Agreeing with Akhtar, Hafeez added that Razzaq was not only more impactful but also a more consistent performer compared to Pandya.
“For me, it has always been about winning as many championships as I can. I did say when we won in 2024 that this is not done, I still need 5-6 more trophies there. I am very happy that one more is added,” Pandya declared.
There were other movements in the top 10 of the T20I all-rounder rankings, with Marcus Stoinis , Sikandar Raza, Shakib Al Hasan and Liam Livingstone rising up by one spot. Mohammad Nabi moved back by four spots to go out of the top five.
It was a treat to see Hardik Pandya against Bangladesh in his player of the match display.
As the team hurtled from one defeat to another, fans started booing Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans in the last two seasons, even in their home matches at the Wankhede Stadium.
Pandya was named as vice-captain earlier this week for next month's showpiece 20-over tournament, jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies, with veteran Rohit Sharma leading the squad.
Akram believes that fans in the Indian sub-continent have a tendency to hold onto past grievances.
Opener Travis Head has been the demolition man for Sunrisers Hyderabad with his explosive starts taking the team to two record IPL totals of 277 and 287 this season.
Bangladesh’s all-format skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto vouched for his star bowler Mustafizur Rahman, saying that the left-arm pacer has ‘no shortage of commitment’ when he plays for the Tigers.
India have ticked all the boxes so far heading into the Asia Cup and the impending T20 World Cup in October.
Talking about the upcoming match, Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning pacer Aaqib Javed has said that Hardik Pandya could be the difference maker as the Babar Azam-led side doesn't have an all-rounder like him.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he is open to assuming the captaincy on a full-time basis after leading the side to a comprehensive victory in the final match of their Twenty20 series against West Indies.
If India wrapped Hardik Pandya up in cotton wool while he recovered from a back surgery, that investment is now paying off with the all-rounder proving his worth on their limited-overs tour of England.
Hardik Pandya was glad to help fill the "very big shoes" of Jasprit Bumrah after starring with both bat and ball during India's series-clinching win over England.
Hardik Pandya blasted his maiden T20I half-century and took four wickets as India beat England by 50 runs in Southampton on Thursday.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya is being tipped as a future India captain after leading an unfancied debut team to victory in the world's most valuable cricket tournament.
After leading Gujarat Titans to the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their first season, winning the Twenty20 World Cup with India is next on Hardik Pandya's bucket list.
