Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing changes in the national team’s batting line-up, highlighting how mandatory role changes can affect players’ performance.
In a recent interview Jio NewsAmir pointed out that some players, particularly Faqar Zaman, were moved around the batting line-up, which could affect their performance.
“Nafe started his cricket career as an opener. I was the first to say that Fakhar is being forced into the middle order. You can see where Fakhar’s game has gone in the last two years. When you make such changes, problems arise,” Amir said.
The left-arm fast bowler highlighted the inconsistencies in the team’s line-up, using Salman Ali Agha as an example to illustrate his point about the selectors’ approach.
“So, look at our Agha – he was a middle-order batsman and has now moved to number three, while an opener has been pushed to number four. So somewhere it raises a question mark over the selection committee: You are not building the depth that reflects the mentality that will take the team to progress,” he said.
Zaman’s T20I numbers in different batting positions underline his adaptability, but they also have a strong impact on the top order—especially at no. 1 and no. 3-Clearly pointed out as his most effective roles.
As an opener, the left-handed batsman has played 29 matches and has scored 710 runs at an average of 24.48 with a strike rate of 138.40.
Although he is yet to score a century, his three half-centuries and top score of 91 underline his ability to give Pakistan a flying start. His strike rate reflects his natural attacking instincts in the powerplay, making him a consistent attacking option at the top.
At number 3, his output is even stronger in terms of consistency. In 34 innings, Faqar amassed 775 runs—his highest at any position—at an average of 25.83 at a strike rate of 121.85. This slot produced his most half-centuries (six), including an unbeaten 77*, exemplifying the balance between aggression and control.
No. Batting at 4, he scored 501 runs in 21 innings at an average of 25.05 and a strike rate of 150.45, suggesting performance in the middle overs despite a small sample size. To reduce the order, his income decreases, often due to less opportunities than capacity.
In comparison, Salman Ali Agha’s T20I batting impact is no. 3, where he has scored 297 runs in nine innings at an excellent average of 37.12 and a strike rate of 167.79, including two fifties.
This highlights his effectiveness as a high-tempo top-order batsman who can control and accelerate an innings. At No.4, he has amassed 430 runs in 20 innings at an average of 23.88 with four fifties, suggesting consistent but less explosive returns.
However, his productivity no. 5 and no. Falling hard at 6, where limited runs and low averages reduce influence. Overall, Salman is clearly dominant at No.3, making it his most influential T20I position.