PAK vs SL: "Babar Azam Should Not Just Follow A Straight Line And Decide Against Making Changes In The Line-Up" - Ramiz Raja
Published - 14 Sep 2023, 01:03 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:18 AM
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Former Pakistan cricketer and PCB chief Ramiz Raja urged captain Babar Azam and the team management to select players in the playing XI based on merit. Ramiz Raja emphasized that Fakhan Zaman should be dropped from the line-up, given his poor form in recent matches.
The Men in Green made five changes to their next Super Four game against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, September 14. Fakhar Zaman was dropped from the starting XI, while the remaining four changes were made due to players’ injuries.
Fakhar Zaman Is Not Beneficial For The Team – Ramiz Raja
Speaking ahead of the match against Sri Lanka, Ramiz Raja highlighted that Fakhar Zaman’s presence would not be beneficial for the team in their virtual semi-final encounter in the Asia Cup 2023.
“Babar should not just follow a straight line and decide against making changes in the line-up. The team management and Babar need to realise their love affair with Fakhar is not beneficial for the team as he is not in form at all,” Raja said.
Fakhar Zaman scored three consecutive centuries in the 50-over format against New Zealand earlier this year. However, the left-handed batter failed to score a half-century in the next 10 ODI matches, with a best score of 33.
Mohammad Rizwan Should Bat Where The Team Needs Him – Younis Khan
Former Pakistan batter Younis Khan criticized the lack of teamwork in Pakistan’s recent Super Four match against India in Colombo. He emphasized that Mohammad Rizwan should bat in positions where the team needs him, not where he prefers to bat.
“Their body language indicated they had accepted defeat from the start and they didn’t play well at all as a team. (Mohammad) Rizwan should bat where the team needs him (to), not where he wants to bat,” Younis said.
Mohammad Rizwan scored 109 runs in three innings with an average of 54.50 and a strike rate of 81.34 in the ongoing continental tournament. He has registered scores of 44, 63*, and 2 runs in the tournament so far.
Shaheen Afridi Has To Plan Out His Career Properly – Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi emphasized that Shaheen Shah Afridi should focus on line and length in international cricket, highlighting his frustration after failing to pick early wickets against India.
“What is (being) seen is that against India when he (Shaheen) didn’t get a early breakthrough he got frustrated and angry at himself,” Shahid Afridi said.
“He always does this when he can’t get early wickets. The thing is that in international cricket his main focus should be on line and length when they are in right spot the wickets will come automatically, He has a lot of cricket ahead of him and he has to plan out his career properly,” he added.
Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Haris, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Zaman Khan
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Asia Cup 2023 Babar Azam PAK vs SL Pakistan National Cricket Team Ramiz Raja Shahid Afridi Younis Khan
