As Pakistan gears up for the much-anticipated clash against India in the Asia Cup 2023 on September 2, the left-handed opening batter Fakhar Zaman finds himself under scrutiny due to a string of underwhelming performances.
In his last seven One Day International (ODI) innings, he has failed to reach the fifty-run mark, prompting debate over his place in the final XI.
Zaman’s recent ODI form has been far from stellar, as he has managed to accumulate just 139 runs in the past seven outings, with a highest score of 33. The performance drought has ignited discussions about his inclusion in the pivotal match against India.
Pakistan’s campaign in the Asia Cup 2023 began with a resounding 238-run victory over Nepal in Multan, setting the stage for the highly-anticipated showdown with arch-rivals India in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Despite their convincing win over Nepal, the Men in Green are facing growing concerns regarding Zaman’s form.
While the team management is unlikely to make any changes to their lineup after the convincing win over Nepal, experts and fans have been vocal about their apprehensions regarding Zaman’s performance. On Wednesday, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja expressed his opinion, suggesting that Zaman should be omitted from the lineup for the India match.
Raja shared his thoughts on Zaman’s situation, stating, “The big problem is Fakhar Zaman. He is an unorthodox hitter, but when someone like that gets out of form, it takes some time to find solutions on the drawing board. He’s a bottom-handed player, plays on the leg-side but somehow he adjusts with that and scores.” These discussions have added an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming clash, as Pakistan seeks to make crucial decisions in their quest for victory against their arch-rivals.
