Ramiz Raja wants Pakistan to establish an opening pair

After a dismal performance in all departments, Pakistan lost to South Africa 2-0 and now with one Test remaining, former captain-turned-cricket commentator Ramiz Raja believes that the team needs to work on building a potent opening pair.

“Pakistan needs to establish its opening pair. I believe Imam-ul-Haq needs to improve his form as he plays quite loosely in these [South African] conditions. Whereas, Pakistan should open with Shan Masood, meanwhile Fakhar Zaman should be sidelined,” said Ramiz Raja at Ramiz Speaks.

Raja opined that Azhar Ali, who has not been performing should also be sidelined for the upcoming Test, and players such as Muhammad Rizwan or all-rounder Faheem Ashraf could be included. The former captain that the team should learn lessons from this series as well.

Skipper Sarfraz had lamented on the lack of discipline in the batting department, but was optimistic that the team will improve in the near future. "We lacked discipline in batting but whenever Asian team goes away, they have problems but the way our batsmen showed their character in the second innings, that's how you play Test cricket. We're getting better day by day," he said, while talking at the post match conference.

With the series already lost 2-1, Pakistan would take on the Proteas in the third and final Test of the series, at Johannesburg from Jan 11-15.