Is Sami Aslam the solution to Pakistan’s opening woes?
Last year on April 22, a 19-year-old left-handed batsman was given a go in the international arena.
His call to international circuit came after Pakistan put up an abysmal show in the first two matches of a three-match One Day International (ODI) series.
Following a disastrous World Cup show just a few weeks back, Pakistan were on their tour to Bangladesh.
They continued to be thrashed as the batting line-up failed to put up more than 250 runs on placid tracks that saw the hosts put up 329 in the series opener and chase down 251 under 40-overs in the final ODI.
With wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed managing an average of only 15.5 as an opener, Sami Aslam was handed an opportunity to begin his international career in what was nothing more than a dead-rubber.
Read: Sami, Azhar put Pakistan in commanding position
Making to the international level at the back of staggering scores at Under-19 level, Aslam impressed with a 50-ball 45 which gave Pakistan a 91-run opening stand, the highest in the series.
It was evident from the first sight of this young boy that he possessed a vast repertoire of strokes.
His evenly distributed 45 runs on both sides of the square, 24 on the off-side and 21 on the leg, underscored his ability to score around the dial.
Six days later, the teenager was inducted into Pakistan’s Test team.
Not as impressive as he was in the 50-over cricket, Aslam managed only 47 runs in three innings with 20 being his highest score.