However, Shehzad’s career has been plagued by a number of issues, both on and off the field. He has faced disciplinary problems, and in 2018, he was found guilty of a doping violation. He has also struggled with consistency in his performance, which has led to his exclusion from the national team in recent years.
While Shehzad has shown potential as an opening batsman, his inconsistency and off-field issues have prevented him from reaching the level of other legendary Pakistani openers such as Hanif Mohammad, Saeed Anwar, Mudassar Nazar, Aamir Sohail, and Imran Farhat.
- Shan Masood
Shan Masood is a Pakistani opening batsman who made his debut for the national team in 2013. He is known for his solid technique and the ability to occupy the crease for long periods of time. Masood has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in Test cricket, where he has scored more than 2,500 runs at an average of over 31.
As an opener, Masood is seen as a crucial part of Pakistan’s Test team, where he has played some crucial innings in challenging conditions. He has a reputation for being able to dig in and score runs against high-quality bowling attacks. Masood has scored five Test centuries, including a brilliant 156 against England in the first Test of their 2020 series.
However, Masood has not been as successful in limited-overs cricket, where he has struggled to score runs at a consistent rate. He has been given limited opportunities in ODI and T20 cricket, and has not yet been able to establish himself in the national team in these formats.
Overall, Masood is seen as a dependable and reliable opening batsman in Test cricket. While his record in limited-overs cricket is not as strong, he has the potential to improve in these formats with more opportunities and experience.
- Fawad Alam
Fawad Alam is a Pakistani middle-order batsman who made his debut for the national team in 2007. He is known for his unorthodox batting style and the ability to play long innings under pressure. Alam has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, where he has scored more than 12,000 runs at an average of over 55.
Despite his impressive domestic record, Alam has had a stop-start career in international cricket. He has been in and out of the national team and has not been given a long run to establish himself. However, Alam has shown glimpses of his talent on the international stage, scoring more than 1,100 runs in Test cricket at an average of over 40.
Alam made a memorable comeback to the national team in 2020, scoring a gritty century against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. His innings was praised by fans and experts alike, as it showed his ability to play long innings under pressure.
Overall, Alam is seen as a talented and hardworking cricketer who has not always been given the opportunities he deserves. He has the potential to be a valuable middle-order batsman for Pakistan, especially in Test cricket, where his style of play is well-suited to the longer format.
Players Who Could Not Impress
- Khurram Manzoor
