeeping option. There’s been a lot of chatter around this, but Babar is working to secure his place in the side as an opening batter”
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Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has ruled out any chance of batsman Babar Azam becoming a wicketkeeper in the T20I team.
Wasim Akram: “The coach can play Babar at any position he wants. In my opinion, number three is ideal for him, but it will depend on the situation. If there are more overs left, someone else could also go in to bat first”
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Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram feels that Babar Azam should be batting at the number three spot in T20Is as it is the ideal position for him.
Mohammad Amir: “In my opinion, Fakhar and Haris should open with Saim coming at number three”
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Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has floated the idea of opener Saim Ayub dropping down to number three.
