Imran Nazir and Ahmed Shehzad have suggested changes in Pakistan's opening pair for the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Led by Babar Azam, Pakistan will begin their T20 World Cup campaign on June 6 against the United States in Dallas and all eyes are on the players who will open the innings for them.
Nazir, who represented Pakistan in 25 T20Is, believed that Fakhar Zaman should open the innings alongside Mohammad Rizwan as scoring in the first six overs is the most important thing in T20Is.
“We can only talk about the players in the 15-man squad, not those who are already out. If I talk about Fakhar [Zaman]I think he's one of those hitters. [for opening]” Nazir said while speaking on Geo News.
“If you can't set the tune [of the match] In the first six overs, you can neither chase the target nor get a big total. For a long time we have had the same players opening the innings, Saim. [Ayub] “He had the opportunity but he couldn't do much.”
“I would pick Fakhar opening the innings alongside Rizwan and Babar would be number three.”
Shehzad was sitting next to Nazir and agreed with some of the former batsman's views. The 32-year-old named Usman Khan as the opener alongside Rizwan and said that if anyone is included in the team, he should play in his original position.
“I agree with some of Imran bhai's points because it is very important to get a good start in the first six overs. Gone are the days when you used to play in the UAE where you would score 140 or 145 and defend the target because of your elite spin attack,” Shehzad said.
“It's one thing to play a bad ball and time it perfectly, everyone can do it. But when you hit boundaries on big balls, it affects the bowlers and the team. So, taking everything into account, Rizwan should open alongside Usman Khan.
Usman Khan because if you have put him in the team, then play him in his position. He showed his potential in the last game [against England]. If Babar acts as an opener, then our middle order is already vulnerable, who will stay there? Therefore, he should come in at number three and try to take the game deep with a good strike rate.”
