Tag: Zaman Khan is better than Naseem Shah

COLOMBO: Pace bowler Zaman Khan has reached Colombo on Wednesday to join the Pakistan squad ahead of their final Super 4 stage match of the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka on September 14.

Zaman Khan was included in the Pakistan squad as the backup pacer along with Shahnawaz Dahani after fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah picked up niggles in the match against India.

“This is only a precautionary measure keeping in mind the fitness and well-being of the players ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next month,” the statement by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

The statement noted that Haris and Naseem will continue to remain under the observation of the team’s medical panel.

“The team management will only request replacement from the ACC technical committee if Naseem or Haris are ruled out for the next seven days,” it concluded.

Zaman Khan departed from Lahore and joined the team at the hotel in Colombo, while Shahnawaz is awaiting his visa and will reach Colombo by the next available flight as soon as he gets the visa.

Pakistan will play their last Super 4 match tomorrow against Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

This match will serve as a virtual semi-final, as the winner of this contest will face India in the final of Asia Cup 2023.

India has qualified for the final of Asia Cup 2023 after handing Pakistan a 228-run thrashing in a rain-hit Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2023 on Monday’s reserve day, and following it up with a thrilling 41-run victory over Sri Lanka yesterday.

Notably, if the all-important clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka gets washed out then Sri Lanka will join India in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 due to a superior net run rate.

READ: Pakistan head coach Bradburn ‘grateful’ for India wake-up call ahead of World Cup

Former test cricketer Aaqib Javed has rated Zaman Khan ‘higher than’ Naseem Shah in white-ball cricket, voicing his displeasure over the former missing out on a spot in Pakistan’s squad for the series against Afghanistan and the Asia Cup.

Aaqib Javed, while talking to media in Lahore on Wednesday, claimed that Zaman Khan’s skill to bowl in the final phase of the innings is second to none, and he is one of the best death-overs specialist bowlers in the world right now.

“In white-ball, I still believe Zaman Khan’s skills are above all. We have recently seen him in the Canada league, no bowler is near to him when it comes to bowling in death overs,” he said.

Aaqib Javed then rated Zaman higher than Naseem Shah, who is the first-choice bowler for Pakistan in white-ball cricket.

“I rate him more than even Naseem. Your first three choices in white-ball cricket must be Shaheen, Haris, and Zaman, you can then go down to Naseem Shah,” he added.

Aaqib Javed then humorously acknowledged the fact that the trio he named belongs to Lahore Qalandars, the PSL team Aaqib is associated with as the director and head Coach.

“You’ll say that I’m only rooting for the bowlers from Lahore Qalandars [laughs]. But Shaheen, Haris and Zaman, they should be your bowlers in white-ball cricket” he added.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the head of the national men’s selection committee, announced the squads on Wednesday in a press conference. Responding to a question about the exclusion of Zaman Khan, the former captain said, “Zaman Khan has done well with the white ball but he lacks experience in 50-over games,”

He further added, “He does have the potential as we have seen in T20 games where he has performed well. So he will become a good asset for Pakistan if he plays more first-class games.”

Zaman Khan, recently played for Toronto Nationals in the recently concluded GT20 Canada, where he picked up seven wickets, while Naseem Shah, playing for Colombo Strikers is the joint-leading wicket-taker with eight wickets in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

READ: Inzamam-ul-Haq opens up on Faheem Ashraf’s inclusion in Asia Cup squad