“If Pakistan are serious about this World Cup campaign, they need to think about giving Fakhar Zaman a go in the middle order,” Ashwin wrote on X. He highlighted Fakhar’s ability to counter England’s spin threat, particularly from leg-spinner Adil Rashid and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson.
“He can sweep and use his feet against Rashid and Dawson to inflict serious damage in the middle overs. This was Nepal’s success formula against Rashid, and other teams can try to imbibe some key learnings. Accessing the square boundaries can earn balls in the step-hit zone,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin also referenced Nepal’s performance against Rashid, sharing a wagon wheel graphic to show how footwork and targeting square boundaries disrupted England’s control during the middle overs.
Spin is expected to dominate at Pallekele, with slowing surfaces already influencing results in the tournament.
England’s spinners, supported by pacer Jofra Archer, played a decisive role in their commanding win over Sri Lanka, while their batting has seen contributions from unexpected quarters. Despite inconsistent performances from senior players like Jos Buttler, England’s captain Harry Brook remains confident in his experienced core, and opener Phil Salt has rediscovered form at a crucial time.
Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, face a challenging situation. Their opening Super 8 match against New Zealand was washed out, leaving them with little margin for error. While their spin attack offers variety, their batting has struggled for consistency beyond leading scorer Sahibzada Farhan.
