Warner hails ‘brave’ Iftikhar

Australia opener David Warner was impressed with the ‘brave’ approach of Pakistan's middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed in the recently-concluded three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series between the two sides.

While speaking in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB’s) podcast, Warner was full of praise for the middle-order batsman.

"Iftikhar Ahmed came out to bat and backed himself which is brave and that is what you have to do,” said Warner. “Even when you are losing wickets you come out and back your ability. If that's the way he plays with freedom, then so be it.”

The Australia opener also applauded Pakistan’s T20I skipper Babar Azam performance in limited-overs cricket.

"Babar Azam's batting in white ball cricket is outstanding,” he said. “Captaincy is always one thing that is very difficult when you are trying to keep on performing and also rallying the troops behind you, but the experience he brings is quality.”

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The 33-year-old was mesmerised by the pace of Pakistan’s young bowlers Musa Khan and Mohammad Hasnain in the third T20I at Perth.

"Musa and Hasnain have raw pace and they will learn a lot having Waqar Younis as bowling coach,” he said. “They have bright futures and looking ahead hopefully down the line they will play some Test cricket.”