In a curious turn of events, Iftikhar Ahmed has made a surprising claim about his role in the Pakistan cricket team. The 34-year-old all-rounder, who has built a reputation for his hard-hitting cameos, described himself as a “tailender” rather than a middle-order batter.
Wait, what?
Yes, you read that right. Iftikhar, who is part of the Wolves squad in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, told reporters in Faisalabad that he sees himself as a lower-order batter rather than a genuine middle-order player. This statement has left many fans scratching their heads, especially considering Iftikhar’s actual record for Pakistan.
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What Did Iftikhar Ahmed Say?
Speaking to the media ahead of the Champions Cup, Iftikhar said: “I am not a middle-order batter, I am a lower-order batter. I am not an all-rounder, I am a tailender.”
“If you see, I bat at No.7 or 8. And if you look at the all-rounders and middle-order batters around the world, you’d see they bat at No.4 or 5. But I play at No.7 and 8 and I think of myself as a tailender.”
Hold on a second. Did he just call himself a tailender?
This bizarre self-assessment has raised eyebrows, especially considering Iftikhar’s actual batting positions for Pakistan. It’s hard to tell whether Iftikhar was making a joke or taking a dig at the team management for not giving him a higher spot in the lineup.
The Stats Tell a Different Story
Let’s break it down. Iftikhar’s career for Pakistan shows that he rarely bats at No.7 or below. In T20Is, where he has played 55 innings, he has batted 25 times at No.5, 10 times at No.6, and only 11 times at No.7. So, why call himself a tailender?
In ODIs, the story is similar. He has batted 16 out of 24 innings at No.6 and just five times at No.7. Even in Tests, where he has played a handful of innings, he’s mostly batted at No.6.
These numbers suggest that Iftikhar’s claim of being a tailender isn’t entirely accurate. So, what’s going on here?
Frustration or Sarcasm?
It’s possible that Iftikhar’s comments are a subtle jab at the management of the Pakistan team. Perhaps he feels underutilized, often being slotted lower down the order when he could contribute more if given a proper middle-order role.
Pakistan cricket is known for its share of oddities, and this might be Iftikhar’s way of expressing his frustration. He might feel that being used primarily as a lower-order batter is limiting his impact.
After all, most successful middle-order batters around the world bat higher up, at No.4 or 5, where they have more time to settle in and construct innings.
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His performances in domestic cricket, particularly in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have been impressive. Now, as part of the Wolves squad in the Champions Cup, he has another opportunity to remind selectors of his value.
With the Champions Cup kicking off in Faisalabad on September 12, Iftikhar will be playing under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan alongside star players like Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and Salman Ali Agha.
At 34, Iftikhar’s time might be running out. But with the constant changes in Pakistan cricket, you never know what’s coming next. If he can put up strong performances, he might just find himself back in the national side sooner than expected.
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