ISLAMABAD: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has backed Pakistan batter Mohammad Haris’ capability in international cricket, claiming he is “exactly what white-ball cricket needs.”
While on commentary for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and England in Lahore, Ian Bishop and his co-commentators, Ian Smith and Nasser Hussain, began discussing Pakistan’s national team.
Following two disappointing losses in their opening games, Pakistan were eliminated just four days into the first ICC event they had hosted since 1996.
Finding cricket talent in Pakistan
“They’ve got some good young fast bowlers around this country. Really good bowlers, got to groom them well. There’s hope, there is talent,” Bishop began.
When Hussain mentioned the notable injuries to Pakistan batters Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, Bishop responded, “Despite that, Nasser, they have strength in depth.”
“That’s what New Zealand have going for them, for example, very well. It’s what India have going for them very well. There’s a young man called Mohammad Haris around Pakistan here, who I think…he’s inconsistent but he’s exactly what white-ball cricket needs. How can you build a guy like that?”
Muhammad Haris capabilities
Pakistan’s fans and experts have largely criticised the top-order batters for failing to score at a pace that would put enough pressure on opposing teams.
The 23-year-old Mohammad Haris has featured in six ODIs and nine T20Is for Pakistan, averaging 7.5 and 14 with the bat in those formats.
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Known for his quick scoring in T20s rather than heavy runs, Haris has a career average of 23 with a strike rate of 145.6 from 109 matches.
In List A cricket, he averages just below 30 and scores at a rate of over a run-a-ball.
His last appearance for Pakistan was in an ODI against Sri Lanka in September 2023, right before the World Cup.
Recently, he played in the Bangladesh Premier League, amassing 168 runs in 10 innings for Durbar Rajshahi.
In a Champions Trophy warm-up match, he represented Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh, scoring 76 off 73 balls in a 203-run chase before retiring hurt.
