Ramiz Raja picks four best emerging batsmen from HBL PSL 5

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has picked four emerging batsmen from the fifth season of HBL Pakistan Super League, who he believes can go on to serve Pakistan for a long time.

While speaking in a Youtube video, the famous commentator first advised Peshawar Zalmi rookie batsman Haider Ali to follow in the footsteps of Indian captain Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s Babar Azam.

‘‘Haider has immense talent and has made a name for himself in his first season of PSL,’’ Raja said. ‘‘However, he needs to bring consistency in his performance and his ideal position is number three in the batting order. He has big quality shots in his armour and doesn’t need to improvise much as his power hitting base is quite strong.’’

‘‘Haider needs to follow the approach of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. These two doesn’t improvise much as they have so much talent and rely mainly on conventional shots. Haider has similar talent as Babar and Kohli, but just needs to work on his game awareness and play longer innings,’’ he added.

The 57-year-old also lauded Multan Sultans wicket-keeper batsman Zeeshan Ashraf for his brave batting approach.

‘‘Zeeshan Ashraf scored two fifties and had a great beginning this season but tapered off by the end. He certainly has talent and someone you can work on as he has big shots and plays with a carefree approach,’’ he said. ‘‘His strike-rate this season was 133, which is really good for an opener. There is a very fine line between a pinch hitter and an opener, and he ticks both boxes. Once he is set, he can play the role of a pinch hitter and also play big innings. He has a bright future and has impressed me a lot this season.’’

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Ramiz was impressed with Quetta Gladiators batsman Azam Khan but believes the young batsman needs to work on his fitness ahead of next season.

‘‘I think Azam Khan has immense batting talent. However, he needs to reduce his weight if he wants to represent Pakistan,’’ he said. ‘‘His calm deameaner and confidence in a tense situation has impressed me the most. He reads the match situation really well and doesn’t get bothered by bowler’s reputation.’’

‘‘He had an extra pressure to remove the nepotism tag, but he wasn’t bogged down by it and played two really good innings at crucial juncture,’’ he added.

The former cricketer also believes Pakistan has found a match winner in Multan Sultans lower-order batsman Khushdil Shah.

‘‘Khushdil Shah is a natural timer of the ball. He plays down the order where you need to go for big shots and he didn’t disappoint,’’ he said. ‘‘He played a really special innings against Lahore Qalandars, who in my opinion had the best bowling attack in the tournament. He changed the complexion of the match in five to ten minutes. Khushdil has a great pickup shot and best thing about him is his big striking as he can hit sixes straight at long on and long off. The best strikers in the game back themselves and hit sixes straight at long on and long off. Khushdil has enough talent, power and timing to do the same.’’

‘‘Pakistan now has a batsman in Khushdil, who can bat at number six or seven in the batting order,’’ he added.