Shahid Afridi Suggests Dropping Babar Azam for New Opening Batter in Pakistan Team
Shahid Afridi wants Fakhar Zaman to open for Pakistan alongside Mohammad Rizwan.
Pakistan will face Canada in their upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 match on Tuesday, June 11 in a do-or-die clash. With two consecutive losses under their belt, the pressure is mounting on Babar Azam’s men.
Legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi has proposed a shake-up to the batting order, suggesting a change at the top. Shahid Afridi believes Fakhar Zaman should be promoted to open alongside Mohammad Rizwan, with skipper Babar Azam dropping down to number three.
“Most of all, I believe Fakhar Zaman should be promoted to open the innings alongside Mohammad Rizwan, with Babar dropping down to number three,” Shahid Afridi told ICC.
This suggestion comes after Pakistan’s embarrassing defeat to India, where they fell short of a modest 120-run target. Shahid Afridi feels an explosive opener like Fakhar Zaman, known for his aggressive batting, could exploit the fielding restrictions in the powerplay.
Babar Azam’s struggles at the top of the order have been a major concern for Pakistan. In two matches, he has only managed 57 runs at a sluggish strike rate of 107.54. On the other hand, his captaincy has not helped the team either.
