PAK vs SL: Mickey Arthur Confirms Fakhar Zaman's Fate In Playing XI For Sri Lanka Clash

Under-fire opener Fakhar Zaman is likely to retain his place in Pakistan’s playing eleven for the upcoming game against Sri Lanka. The Men in Green will be looking to extend their winning start in the 2023 ODI World Cup when they take on Sri Lanka in their next outing.

Pakistan began their campaign with an 81-run win over the Netherlands. They recovered from a disastrous start with the bat to eventually register a comfortable win. Asked to bat first, Pakistan started poorly and were reeling at 38 for 3 with Fakhar Zaman (12), Imam-ul-Haq  (15), and Babar Azam (5) failing to get going.

The fifties from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel then helped Pakistan recover and post a competitive total of 286 runs. In reply, the Netherlands were all out for just 205 runs. The poor start with the bat has once again brought the spotlight on Fakhar Zaman for all the wrong reasons. The left-handed batsman’s form is a major worry for Pakistan.

He began the year on a good note by scoring fifty and three centuries in his first five ODI innings. But he has not scored a fifty in 11 innings since that run. In his last 11 ODI innings, the left-handed batter’s top-score is only 33 while he has not even crossed the 30-run mark in his last six innings.

However, he is likely to play against Sri Lanka and would be given another chance to justify his place in the team. Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur stated that he is not worried about the opener’s form and backed him to roar back to form.

“I am not worried about his form, he is a good player and is just one innings away from a big score,” Arthur told AFP.

Mickey Arthur on facing Sri Lanka:

The last time Pakistan faced Sri Lanka in ODIs, they suffered a two-wicket defeat and crashed out of the Asia Cup. The Men in Green will be looking to set the record straight in the upcoming game and Arthur is confident of a good show from his team. Having coached Sri Lanka in the past, the former South Africa and Australia coach said that he knows Sri Lanka’s “strengths and weaknesses” inside out.

“Yeah, I know their strengths and weaknesses so we will have plans put in place for all of them,” Arthur said. “They are a dangerous side so we will have to be at our best to beat them.”

The match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is scheduled to be played on Tuesday (October 10) in Hyderabad.