Wasim Akram praises Zaman, Shehzad over Auckland success

Pakistan legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has praised Pakistan opening batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad for their batting in the second T20I against the New Zealand at Auckland on Thursday.

"They looked a different team and the combination was good with Shehzad and Zaman [and their] partnership was good. When our batting works in the opening, then the whole team works," Akram said, quoted PakPassion.

The opening duo shared a partnership of 94 runs in 10 overs, with Zaman hitting a fifty and Shehzad adding 44 runs, allowing Pakistan a solid platform to score a mammoth 201 runs on the board in 20 overs.

The sultan of swing, opined that Pakistan’s bowlers especially the left handers are unable to swing the deliveries. Akram was most probably pointing towards Muhammad Amir and Rumman Raees.

"Hasan Ali was bowling with pace and he was getting bounce too but for some reason we are unable to swing the new ball. Until left-arm bowlers cannot bring the ball in, they cannot perform consistently in any format of the game"

Pakistan tasted their first success of the tour after demolishing New Zealand by 48 runs in their chase of 201 runs, in the second T20I played at Auckland on Thursday. With the series 1-1, the decider third T20I would be played on Sunday at Bay Oval.