Pakistan’s batting lineup against India was already set to be under the microscope for a crucial group A fixture after the debacle against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener.
The questions surrounding the makeup of the team are only set to grow louder with the confirmation that Fakhar Zaman is done for the tournament, leaving the opening spot shrouded in mystery once again.
Fakhar, who was chosen to replace the injured Saim Ayub, failed to play his aggressive brand of cricket, which reflected in Pakistan’s limp defeat to the Kiwis. With just two days left before a virtual do-or-die contest, Pakistan’s team management will quickly need to sort out who will partner 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.