Fakhar Zaman, Sharjeel Khan should be Pakistan’s openers in T20 cricket: Afridi

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi believes that Fakhar Zaman and Sharjeel Khan should be the Men in Green’s openers in Twenty20 cricket.

While speaking in a live session on his official YouTube channel, Afridi said that Fakhar and Sharjeel have the ability to win the game inside the first powerplay.

“Everyone has their opinion but I think that Fakhar Zaman and Sharjeel Khan should be Pakistan’s openers in T20 cricket. Even if one of them clicks, we will win the game inside the first six overs,” said Afridi.

It must be noted that Fakhar is part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, meanwhile Sharjeel was not picked for the mega event.

The 44-year-old, Afridi, was also unimpressed with Fakhar batting lower down the order. The left-hander has been made to bat in the middle-order after the prolific performance of current openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

“I’m not happy with Fakhar Zaman’s batting position. I don’t know who has told him to bat at number five or six because he has played as an opener throughout his career. Our team needs an opener like him who can score as many runs as possible in the first six overs,” he said.  

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The former right-hander also urged young hard-hitter Azam Khan, who was recently excluded from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, to work on his batting and fitness.

“No, he [Azam Khan] should not be part of the side right now. He doesn’t have the required form and fitness. He needs to work really hard on them and especially his fitness,” he concluded.