IND vs PAK: Pakistan Are So Heavily Dependent On Babar Azam And Mohammad Rizwan - Robin Uthappa Wants Fakhar Zaman To Open For Pakistan In Rest Of Asia Cup 2022

Indian batter Robin Uthappa said that Pakistan should promote Fakhar Zaman to open the innings in the following matches of the Asia Cup 2022.

On Sunday, Pakistan lost to India by five wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma asked Pakistan to bat first.

Pakistan lost the early wicket of skipper Babar Azam in the third over the middle order was ineffective to score runs.

Rizwan played his best during his 42-ball 43, including four boundaries and a six, and added 45 runs with Iftikhar Ahmed (28) in the fourth wicket stand.

Some handy cameos by Harris Rauf (13 not out) and Shahmawaz Dahani (16) helped Pakistan to post 147 on the board.

You would want to probably send Fakhar Zaman up: Robin Uthappa

Uthappa, who was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, said Pakistan relied too much on Babar and Rizwan to deliver runs at the top. The Indian player suggested that it’s time for Fakhar Zaman to open the innings in place of either Babar or Rizwan.

“They are so heavily dependent on Rizwan and Babar that you would want to separate them, I feel, when they bat first,” Uthappa said on ESPNcricinfo.

“You’d want to probably send Fakhar Zaman up and have a left-right batting combination so that the bowlers are bowling different angles, and you have Babar or Rizwan come in at No. 3 so that there is a little more depth and someone can play the sheet anchor role for them and hold one end up while the others revolve around these guys,” he added.

Pakistan should separate Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan: Mickey Arthur

Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur agreed with Uthappa’s views on Pakistan’s opening combinations. The South African believes Zaman’s inclusion as an opener will create a balanced right-left combination for the team.

“I think they should [separate Babar and Rizwan]. Fakhar hits the ball in different areas, it frustrates the bowlers a little bit. It is the different angles, you’ve got a left-hand and a right-hand. So, spread Babar and Rizwan,” Arthur said.

Pakistan eventually lost to India by five wickets as all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya set the chase with their calm innings.

Pakistan will play their second match of Asia Cup 2022 against Hong Kong on September 2 in Sharjah.

Also Read: IND vs PAK: ‘Babar Azam Should Have Come One Down Instead Of Open’: Shoaib Akhtar