Pakistan’s power-hitting batsman, Fakhar Zaman, has expressed satisfaction with a change in his batting order for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, set to kick off on January 12 in Auckland.
The 33-year-old revealed that the coach and team captain has directed him to play either one down or two down, a shift from his usual role as an opener.
In a conversation with the media in Lahore, Fakhar Zaman highlighted the healthy competition within the team for batting positions, emphasizing its importance in enhancing the team’s performance.
“Competition is crucial for any team. It’s great that six players are vying for one spot on the team. While I’ve mostly opened for the team, considering the current scenario, I’ve been advised to bat at one down or two down, especially with Babar and Rizwan excelling as openers,” Fakhar explained.
“The coach and captain have instructed me to bat at one down or two down, and I’m content with that decision,” he further added.
Pakistan Squad Against New Zealand:
- Shaheen Afridi (c)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abbas Afridi
- Abrar Ahmed
- Azam Khan (wk)
- Babar Azam
- Fakhar Zaman
- Haris Rauf
- Haseebullah (wk)
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Saim Ayub
- Usama Mir
- Zaman Khan
The schedule for Pakistan’s 2024 tour to New Zealand:
- First match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, January 12, Auckland
- Second match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, January 14, Hamilton
- Third match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, January 17, Dunedin
- Fourth match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, January 19, Christchurch
- Fifth match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, January 21, Christchurch.