AFG vs PAK: Aakash Chopra Drops Massive "Weak Link" Remark On Fakhar Zaman; Hails Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq

Former India opener Aakash Chopra criticized Fakhar Zaman and said that he could be the weak link for Pakistan in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan are currently in Sri Lanka, taking on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series where the 33-year-old Pakistani opener, Fakhar Zaman, has displayed a poor performance and has failed with the bat.

While speaking on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam for their outstanding stats in the 50-over cricket format. Chopra said that the Pakistani skipper is brilliant in ODIs.

“Imam-ul-Haq – 61 matches, 2871 runs at an average of 52. His average jumps to 56 in Asia. Three of his nine centuries have come in Asia. Imam-ul-Haq is a good player. Babar Azam comes after them. He is brilliant in this format. More than 5000 runs in 102 matches. His average becomes nearly 64 in Asia and is 58.4 otherwise,” Aakash Chopra said.

His average actually falls in Asia: Aakash Chopra on Fakhar Zaman

Aakash Chopra mentioned Fakhar Zaman’s stats in 50-over matches and said that he has scored over 3000 runs after playing 72 matches.

The 45-year-old added that he fails to perform in front of the spinners and loses his wicket when they are bowling, for which Aakash Chopra termed him as the weak link in the Pakistan top order for the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023.

“Fakhar Zaman – more than 3000 runs at an average of 48 in 72 matches. Three of his 10 centuries have come in Asia. His average actually falls in Asia. It becomes 38.9 and that actually tells you that maybe it’s spin. He throws his wicket against spin quite a few times. So Fakhar Zaman could be that slight weak link,” the 45-year-old added.

The former India opener also talked about the Aussie top order for the World Cup.

“They have plenty of options. I am going with David Warner. He has an average of 45 in 142 games. However, only three of his 19 hundreds have come in Asia and the average of 45 comes down to 36. He hits a lot in T20 cricket in these conditions. He goes absolutely down in Tests and his numbers are not looking very good in ODIs,” the former India opener further added.

“Travis Head – an average of 40 overall and 38 in Asia. One of his three centuries has come in Asia. It’s not been a very big career. Steve Smith – an average of 44 in his ODI career, only two of his 12 centuries have come in Asia and the average reduces to 39.”

Pakistan will play their opening match of the ODI World Cup 2023 against the Netherlands on October 6th. However, the high voltage game of the tournament will take place on October 14th when Babar Azam’s Men in Green will lock horns against Rohit Sharma-led India at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.