Former captain of Pakistan women’s cricket team, Sana Mir, clarified her comments regarding opening batter Fakhar Zaman’s performance in a recent television show. She explained that her aim was to stress the necessity of having a balanced team with both stable and impact players, and she did not undermine any particular player’s skills. Mir noted that teams need a mix of players who provide stability and those who can contribute with impactful innings to achieve big targets.
Mir cited the example of Fakhar, who has a unique style of playing, and said that the team needs his contribution along with other players who can perform even if their strike rate is not high. “Obviously, a player who scores a run-a-ball century has his own speciality, but along with him, you need three small innings from impact players so that you can chase 350 runs,” she said.
Mir added that Babar Azam, the national team’s captain, has improved his strike rate and wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s ability to finish matches is also a positive sign for the team. She noted that it is necessary to have both kinds of players, especially on tours when the team is aiming for big targets. Mir praised Zaman’s performance and also explained his importance to the team, noting that his runs are always for the team and his role becomes crucial to chase 300-run-plus targets.
Mir clarified that her comments were taken out of context, and people tend to express their frustration in different ways. She emphasized that while commentating, they prepare for the fact that people will take things out of context. Mir led the Pakistan team for over eight years and understands the importance of having a balanced team. Every player, regardless of their strike rate, is essential, but a mix of stable and impact players is necessary for a team’s success.
