Iftikhar Ahmed’s career is in danger after continuous poor performances for Pakistan. Once a reliable lower middle-order batsman, Iftikhar failed to perform well for the team in the ODI World Cup and the recently concluded T20 World Cup, after which he was severely criticized by cricket experts.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has called for a ‘surgery’ on the Pakistan team after their poor showing in the T20 World Cup and said all underperforming players will be axed. Pakistan have a lot of white-ball cricket to play with series against Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe before the Champions Trophy in 2025.

In such a situation, if Mohsin Naqvi’s words are to be believed, then it will be difficult for Iftikhar to regain his place in the Pakistan team unless he changes his performance.

Iftikhar Ahmed has only one way left

Iftikhar will have a chance to attract attention in the Champions Cup (Pakistan’s domestic tournament) starting on September 12, where he will play under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan in the team Wolves. If he wants to make a comeback in the team, he will have to perform brilliantly in this domestic tournament.

Meanwhile, recently a clip of Iftikhar is going viral in which he is calling himself a tailender and not a batsman. In the video, the reporter asked Iftikhar about his struggles while batting in the middle order. However, Iftikhar immediately replied saying that he is not a middle-order batsman or an all-rounder but a tailender.

Watch video

Chacha is angry with Pak captain and management. pic.twitter.com/pjjxsodU13

— Usama Zafar (@Usama7) September 8, 2024

Iftikhar said in the video

“I am not a middle order player, I am a tailender. A middle order player or all-rounder plays at 4 or 5 but I play at 7-8 so I am a tailender. Middle order batsmen and all-rounders play at number 4-5 but I bat at number 7-8 so I consider myself a tailender.”

What is a tailender in cricket?

Lower order batsmen are called tail-enders. Mostly lower order batsmen are bowlers who stay to bat last. However, finisher would be the right word for Iftikhar as he bats well and hits long sixes.