Pakistan rather comfortably won the tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, losing just one game in the series. Here’s how each of their players fared.
Sahibzada Farhan - 8
5 matches, 191 runs, SR 147, HS: 80*, 50s: 2
The star of the series for Pakistan, Sahibzada recaptured the form he had shown in the Asia Cup against India. He finished as the top run-getter of the series, scoring his runs at close to 150.
Saim Ayub - 6
5 matches, 118 runs, SR 115, HS: 36 | 3 wickets at 27.33, ec 6.83, BBI: 1-17
Ayub got starts in all but one of the games, but failed to convert any of them into something significant. He was economical with the ball, however, and also picked up three wickets, including that of Kamil Mishara in the final.
Babar Azam - 7
5 matches, 127 runs, SR 112, HS: 74, 50s: 1
A mixed series for Babar, who scored more than half of his series total during a 74-run knock against Zimbabwe. He also got two ducks, but played a composed knock in a low-scoring final to take the team through.
Salman Ali Agha - 6
5 matches, 79 runs, SR 125, HS: 63*, 50s: 1
The captain was his side’s top batter in their only defeat of the tri-series, against Sri Lanka, scoring 63 not out, but otherwise struggled to get going. He marshalled his troops well, however, who were clearly the best among the three teams.
Fakhar Zaman - 7
5 matches, 75 runs, SR 150, HS: 44
Fakhar was shunted down the batting order, to No.5 and No.7 in the lineup. He scored a 32-ball 44 in the opener to rescue Pakistan from 54-5, before a 10-ball 27 against Zimbabwe from five down in the third game of the series.
Final, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
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Usman Khan - 6.5
5 matches, 78 runs, SR 126, HS: 37* | Ct: 2
Usman more or less played his role well from the lower-middle order, returning unbeaten in three of his four innings in the T20I series. His rescue act with Fakhar in their series opener was commendable.
Mohammad Nawaz - 9
5 matches, 52 runs, SR 163, HS: 27 | 10 wickets at 10.20, Econ: 5.66, BBI: 3-16
The player of the series, Nawaz had a brilliant all-round series. He was Pakistan’s quickest run-scorer with a strike-rate of 163 and picked up 10 wickets, the most for any bowler in the series.
Faheem Ashraf - 5
5 matches, 10 runs, SR 100, HS: 7 | 2 wickets at 48.50, Econ: 9.70, BBI: 1-15
Faheem endured a difficult series. He could pick up just two wickets at 48.50 with his medium pace, while conceding runs at almost 10 an over.
Salman Mirza - 6
4 matches, 4 wickets at 25.25, Econ: 7.12, BBI: 1-21
Left-arm fast bowler Mirza picked up a wicket in each in the four games he played during the series.
Shaheen Shah Afridi - 7
2 matches, 4 wickets at 13, Econ: 7.42, BBI: 3-18
A foot injury kept Shaheen out of three games, and he only returned for the final after playing the series opener. But he more than made up for it with 3-18 in the decider against Sri Lanka.
Abrar Ahmed - 7
4 matches, 6 wickets at 17, Econ: 6.37, BBI: 2-18
Abrar was in supreme form, consistently among the wickets while also keeping a check on the run-scoring. He dismissed Kusal Perera and Pavan Rathnayake in the same over in the final to derail Sri Lanka’s innings.
Mohammad Wasim - 6
3 matches, 1 wicket at 91, Econ: 7.58, BBI: 1-25
Wasim came into the team after Shaheen’s foot injury, but wasn’t as impactful as he would have liked to be, picking up just one wicket in three games.
Usman Tariq - 8
1 match, 4 wickets at 4.50, Econ: 4.50, BBI: 4-18
'Two-elbow' Tariq played just one game and was on point, completing a hat-trick to lead his side to a 69-run win over Zimbabwe.
Naseem Shah - 6
1 match, 1 wicket at 31, Econ: 7.75, BBI: 1-31
Naseem played just one game in the series - the 69-run win over Zimbabwe – and picked up one wicket.
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