At the end of England’s series against Pakistan, Yas Rana looks how each Pakistani player fared across the three-match contest.
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Babar Azam 5/10
77 runs @ 38.50, SR: 124.19, HS: 56
77 runs across two innings is a more than decent return, but a strike of 124.19, given those starts, slightly underwhelms.
Fakhar Zaman 5/10
37 runs @ 18.50, SR: 148, HS: 36
A quickfire 36 in the second game was followed by a failure in the third, though he did take an excellent boundary catch later that game to dismiss Dawid Malan.
Haider Ali 8.5/10
54 runs @ 54, SR: 163.63, HS: 54
A sensational start to international cricket for the 19-year-old. Coming in at No. 3 on debut in the series finale, Haider blasted 54 to kick Pakistan’s innings into gear – where was he in the first two games?
Mohammad Hafeez 9.5/10
155 runs @ 155, SR: 175.13, HS: 86*
155 runs from two innings at a strike-rate of 176.13. Comfortably Pakistan’s player of the series.
Shadab Khan 6/10
15 runs @ 15, SR: 136.36, HS: 15, 5 wickets @ 23, ER: 9.58
The only player to take more than three wickets in the series. He only got one opportunity to replicate his PSL batting antics, but nevertheless, a series of assured performances from the 21-year-old.
Imad Wasim 6/10
3 wickets @ 32, ER: 8.72
In a high-scoring series, Imad performed reasonably with his characteristically wily left-arm spin. Picked up important Powerplay wickets in the first and third games of the series.
Shoaib Malik 3/10
14 runs @ 14, SR: 127.27, HS: 14
Scored 14 off 11 in his one outing. Loses points for effectively being one of two players keeping Haider Ali out of the side for the first two games.
Sarfaraz Ahmed 4/10
Returned to the Pakistan side for the final game of the tour, didn’t bat but was his chirpy self behind the sticks, although did miss a stumping off Moeen Ali.
Wahab Riaz 9/10
2 wickets @ 13, ER: 6.50
Another who only played in the series finale, but Wahab made his one outing count. When England needed 20 off the last two overs, the game was in the balance. If anything, England were slightly ahead of the game. But Wahab’s superb penultimate over of the match, that went for just two and accounted for both Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali, settled the affair in Pakistan’s favour.
Haris Rauf 4/10
3 wickets @ 35.66, ER: 9.72
In his second series as an international cricketer, there were definitely positive signs for Rauf but he was also his side’s most expensive bowler.
Shaheen Afridi 6/10
2 wickets @ 41, ER: 8.94
Shaheen had a quiet opening two games but his opening spell in the third game (2-0-5-1) set the tone for their side’s defence of 191 on a flat pitch with one particularly small boundary.
Mohammad Rizwan 5.5/10
Didn’t bat in either game he played, but did take an excellent catch
Iftikhar Ahmed 3/10
1 wicket @ 38, ER: 9.50
Other than providing Babar Azam with an additional bowling option, it’s hard to see why he was preferred to Haider Ali for the first two games of the series. Inoffensive with the ball, and couldn’t really get the ball away with the bat in the closing stages of Pakistan’s innings in the second T20I.
Mohammad Amir 4/10
0 wickets, ER: 9.36
Wicketless in the series and entrusted with just two overs in the second game – a quiet series for Amir.
