Afaq Raheem should be given an opportunity in Test cricket, says Shoaib Mohammad – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Mohammad-c90091, the former Test cricketer, wants the Pakistan team management to change the opening pair for the rest of the Sri Lankan tour and has backed the right-handed batsman, Afaq Raheem, to come good at the ultimate level of the sport.
Since the Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taufeeq-Umar-c92889. The duo has done well for the Green Shirts and has provided some stability, considering the fact that the Green
Shirts were struggling in this department before that.
However, both Hafeez and Taufeeq miserably failed to counter the Sri Lankan bowling attack at Galle and managed merely 43 runs in the whole match. Many eyebrows were raised about the techniques of both the players.
Shoaib, who himself was a successful opening batsman in his playing days, talked to
Pakpassion and expressed that the current pair cannot do well for a long period as both are in their 30s and the selectors should look to develop the youngsters.
He believes, “Both batsmen have had ample chances to succeed and we need to rely on an opening pair that will be beneficial for Pakistan in the long run. Players should not be selected only because they scored on easy batting surfaces.”
The selection committee included http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afaq-Raheem-c42168 for the very first time in the Test squad for the Sri Lankan tour but the elegant opener failed to break into the playing-XI for the Galle Test. The 26-year-old has been a consistent performer in Quad-e-Azam Trophy
over the years, which is the premier first-class tournament of the country.
Shoaib claimed that he has closely monitored Afaq’s progress since junior cricket and the Karachi-based former cricketer backs the uncapped player to do well in the five-day format of the sport.
“I feel that a batsman like Afaq Rahim should be given a chance as an opener and prove himself at the highest level - I have seen him play as U19 coach and I believe that Afaq has the temperament and technique to succeed,” the former cricketer said.
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