Shoaib Akhtar: “You’ve been spoiling Fakhar Zaman for five or six years. He is a natural opener. Let him play his natural game”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar believes Fakhar Zaman has been used incorrectly by the team management for the past five to six years.
Faf du Plessis: “I like the look of Fakhar at three; it feels like a positive adjustment to me. It is a role where he has found success previously, batting around the one down or number four position. He has scored runs there, so I believe it is a constructive move”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said he likes Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman coming in at number three as he has scored a lot of runs in that position.
Shoaib Akhtar: “Babar Azam is not going to deliver until you play him as an opener. He is of no use in the middle order”
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Pakistan pace legend Shoaib Akhtar believes Babar Azam will be useless in the middle order and will not deliver in T20Is unless he returns to opening the batting.
Kamran Akmal: “Those who appointed Salman Ali Agha as captain should consider whether Salman Ali Agha is even eligible to be included in the T20 squad”
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Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal said those who decided to appoint Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain should consider if he is even good enough to be in the team.
Shoaib Akhtar: “Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener, yet he was not played earlier”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowling icon Shoaib Akhtar said Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener and questioned why he has not been used in that role more often.
Salman Ali Agha: “Sahibzada has been outstanding. The way he’s been batting for us for the last six months, he’s just batting really well”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has been very happy with Sahibzada Farhan’s performances over the last six months, saying he the opening batsman has been outstanding.
Tabraiz Shamsi: “I was so surprised to see Fakhar Z(aman) on the bench for most of the World Cup… From personal experience, the man is dangerous”
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South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi admitted Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman is dangerous and was thus shocked to see him benched for a majority of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Ahmed Shehzad: “They axed Hasan Ali from the central contracts, but not you. If that’s not favoritism, then I don’t know what is”
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Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad believes there is favouritism being shown toward spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan as he retained his central contract while fast bowler Hasan Ali was axed from the list of centrally contracted players.
Samit Patel: “I mean come on playing Fakhar Zaman at number five. He is one the best openers Pakistan have had. It’s very sad to see”
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Former England all-rounder Samit Patel admitted it was sad seeing Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman batting at number five during the 2026 T20 World Cup when he is “one of the best best openers” the country has had.
Tanvir Ahmed: “Nor is Salman Ali Agha himself a T20 player”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has lashed out at T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, saying he is not suited for the format.
