‘Babar should bat at number three in T20Is’

KAACHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Tauseef Ahmed has said that Babar Azam should come at one down position in the T20I series against South Africa.

Usman Khan should bat at number 4 and Tayyab Tahir at 5, he said on Monday while talking to The News. Tauseef said that Pakistan’s tour to Zimbabwe was not much beneficial. Pakistan, however, found a promising spinner in Sufyan, he said. The team management shout groom him for the future of Pakistan cricket, he said.

Tauseef said that the pitches in South Africa would be fast, bouncy and hard. He said that after the return of Babar in the team it would be difficult to decide the partner of Saim Ayub in T20 matches as there are three contenders, Abdullah Shafique, Rizwan and Babar.

He was of the view that strike rate’s issue in the T20 matches could hurt Pakistan. He said that Salman Ali Agha is the vice captain but he should be rested in these matches. He further said that captain and team management should use Haris Rauf cautiously. He said that Abbas Afridi is a good option and he can be used in T20 matches but Hasnain is facing fitness issues.