Shaheen Backs Saim and Fakhar for England Decider
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has ruled out dropping Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman for the tri-series decider against England, despite the pair’s poor run of form in the ongoing home ODI series. Shaheen backs Saim Fakhar for the must-win match, and he made his position clear at a press conference in Lahore on the eve of the must-win match against bottom-placed England.
Pakistan need a win on Sunday to reach the tri-series final on October 31. England, who sit at the bottom of the standings, must also win to stay alive in the three-team event, which also features Sri Lanka.
Shaheen backs Saim Fakhar: why Ayub keeps his place
Ayub has been under heavy scrutiny for his recent ODI form. He last scored a half-century in the format against South Africa in November last year. Since then, the left-handed batter has managed only 54 runs in four innings, at an average of just 13.5.
His struggles have continued in the tri-series. Ayub scored seven against Sri Lanka and eight against England, both single-figure scores that added to the pressure on his place in the side.
Shaheen, however, pointed to what Ayub offers beyond batting. He said the 24-year-old gives Pakistan an edge with his bowling and fielding, and he recalled the last match against England, when Ayub bowled at a key stage and helped contain the opposition.
“We often judge too soon, after just one or two series, that a certain player is not good enough,” Shaheen said. “If we take the current top 5-6 run-scorers of Pakistan in ODIs, then Saim Ayub must be amongst those. There will be runs in his 16-17 innings.”
Shaheen added that Ayub himself understands runs have not come, and the team is hoping he plays good cricket in the coming matches. The captain also said Ayub is a good fielder, which adds to his value in a side that needs balance across all three departments.
Fakhar Zaman called the main player
Fakhar Zaman entered the tri-series in better form, after back-to-back half-centuries in his most recent appearances before the series. Yet he has managed only 16 runs in the first two matches of the tri-series, including a golden duck against England.
Shaheen still described Fakhar as the main player of the Pakistan ODI side. He said Fakhar’s presence in the team is very important, and he rejected any suggestion that the experienced opener should be left out.
“I think Fakhar is the main player of Pakistan’s [ODI side]. And it is very important for him to be in the team,” Shaheen said.
The calls to change the top order have grown because of the form of T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan. Former captain Shahid Afridi has been one of the most vocal advocates for Farhan’s inclusion in the ODI side, given his strong form in the shortest format.
A batter may still be added
Shaheen did not close the door on changes altogether. He said that if needed, Pakistan will bring a batter into the team for upcoming assignments, and he hinted that a couple of young players will get chances.
“No, I don’t think we will drop either of them. If needed, we will bring a batter into the team,” Shaheen said. “If you look at the bench, we have kept a wicketkeeper; the rest are spinners. So, if the team needs it, Farhan is the captain of the T20I team and his form is also going well, and for our upcoming assignments we will definitely give chances to a couple of boys.”
He added that once the series goes well, the team management will analyse how the players have improved and how their cricket is going. If the team needs it, he said, Farhan will definitely be brought in.
Why this match matters for Pakistan
Sunday’s match is a straight shootout for a place in the final. A win takes Pakistan through, while a defeat would leave their fate in the hands of other results and net run rate calculations.
The team management has therefore chosen stability over change at the top of the order. Backing two out-of-form batters is a gamble, but it is also a clear message: the captain trusts his senior players to deliver when the series is on the line.
