Cricket News

Wasim Jaffer names his top picks from Asia Cup 2022

Former Indian batter, Wasim Jaffer picked Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz as one of the players who has impressed him the most in the Asia Cup 2022, along with left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz. Gurbaz finished the tournament with 152 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 163.44 and a top score of 84.

Wasim Jaffer said that though Farooqi would be remembered for those two balls that were smoked for back-to-back sixes by Naseem Shah against Pakistan, there is a lot to like about him as he showed skills, especially with the new ball in hard conditions in Dubai. The Afghan pacer picked up six wickets in five games with best figures of 3-11.

“Apart from the usual names, I would say Rahmanullah Gurbaz without a doubt,” said Jaffer, when asked about players that impressed him the most in the Asia Cup, on CricTracker’s live show ‘Run Ki Runneeti’

“Apart from him, I would say Fazalhaq Farooqi, even though his Asia Cup highlight would be those two balls (against Pakistan). But he has got a lot of skills, the way he bowled with the new ball, especially in Dubai conditions, there is a lot to like about him,” added the former Indian batter.

Jaffer also lauded the game changing performances of the Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, saying that his performance with the ball and a superb 42 with the bat against India were good. The former Mumbai opener also feels that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam did not play his cards right in the final by not utilizing Nawaz’s services to the fullest, who is a shrewd character and bowls with a lot of guile.

“I would say that Babar Azam missed a trick by not bowling him enough today (final). But he’s been in a very good form bowling-wise. He did not let even the left-hand batters take him for runs. He had a very good tournament as well,” Wasim Jaffer added.