Pakistan Team Discussion

[Alexei.]

He is hundred percent correct. Leaving Abid Ali out was a very bad decision indeed. He didnt talk about Hasnain's inclusion though.

@CerealKiller

 

[Aoun13]

In my opinion, leaving Abid is not a bad decision but the way he was first selected then left without playing much is not the correct way to handle selection. I still believe that selection of Abid and Husnain was wrong in the first place and had Inzamam and company stick with the players that were playing for the last 2-3 years, this controversy could have easily avoided.
But then how can Pakistan team avoid controversy before a big tournament.
Regardless of that, I guess we should all move on, so let discuss the possible final XI. I am only missing Junaid in the selected 15, rest of the players are possibly the best we have.
From this squad my playing XI will be,

Fakhar Zaman
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed
Muhammad Hafeez
Asif Ali
Shadab Khan
Imad Wasim
Muhammad Aamir
Hassan Ali
Shaheen Shah Afridi/ Junaid in a perfect world.

We will have proper 6 bowlers and 6 batsmen, with Shadab and Imad filling the bowling allrounder slots.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

In my opinion, leaving Abid is not a bad decision but the way he was first selected then left without playing much is not the correct way to handle selection. I still believe that selection of Abid and Husnain was wrong in the first place and had Inzamam and company stick with the players that were playing for the last 2-3 years, this controversy could have easily avoided.
But then how can Pakistan team avoid controversy before a big tournament.
Regardless of that, I guess we should all move on, so let discuss the possible final XI. I am only missing Junaid in the selected 15, rest of the players are possibly the best we have.
From this squad my playing XI will be,

Fakhar Zaman
Imam Ul Haq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed
Muhammad Hafeez
Asif Ali
Shadab Khan
Imad Wasim
Muhammad Aamir
Hassan Ali
Shaheen Shah Afridi/ Junaid in a perfect world.

We will have proper 6 bowlers and 6 batsmen, with Shadab and Imad filling the bowling allrounder slots.

3 spinners for English conditions ? I think Pakistan should look to accommodate both Shaheen and Junaid. I don't know why Imad Wasim should play as a bowler. His batting seems better than his bowling, he is an average bowler at best

 

[Rehan_24]

My XI for the World Cup

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Hafeez/Sohaib (Whoever performs well)
6. Sarfraz
7. Imad
8. Shadab
9. Hasan
10 Wahab Riaz/Shaheen Shah (Whoever performs well)
11. Aamir

I don't see Hafeez and Shoaib being in the same playing 11. Both are similar players with Hafeez a bit at par in terms of batting and bowling. Haris Sohail is more reliable and backbone to your side. My only concern is if any one of the openers started playing badly or gets injured. You'd have no choice but to induct Azam as an opener hence combination will be disturbed. Azam seems perfect for Slot 3. So a third bench specialist opener should have to be there. Abid Ali was perfect for it but alas Inzy and his dreams.

I agree on the inclusion of Aamir though. He has a substance for the oppositions and on his day he can make wonders, Aamir should play both practice matches to get back in Rythm.

Hasnain is a wastage, there was an open room to have Junaid in the side in place of Hasnain. Imagine what would be the squad would be.

Hasnain has the potential but he has to be coached properly, His rhythm is out of place. He has to play domestic cricket enough to be worthy of an international call but Inzy made a hasty decision based on PSL.

 

[Aoun13]

My XI for the World Cup

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Hafeez/Sohaib (Whoever performs well)
6. Sarfraz
7. Imad
8. Shadab
9. Hasan
10 Wahab Riaz/Shaheen Shah (Whoever performs well)
11. Aamir

I don't see Hafeez and Shoaib being in the same playing 11. Both are similar players with Hafeez a bit at par in terms of batting and bowling. Haris Sohail is more reliable and backbone to your side. My only concern is if any one of the openers started playing badly or gets injured. You'd have no choice but to induct Azam as an opener hence combination will be disturbed. Azam seems perfect for Slot 3. So a third bench specialist opener should have to be there. Abid Ali was perfect for it but alas Inzy and his dreams.

I agree on the inclusion of Aamir though. He has a substance for the oppositions and on his day he can make wonders, Aamir should play both practice matches to get back in Rythm.

Hasnain is a wastage, there was an open room to have Junaid in the side in place of Hasnain. Imagine what would be the squad would be.

Hasnain has the potential but he has to be coached properly, His rhythm is out of place. He has to play domestic cricket enough to be worthy of an international call but Inzy made a hasty decision based on PSL.

No Asif Ali? I do see him as a permanent member of this middle order, unless he fail miserably in the first 3-4 matches.

 

[CerealKiller]

My XI for the World Cup

1. Imam
2. Fakhar
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Hafeez/Sohaib (Whoever performs well)
6. Sarfraz
7. Imad
8. Shadab
9. Hasan
10 Wahab Riaz/Shaheen Shah (Whoever performs well)
11. Aamir

I don't see Hafeez and Shoaib being in the same playing 11. Both are similar players with Hafeez a bit at par in terms of batting and bowling. Haris Sohail is more reliable and backbone to your side. My only concern is if any one of the openers started playing badly or gets injured. You'd have no choice but to induct Azam as an opener hence combination will be disturbed. Azam seems perfect for Slot 3. So a third bench specialist opener should have to be there. Abid Ali was perfect for it but alas Inzy and his dreams.

I agree on the inclusion of Aamir though. He has a substance for the oppositions and on his day he can make wonders, Aamir should play both practice matches to get back in Rythm.

Hasnain is a wastage, there was an open room to have Junaid in the side in place of Hasnain. Imagine what would be the squad would be.

Hasnain has the potential but he has to be coached properly, His rhythm is out of place. He has to play domestic cricket enough to be worthy of an international call but Inzy made a hasty decision based on PSL.

Sarfraz has to be in the top 5 and Asif has to play if he's available. I'm afraid Haris will spend the whole tournament on the bench.

 

[Rehan_24]

No Asif Ali? I do see him as a permanent member of this middle order, unless he fail miserably in the first 3-4 matches.

Oops, well catch, I certainly missed him. I think he has to be in place of Hafeez if he keeps on performing. Haris Sohail consistency against Hafeez is at miles par though Hafeez has a slight edge due to the bowling option. Hafeez and Shoaib hold no credibility but I do agree management seems more tilted to give chances to Hafeez and Shoaib. Asif Ali is definitely a must, He is the only credible aggressive batsman down the order but he has to be consistent as well. I may be wrong but I don't think so that without Haris your middle order is credible enough to sustain during crunch situations.

 

[Alexei.]

Hafeez and Shoaib hold no credibility but I do agree management seems more tilted to give chances to Hafeez and Shoaib

Yup cause its almost their end.

 

[Aoun13]

In the on going warmup match, Pakistan is clearly having the same issue as I discussed earlier.
The more pace you'll have the more punishment you'll get. Wahab and Shaheen both got the beating from the Afghan opener.
Leaving Junaid for Wahab will come to haunt Inzamam.

 

[Alexei.]

Mohammad Amir to Asghar Afghan, FOUR runs, EDGE! Conservative captaincy by Sarfaraz costs Pakistan.Afghan has just come to the crease and still feeling bat on ball. Fullish length by Amir in the channel outside off, Afghan with not much footwork, especially after the previous ball where he looked tentative going onto the back foot to a full ball. He pokes an edge that goes just wide of Sarfaraz. Would've been snapped up by first slip.


And then people say Amir is a bad bowler.

 

[Rehan_24]

Its quite shameful performance. Lost to Afghanistan. Has sarfraz decided to struggle with right combination throughout the world cup ? Nepotism will cost Inzamam and Pakistan team. Wahab is meant for beatings. No way near close to Junaid varieties and experience he had

 

[Master Khan]

Mohammad Amir to Asghar Afghan, FOUR runs, EDGE! Conservative captaincy by Sarfaraz costs Pakistan.Afghan has just come to the crease and still feeling bat on ball. Fullish length by Amir in the channel outside off, Afghan with not much footwork, especially after the previous ball where he looked tentative going onto the back foot to a full ball. He pokes an edge that goes just wide of Sarfaraz. Would've been snapped up by first slip.


And then people say Amir is a bad bowler.

Amir is a decent bowler but he is not taking wickets, even today he bowled good but didn't take any wickets.

 

[Ahmad94]

Amir is a decent bowler but he is not taking wickets, even today he bowled good but didn't take any wickets.

He is not bowling good tho! He used to pitch the ball up and let it swing early on - remember that devasting spell against India in the T20 WC. Now he has shortened his length to conserve his run rate.

I agree that the pitches are a lot flatter in this tournament, but if you don't strangle a team at the top - you will struggle later one. Look at Afghan today, took three quick wickets and we couldn't break 300 barrier. He needs to look to make the ball talk at the start because simply bowling 0-40/50 is not good enough for a strike bowler. I would rather he finish for 3-4/60 then wicketless and conservative.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Nepotism will cost Inzamam and Pakistan team.

Can we come out of it ? It's been more than a year since I am hearing this. I feel Pakistan actually played better than what they did in the England series. Afghanistan is a stronger team than what people expect it to be. Twice they have beaten Windies in WC Qualifiers, almost beat every team in Asia Cup, tied in India in the Asia Cup. They are a good side and well capable of making upsets this tournament. Hoping for the best for our arch-rivals (Pakistan) this WC.

 

[Aoun13]

Frankly, the only thing I liked in this warm-up is that Pakistan was actually playing like a warm-up match and instead tried few tricks before the start of WC. The only thing important is how Sarfraz and company will learn from their mistakes. Like when he bowled Shadab the second last over, I don't think he would have bowled Shadab with overs left from Aamir, if it was a real match.
Wahab was good at the end, but the concern is who will bowl well at the start of an innings and pick wickets. Most probably Pakistan will go with Aamir, Wahab and Hassan, so either Hassan Ali will have to bowl in the opening overs or Imad will start the bowling innings.