Pakistan’s batting lineup was already under scrutiny ahead of their crucial Group A clash against India following their disappointing performance against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener.
Concerns over the team’s composition have intensified with the confirmation that Fakhar Zaman is out of the tournament, once again leaving the opening spot uncertain.
Fakhar, who replaced the injured Saim Ayub, struggled to deliver his trademark aggressive batting, contributing to Pakistan’s lackluster defeat against the Kiwis. With just two days remaining before a virtual do-or-die match, the team management must quickly decide who will open alongside Babar Azam against India.
Unless Pakistan’s team management throws another curveball towards logic, Pakistan now has three realistic options to step up as an opener alongside Babar Azam. Let’s take a look at each of them:
Usman Khan
If Pakistan wants to stick with an attacking mindset at the start, Usman Khan could be the answer. The hard-hitting batter, who has played just 16 T20Is for Pakistan, continues to impress in franchise cricket but has failed to make a name for himself in the international arena. Yet to debut in ODIs, Usman could potentially be the game changer that Pakistan has lost with the absence of Fakhar and Saim. Throwing him to the deep end may not be the best idea, but he may prove to be the impetus Pakistan’s flattening batting needs at the moment.
Saud Shakeel
Pakistan could stick with the same opening combination against India that took on New Zealand. Saud Shakeel failed to make an impact when tasked with opening the batting, scoring just 6 runs, but he possesses enough technique to navigate the early stages of the game when Pakistan will face the most pressure.
Imam-ul-Haq
Imam-ul-Haq was a heavy favorite to make a return to Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad after Saim’s injury before the PCB decided to go with a makeshift approach. He was quickly recalled to the team when Fakhar went down injured.
A natural opener with plenty of experience, Imam-ul-Haq appears to be the most sensible choice given his 72 appearances and over 3,000 runs in the format. However, his batting profile is similar to that of other Pakistani batters, and he has not played a single ODI since 2023, so the management may not take a punt on him after such a late entry.
Pakistan has a penchant for making left-field decisions, so a completely different name is very much a possibility. Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, or Salman Ali Agha could all potentially join Babar Azam when Pakistan trots out to bat against India. With Pakistan needing a win against India to stay in contention for the knockout stage of the Champions Trophy, the decision regarding the opening batting pair will be crucial. Imam’s experience, Usman’s firepower, and Shakeel’s adaptability all present intriguing choices.
Pakistan’s management faces a tough call—opt for stability with Imam, take a bold risk with Usman, or try an untested option in Saud Shakeel? The answer could determine Pakistan’s fortunes in the tournament’s biggest clash.
