Former Pakistan Cricket Board security consultant, Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir has said that the biggest challenge before the team during the tour of Australia will be finding the right batsman for the right place to bolster the middle order.
“Teams like Australia and India work hard to find specialist batsmen for each of the first six spots. Once each place is settled, they keep sufficient bench strength for each spot to keep pressure on batsmen to keep performing,” The Daily Times quoted Jahangir, as saying.
He said that Pakistan has experienced batsmen in top six spots, except for No. 3 and No. 6, and indicated that all rounder Shahid Afridi could fill in the No. 6 spot.
“Pakistan will bat with Salman Butt and Imran Farhat as openers, Mohammad Yousaf at No.4 and Umar Akmal at No.5. Thus leaving No.3 and No.6 spots without permanent batsmen,” Jahangir said.
He further said that since former captain Shoaib Malik and Misbahul Haq have miserably failed at No. 6, Afridi is the most viable option.
“Since star all-rounder Shahid Afridi has given an indication to play Test cricket, he should be considered to bat at number 6 during the Test series against Australia, if the team needs him,” he added.
He also asked selectors to look at former captain Shoaib Malik as the temporary solution for No.3.
“If he is reluctant, then Faisal Iqbal can be a ‘scapegoat’ before the moving ball,” he added.
Talking about at the bowling and fielding departments of the team, he said: “Bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets, but the team members also need to improve their fielding as well.”
“A review of the fielding will reveal that apart from the ground lapses Pakistan dropped around 20 catches during the series against Kiwis,” he added.
