ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez reckons prolific batsman and limited-overs skipper Babar Azam should bat in the middle-order as to try different things.

Hafeez, who was also appointed Pakistan T20 team captain back in May 2012, shared his opinion that the star batsman should bat in the middle-order to try different things.

“I think in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, we should try a new opening pair. It will help us evaluate the prospect of other opening batsmen in the domestic circuit. I believe Babar should come lower down the order,” Hafeez, who has scored 2,147, runs in 94 T20s, said while talking to a private news channel.

Hafeez, who scored 6,614 runs in 218 ODIs, believes that the Pakistan team management should give chance to youngsters in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe team are due to arrive in Pakistan for a limited-overs series in October, which includes three Twenty20s and as many ODIs.

Hafeez, who collected 3,652 runs in 55 Tests, reckoned that the team management should rest seniors for the said series and give chance to younger players.

“I think the team management should give chance to youngsters in the series against Zimbabwe,” said Hafeez. “This kind of series is a perfect opportunity to test your bench strength and give rest to seniors.”

Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Wasim Khan has confirmed that the Zimbabwe series will be split between Rawalpindi and Multan.

The ODIs will be staged in Multan while the T20s will be held in Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2020