Sarfraz wants some changes in playing XI

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

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“Nasir Jamshed should open with captain Mohammad Hafeez rather than Imran Nazir.” -Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: Former Test paceman Sarfraz Nawaz on Monday advised the Pakistan think-tank to make some changes in the playing eleven for their last Group ‘D’ clash against Bangladesh in the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.

Pakistan beat New Zealand by 13 runs in their opening group match in Pallekele on Sunday.

“Pakistan team played brilliantly against New Zealand but I believe a few appropriate changes in the team should be made for the match against Bangladesh,” Sarfraz, who featured in 54 Tests for Pakistan, said.

“Nasir Jamshed should open with captain Mohammad Hafeez rather than Imran Nazir,” Sarfraz reckoned, adding that Asad Shafiq should be sent in to bat at number three.

“The win against New Zealand was important, it has boosted the team’s confidence,” he expressed.

While praising the off-spin wizardry of Saeed Ajmal for his outstanding 4-30 performance against the Black Caps, Sarfraz believed the Pakistan team management should include one more spinner in the playing eleven for the Bangladesh game.

“Youngster Raza Hasan should be in the team for the Bangladesh clash,” Sarfraz said, adding that it was the spinners rather than pacers who were taking more wickets in Sri Lanka.

“Looking at Saeed, against whom most of international batsmen have struggled so far, I believe an extra spinner like Raza would add flair to the team for their match against Bangladesh,” Sarfraz added.—APP

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mohammad ikram warsi

Sep 25, 2012 11:26am

No. It will not be a wise decision. Imran did what we needed. We always need scores in double figures from our openers and Imran did that. Please do not change the formate for Heaven sake.

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Nizam udin

Sep 26, 2012 05:12am

it is most perfect place for Nasir jamshed to ply one down ,but the captancy of Muhamad hafiz going some wrong side he ignor some cricketer like abdul razaq and muhamad sami ,razaq is a good i think best player of pakistan he having tolarance to save wicket as well as to score with good range ,if pakistan want to victory in T20 world cup repace TAnvir and give a chance Abul Razaq or muhaad Sami,

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Cricketmania

Sep 26, 2012 05:05am

Hahahah ! Great last comment about the last name. Can't stop laughing............ hahahahahahaha

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Ali

Sep 25, 2012 07:11pm

I have seen sami helped Pakistan to win a single match. He is the worst player. I don't understand why he is in the team.

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Muhammad

Sep 25, 2012 01:20pm

Asad Shafiq CANNOT replace power hitter like Imran Nazir. Asad can be there as a stabilizer. We already have Hafeez and Shoaib Malik for that role. We need Imran. He is quite inconsistent but we can decide in inclusion according to the pitch.

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Sep 26, 2012 06:14am

how about this team....Hafeez, Nazir,Awais Zia, Jamshed,kamran akmal,umar akmal, razzak, afridi,ajmal,gul, rehman/junaid khan/arafat

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Adnan

Sep 26, 2012 05:48am

Agreed....

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Jawwad

Sep 25, 2012 09:33pm

lol @ Mohsin

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Omi

Sep 26, 2012 04:09am

I agree that Imran Nazir is one of the best opener in the world as well as he is fully capable of changing ......but T20 is not a local cup or play on a domestic level..as we must keep in mind that Imran Nazir is not being capable to play against a bigger team so he must not be eligible to even select by selectors.

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Asif

Sep 26, 2012 03:09am

I guess for those who were talking negative about Imran Nazir, he slapped all of you with the batting performance today. If it was not for him, we might not even have qualified for the super eight. If anybody needs to go is Shoaib Malik and in his place Asad Shafiq should play to give some depth in the team. Do not forget what England did to us in the warm match. Now I understand why PCB does what it does because it has people like you guys working for them.............:-)

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GhostRider

Sep 25, 2012 01:15pm

thats the problem...he only plays well in BPL,SPL etc etc

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Tahir Ali

Sep 25, 2012 07:42pm

I think i agree 50/50, I remember once Ramiz raja passed the remarks during a match in which Imran Nazir got out early on a very casual short, He stated that "Nazir is a most distrcutive batsmen for himself and for his team". Despite of all the critics I still love to watch him playing freely like he did tonight.

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DSL

Sep 25, 2012 11:07am

i agree with srafraz nawaz views induct of asad shifque and raza hasan, question who will drop i m inopenion, yasir and sohail

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Salman

Sep 25, 2012 11:55am

Imran Nazir is one of the best openers in the world and is capable of changing match balance single-handedly. Not to forget that he is a major contributor in Sialkot Stallions' wins who have won national T20 championship seven times.

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Omar Haqadir

Sep 25, 2012 08:32pm

I suggest you look at our cumulative t20 rr with imran nazir and without. Also see what our avg score is with him and without.....

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Muhammad

Sep 25, 2012 01:18pm

You're right. But Sami is as bad as Tanvir when it comes to conceding runs. I guess Junaid Khan should have been in the team. He looked promising. Even Aizaz Cheema looked better than Tanvir.

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Mohammad Sohaib

Sep 25, 2012 11:20am

The recent squad is just perfect, it sould not be disturbed

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kazim

Sep 25, 2012 11:21am

playing Arafat is one of the biggest mistakes by Pakistan, he is a medium pacer with no swing or pace and easy picking for any batsmen. Sohail sometimes gets advantage for his left arm action but Arafat should be replaced by Razzaq or Raza. Imran Nazir should be kept in the side for his 50 50 chances of making an explosive start which can damage any side

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saad

Sep 25, 2012 03:10pm

Changes should be in the fast bowling department. Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Sami should be playing and also Shoaib Malik should be given to bowl.

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seriously

Sep 25, 2012 08:34pm

Asad should replace Shoaib Malik, Shoaib hasnt played a meaningful knock in years! and is not a better batsman even technique wise then Asad.

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mohsin

Sep 25, 2012 12:49pm

Sarfraz Nawaz always disagrees with the sane. This is not the first time Nawaz is talking nonsense. Not his fault though he shares his last name with the biggest idiot in Pakistan.

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Khan

Sep 25, 2012 04:32pm

Hahaha...loved your last name comment and i agree with you

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Salman

Sep 26, 2012 02:30am

Keep Imran in the side for all three formats he is a impact player like Sehwag. Just give him time for a cricketing season and allow him to play freely, and flourish his natural game.

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omar

Sep 26, 2012 02:44am

Why is Sohail Tanveer still part of the team??

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omar

Sep 26, 2012 02:46am

Razzaq is spent force, Sami NEVER was a quality bowler. Why is he still attached to the team is beyond my comprehension.

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Morad 786

Sep 25, 2012 08:01am

Makes sense and I guess the Coach & Captain are think of these options also, taking into account the opposition, the pitch and the recent performances of the Pak Players! I sense Afridi will light up tonight!

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Dawar Naqvi

Sep 25, 2012 08:58pm

What is the role of Malik? he is not doing anything for the team.

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Shah

Sep 25, 2012 12:51pm

Is T20 world cup a Pakistani domestic competition? Imran Nazir is playing International Cricket for last 10 year with no valuable contribution.

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Sarabjeet (India)

Sep 25, 2012 09:53am

Pak should and will win easily. We should have 8 best teams in the Super Eights stage.

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Waqar

Sep 25, 2012 11:25am

I believe we have plenty of spinners in our team with Afridi, Hafeez, Azmal, Malik and there is no need for additional spinner. We need Razzaq in the team in place of arafat. In T20 you cannot expect every player to hit 50 or 100 runs. We need Imran Nazir to score some quick 20 to 30 runs. In the end these quick runs will make all the difference because they are scored at good average. We don't need run a ball players in T20. If we want to play defensive and just need a guy who can just come in and knock around singles and doubles for 5 overs than we will eventually loose the game as most of the winning teams are scoring at least 9 to 10 runs per over.

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tulla

Sep 25, 2012 10:54pm

take your words back pls....he played well today

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Tahir Ali

Sep 25, 2012 07:44pm

If you look at the bowling figure, You will find Arafat the best bowler taking most wickets, so why Razak should replace Arafat, How it will be Razak should be in for Umer Gul???

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shumail

Sep 26, 2012 12:42am

Imran Nazir is too good for domestic cricket but pathetic on international arena.Just imagine, had he been caught,what would be team's plight chasing mighty total.He would only fire against India (probably).Aussies and Proteas will knock him down in a couple of overs.Too many used bullets in our ammunition but Razzaq does deserve a chance I donot know if someone has a personal conflict against him not to give him his fair chance.I can bet Razzaq will not consume more runs than Tanveer.

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Nadeem USA

Sep 25, 2012 01:05pm

Agree. He is not as effective as in the past. Because of him match was turning in NZ favour.

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wafaq

Sep 25, 2012 12:54pm

Sami or Abdul Razzaq should be included in place of Yasir Arafat. Imran Nazir should be given a free hand to just go and play your natural game.

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feo

Sep 25, 2012 10:12am

If we keep playing Sohail Tanveer he will eventually help us lose with his death overs bowling, usually giving away 20-30 runs in two overs. That game against NZ was not as close as the final score shows. Tanveer almost gave it away. He needs to be dropped once and for all.

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Usman Lakhwera

Sep 25, 2012 09:52pm

Sarfaraz can suggest but leave the decision to his captain. Let him Pick his team. Sitting outside and being critical is all too easy. Being in there and seeing players perform is another. I feel the current batting order should not be altered at a very critical stage.What needs attention is Fielding , and BOWLING. We need to pick wicket taking bowlers and not just regular bowlers.

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wahab

Sep 25, 2012 10:50pm

what a nonsense by sarfraz nawaz it's too late to change anything,he always does that pokes his nose at the wrong time the batting lineup should be the same it's been clicking lately hafeez in good form so is nasir jamshed powerfull knock by kami the other day and now imran's havoc hopefully our boy's keep this momentum in the up coming matches bring abdul razaq in place of sohail tanvir and hasan raza in place of arafat only against aus/eng/sa and then bring back either sami or tanvir in place of hasan raza against ind/sl and the wc is our's for grab good luck pakistan

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