PAK vs NZ: "Coach & Captain Commanded Me..." - Fakhar Zaman Reveals His T20I Batting Position

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman opened up about his batting position in the T20Is for the upcoming series against New Zealand. The left-hander revealed that he has been asked by the captain and the management to bat at 3 or 4 in the format. 

Fakhar Zaman, who opens in ODIs, hasn’t quite got many opportunities in the same role in the T20I series. Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan have nailed the opening role in the shortest format of the game and have piled up truckloads of runs. 

The presence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan at the top hasn’t quite done justice to Fakhar Zaman as the left-hander has been pushed down the order. This surely has not allowed Zaman to express himself much and show his class in the shortest of the game. 

But since the last few months, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been criticized a lot for their slow strike rates. Apart from that, there have been a lot of talks that Fakhar Zaman will be moved up the order so that he can utilise his the powerplay to full extent. 

Also with Pakistan slated to play five-match T20I series against New Zealand under new skipper Shaheen Afridi, there are some changes expected. There have been several rumors that Fakhar Zaman might open and one of Babar and Rizwan might move down. 

Fakhar Zaman himself talked about the position he will be playing at in the upcoming T20Is. He weighed in on the competition in the team and stated that although he likes opening, he’s always open to play as per the situation. 

Fakhar Zaman acknowledged the kind of success Babar and Rizwan have had while opening and added that he has been instructed to play down. Speaking to the media in Lahore, he explained: 

“Competition is necessary for any team. It’s good that six players are available for one spot in the team. I have always opened for the team but as per the situation, I have been instructed to play on down or two down, because as you know Babar and Rizwan has been performing as openers.”

PAK vs AUS: I am happy with that – Fakhar Zaman On not opening 

Fakhar Zaman further added that the captain and the team management have asked him to bat at 3 or 4 and he is happy with that. He explained: 

“The coach and captain have commanded me to play one down or two down and I am happy with that.”

The upcoming T20I series against New Zealand will be the first assignment for Shaheen Afridi as a new captain. The fast bowler was recently appointed as the captain of the team in the shortest format of the game. This came after Pakistan’s debacle in the ICC World Cup 2023 and Babar Azam’s decision to step down as a captain. 

Here’s the full schedule of the T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand 

January 12: New Zealand vs Pakistan – First T20I in Auckland

January 14: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Second T20I in Hamilton

January 17: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Third T20I in Dunedin

January 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Fourth T20I in Christchurch

January 21: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Fifth T20I in Christchurch