Pakistan’s all-format captain, Babar Azam, has ruled out the possibility of trying opening batter, Shan Masood in the middle order in white-ball formats. Babar said that it will be unfair to Shan to give him an opportunity in the middle order as he has not played there before.
Babar, while talking to the press in the build-up to the upcoming ODI series against West Indies, said that while Shan is in brilliant form, it will be unjust on the team’s part to expect him to play in the middle-order.
Earlier, Pakistan’s national team chief selector, Mohammad Wasim, had hinted at the possibility of giving Shan a chance in the middle-order in limited-overs cricket. He had stated that Shan is close to making Pakistan’s white-ball squad and the management is looking at the possibility of giving him a run.
Wasim added that he had communicated the possibility to Shan and he is relishing taking on the challenge. Shan himself stated that he would be willing to play for the national team in any position.
The 32-year-old has been in the form of his life over the past year. He performed exceptionally in the recently concluded seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and continued his rich vein of form in the English County season. Shan scored heavily in the County Championship and was appointed as captain of Derbyshire for the ongoing T20 Blast in England.
The stylish opener has led Derbyshire to two wins in their first three matches in the T20 Blast and is their highest scorer in the competition so far. He has scored 97 runs at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 142.64 in 3 innings so far.
Should Shan be tried in the middle-order in white-ball cricket? Share your thoughts below!
Shan should open in t20 with Rizwan and Babar should come at 3 or 4. It wont effect the top order much as Rizwan and Shan already have good chemistry and Babar already used to play at 3 or 4 anyways
For Odi he should also be an opening choice either with fakhar or imam. You can give rest to Fakhar or Imam in some matches to give Shan a chance.
Shan Masood should play at number three in t20s instead of fakhar zaman because fakhar should be rested and his recent form in international t20s matches is not as good as should be.Muhammad Harris should be played instead of Rizwan.
We should make players to create a good gang of cricket
I think he should be given a chance in the middle order in place of Iftikhar Ahmed whose selection is a question mark. If we won’t try Shan in the middle order, it is likely he would get no chance at all.
He is a stulish and technically correct player. He has played outstandingly well in the ladt year. He should be able to play from opener upto 3 down. He has proven his worth in all forms and it will be a shame and unfsir not to include him in the T20, One day snd test squads.