Younis Khan suggests Fakhar Zaman to captain Pakistan team.
Pakistan’s early elimination from the 2024 T20 World Cup has ignited significant debate and criticism, particularly targeting Babar Azam’s leadership.
Former captain Younis Khan has intensified this discussion by proposing Fakhar Zaman as a potential replacement for Azam as the T20I captain.
The Green Shirts’ T20 World Cup campaign was fraught with challenges from the start.
They faced a shocking Super Over loss to the USA and suffered a six-wicket defeat to India, putting them in a precarious position.
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Although they secured hard-fought victories against Canada and Ireland, it was insufficient to advance past the group stage.
This marked the first time Pakistan exited the T20 World Cup in the group stage.
Younis Khan’s suggestion to consider Fakhar Zaman for the captaincy stems from Zaman’s performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
In that tournament, Zaman’s resurgence in the latter stages was crucial for Pakistan’s success.
“Why can’t Fakhar Zaman be the captain of the side isn’t he a performer? Didn’t he do well in the last 50-over World Cup? Who is that one player who gave us hope? Zaman started the 2023 World Cup in India poorly however, in the second half turned his form around which coincided with Pakistan’s success”, he said.
Younis Khan “Why can’t Fakhar Zaman be the captain of the side isn’t he a performer?Didn’t he do well in the last 50-over World Cup? Who is that one player who gave us hope? Who is the one player who sacrificed his opening slot & batted down?Fakhar Zaman”pic.twitter.com/OnguY6a1a1
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) June 17, 2024
The T20 World Cup winning caption further said: “His [Fakhar] blistering starts at the top kept Pakistan in contention however, it was too little too late for them to go further in the tournament.”
He added: “Who is that one player in the side who is leaving his opening slot and batting down at four or five or six? Who is sacrificing his place? Fakhar Zaman! Why won’t you make him the captain?”
Khan highlighted Fakhar’s adaptability and selflessness in changing his batting position for the team’s benefit as evidence of his leadership qualities.
However, Fakhar Zaman’s recent form in the 2024 T20 World Cup raises questions about his suitability for the captaincy.
He managed only 33 runs across four matches, with an average of 8.25 and a strike rate of 110.
Despite this, Younis Khan believes Zaman’s past contributions and commitment to the team merit consideration for a leadership role.
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The idea of replacing Babar Azam, a consistent performer and key player for Pakistan, with Fakhar Zaman is contentious.
Babar has been instrumental in Pakistan cricket, though his captaincy is now under scrutiny following the recent World Cup debacle.
This debate reflects broader concerns about team strategy, selection, and consistency in performance.
As Younis Khan suggests Fakhar Zaman to captain Pakistan team, Pakistan’s cricket authorities now face a critical decision: whether to retain Babar Azam as captain or make a bold move by appointing a new leader like Fakhar Zaman.
This decision will have significant implications for the team’s future dynamics and performance.
