Sharjeel Khan: “I could have performed better than the current opening duo of [the] Pakistan team”
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Senior Pakistan top order batsman Sharjeel Khan has taken a dig at the current openers, saying he would perform better than them.
Shahid Afridi: “I would like to see Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub open the batting in T20s”
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Iconic Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi wants to see Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub opening the batting for the men in green in T20Is.
Sunil Gavaskar: “I was surprised to find out that Pakistan were looking to experiment and drop Rizwan or Babar down the order”
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India batting icon Sunil Gavaskar has admitted that he was surprised Pakistan decided to experiment with their opening batsmen when captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were doing such a good job.
Basit Ali: “I think Babar just needs to bat at number three, and they should make Saim (Ayub) or Fakhar (Zaman) open with Mohammad Rizwan”
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Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes either Saim Ayub or Fakhar Zaman should open the batting with Mohammad Rizwan in T20Is.
Ramiz Raja: “You need to revert to the opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam because that is Pakistan’s strength and they understand each other’s game. The entire combination has been disturbed due to Saim”
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Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said it is time to revert to the original opening partnership of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Misbah-ul-Haq: “I feel that the best opening combination, looking at the team, would be a right-left combination. That would be ideal… I feel that different kinds of players – Saim on one end and Babar or Rizwan on the other end – can complement each other well”
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Former Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq believes Saim Ayub should be opening the batting with limited overs captain Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan.
Babar Azam: “You’ll see our planning in this series [against England] but yes, we can make one or so changes according to the conditions or what is required. But, mostly I’ll be batting at one down”
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Pakistan white-ball captain Babar Azam has confirmed that he will mostly be batting at number three in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.
Shoaib Malik: “You need to see that if high-scoring matches are happening, then you will have to open with Saim Ayub. But if high-scoring games are not happening, then it depends on the conditions, if it’s those 160-170 score matches again, then I guess Babar and Rizwan should open”
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Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik believes the men in green should have two opening combinations for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Ramiz Raja: “I don’t think Saim Ayub gives you security, he shows flashes of brilliance. If you don’t score 50 off 30 balls then breaking Rizwan and Babar’s opening duo doesn’t make any sense”
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Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja believes opening batsman Saim Ayub doesn’t offer any security as he hasn’t been able to make any big scores in international cricket so far.
Mohammad Hafeez: “Rizwan and Saim as openers followed by Babar and Fakhar at three [and four] will make a strong top order for Pakistan”
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Former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez has picked four players that he feels will give the men in green a “strong top order” in T20Is.