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Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has called for a clearly defined batting role for young wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris ahead of the national team’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against Oman.
Speaking on a local sports platform, Malik stressed the importance of continuity, suggesting that Pakistan must stick with the formula that recently helped them clinch the tri-nation T20I series against Afghanistan and the UAE.
“You’ve just won a series, and the combination that worked should mostly stay the same,” he stated.
“Keep it simple, if a right-hander gets out, Haris should come in at number three, while Fakhar Zaman shifts down. The pattern should remain right-hander for right-hander, left-hander for left-hander.”
The veteran all-rounder explained that Haris’s batting strengths are best suited to the powerplay and that pushing him too far down the order diminishes his effectiveness.
“He isn’t a natural power-hitter, so asking him to finish games doesn’t play to his strengths. He needs to face the new ball, make use of field restrictions, and bat with freedom. That’s when he can add value,” Malik added.
Highlighting the 24-year-old’s numbers, Shoaib Malik noted that Mohammad Haris has enjoyed his best returns when batting at number three.
“If you look at his recent performances, he scored runs when he played at number three,” he stated.
“The combination hasn’t always worked smoothly, but it should be kept simple: right-hander for right-hander, left-hander for left-hander.”
Haris, who has featured in 28 T20Is, has one century to his name but has struggled in recent months.
He has scored only 54 runs in his last 11 innings, with a string of low scores against Bangladesh, West Indies, and during the recent tri-series.
Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
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