LAHORE: Dashing Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman on Monday said he will drop to number three or four in the upcoming T20 International series in New Zealand.

“I have received a message from the team management to be ready to bat at one or two-down position as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are doing well as openers in T20 format,” left-handed Fakhar told reporters after the end of the penultimate day of the national training camp set up for the ser­ies in New Zealand here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

“The competition is tough among players for selection and I feel I am lucky that if not included as an opener, I still have a place in the team,” added the 33-year-old said Fakhar, who had the ability to turn around the match with his power-hitting.

Pakistan’s T20 team, led by their new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, will play the series in New Zealand from Jan 12 to 21.

Fakhar, who smashed a whirlwind match-winning century against New Zealand in last year’s ODI World Cup in India, said Yasir Arafat who was recently appointed as the team’s high-performance coach for the New Zealand tour, was utilising his vast international experience for Pakistan’s T20 side.

Talking about his own plans for the said series, “Every batsman wants to score maximum runs in every innings and on my day I will try to score a century against New Zealand.”

Fakhar was all praise for new comer Haseebullah and hard-hitter Azam Khan, saying they had the talent to excel. “If they continue hard work they will have a bright future.”

While acknowledging that New Zealand were tough opponents particularly in their home conditions, the top-order batter insisted the Pakistan team had experience and they would not be under any extra pressure for the series.

Fakhar said Shaheen had leadership qualities, which he had shown while leading Lahore Qalandars to two back-to-back titles in the Pakistan Super League.

“However, there is a marked difference between leading [a side] in the PSL and captaining the Pakistan team; I hope Shaheen will come up to the expectations of the nation.”

Commenting on Babar Azam, Fakhar said the former captain was going through a lean patch and was not performing according to his standards. “He is having starts [which need to be converted], so hopefully he will regain form soon,” the opener said.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2024