Afghanistan vs Pakistan | 1st ODI | Hambantota | 22 August, 2023 | Pakistan Innings

[Ahmed216]

All rounders from no. 5 onwards?? When will babars love for bits n pieces end

 

[boomboomcheema]

Runs coming at a better rate after the departure of Agha.

 

[RidiculousMan]

All rounders from no. 5 onwards?? When will babars love for bits n pieces end

Calling Salman and Iftikhar bits and pieces is a ridiculous statement.

Our fans need to have some patience and rationality.

 

[zains_rulez]

Speaker bana k mar rhe hen afghani

 

[Major]

Imam got away with it

 

[AAli98]

Ifty & salman agha are going to win a World Cup for Pak.. how the mighty have fallen

 

[Cric1234]

Lucky escape struggling to score then went for a big swing.

 

[Ahmed216]

Calling Salman and Iftikhar bits and pieces is a ridiculous statement.

Our fans need to have some patience and rationality.

Tell me who's better equipped to play Afghan spinners? Saud or Agha?? Or iftikhar
Let me tell you why they both are playing ahead of Saud. It's because they both can bowl. Babar likes players who can do a bit of both batting n bowling.
We are playing with 7 bowlers. And guess what our weak facet is batting

 

[imshally81]

Tell me who's better equipped to play Afghan spinners? Saud or Agha?? Or iftikhar
Let me tell you why they both are playing ahead of Saud. It's because they both can bowl. Babar likes players who can do a bit of both batting n bowling.
We are playing with 7 bowlers. And guess what our weak facet is batting

Saud can also bowl...

 

[heddie19]

Imam fighting really well. I hope he goes big now. SR doesn't matter on a pitch like this.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Imam mostly scores off the backfoot against spinners.

And that is the best way to play the spin bowling in sri lanka.. use the depth and kill the spin that's why he is looking so comfortable out there.

 

[imshally81]

Rashid should bowl now... Afg should attack instead of planning to bowl 50 overs...

 

[boomboomcheema]

Slowly slowly getting towards a safe score..

 

[heddie19]

Tell me who's better equipped to play Afghan spinners? Saud or Agha?? Or iftikhar
Let me tell you why they both are playing ahead of Saud. It's because they both can bowl. Babar likes players who can do a bit of both batting n bowling.
We are playing with 7 bowlers. And guess what our weak facet is batting

Funny thing is that Babar will only use 5 bowlers even if he has the luxury of 7.
That is something he needs to learn in his captaincy from the likes of Dhoni, who used to get wins from his part timers.

 

[cricenjoyer]

Imam batting well.

Can't believe people are here wanting Haris to take his place

 

[RidiculousMan]

Tell me who's better equipped to play Afghan spinners? Saud or Agha?? Or iftikhar
Let me tell you why they both are playing ahead of Saud. It's because they both can bowl. Babar likes players who can do a bit of both batting n bowling.
We are playing with 7 bowlers. And guess what our weak facet is batting

All three haven't played against Afghanistan before. Except for Iftikhar maybe, not sure. How can you make your judgement then based on performances that haven't even come yet? (For better or for worse).

Iftikhar and Salman were the middle order for Pakistan in the last series. They have decent ability to play spin and most importantly they were performers. Saud Shakeel just got inducted in the Test side and has yet to play an ODI game for a year or so.

By cutting and chopping and inducting any new player in just because of a said reputation in domestic or performances in the other format, it is only a matter of time before fans would be after Saud as well to be excluded, if he gets to play and does not perform.

Having a third spinner is going to be crucial in the Asia Cup and World Cup. Saud can turn an arm as well, but like I said Salman and Iftikhar performed in the last series and they are new to this ODI side as well. Give your performers a decent opportunity before calling for another new shiny player.

 

[Rana]

Imam batting well.

Can't believe people are here wanting Haris to take his place

They want Harris to take Rizwan’s place

 

[Nikhil_cric]

For a guy who's often criticized for not being good enough against spin, Babar Azam has the highest ODI average for any batsman in cricket history against spinners (Min 2000 runs) - 80.76

Get your facts correct before you comment

At a strike rate of 88 though.

 

[cricenjoyer]

They want Harris to take Rizwan’s place

Well he won't either

Both Imam and Rizwan will be playing a huge role this WC

 

[boomboomcheema]

Another wicket

 

[boomboomcheema]

Chacha gone

 

[Rana]

Well he won't either

Both Imam and Rizwan will be playing a huge role this WC

Jee sir. Imam yes

Rizwan will play a big role….in making sure Pakistan doesn’t win it

 

[boomboomcheema]

Chacha throws it away.

 

[cricenjoyer]

Will be interesting to see Usama with the bat.

If he can show some of the form he displayed in the 100 than he maybe a lock for the WC

 

[Rana]

Thanks for that Chacha

 

[boomboomcheema]

Still need 200 atleast. Who can deliver ?

 

[cricenjoyer]

Jee sir. Imam yes

Rizwan will play a big role….in making sure Pakistan doesn’t win it

Wait until the 19th November and then you will see

 

[PakFan2010]

Batting line-up is far too weak.

Shan Masood or Abdullah Shafique need to be in the team.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Common Shadab a 35 Balls 50 will be nice here.

 

[Markhor]

Pakistan's batting has been ordinary but this pitch is horrific for ODI cricket. It's nearly impossible to accelerate.

 

[ZaidTR]

Cha cha should retire and become an umpire. He will be selected for every series

 

[Ahmed216]

All three haven't played against Afghanistan before. Except for Iftikhar maybe, not sure. How can you make your judgement then based on performances that haven't even come yet? (For better or for worse).

Iftikhar and Salman were the middle order for Pakistan in the last series. They have decent ability to play spin and most importantly they were performers. Saud Shakeel just got inducted in the Test side and has yet to play an ODI game for a year or so.

By cutting and chopping and inducting any new player in just because of a said reputation in domestic or performances in the other format, it is only a matter of time before fans would be after Saud as well to be excluded, if he gets to play and does not perform.

Having a third spinner is going to be crucial in the Asia Cup and World Cup. Saud can turn an arm as well, but like I said Salman and Iftikhar performed in the last series and they are new to this ODI side as well. Give your performers a decent opportunity before calling for another new shiny player.

Shiny player? Saud is clearly the best player of spin in Pak. He has a great FC record and displayed his brilliance against spin in Galle few weeks back. A test double hundred which our superstar Babar is yet to achieve. They should have made use of his form.
Instead we play chacha who couldn't get past 10 runs In LPL.
M not saying Chacha is useless but they should have played a proper in form batsman

 

[Devadwal]

Why is Rashid and mujeeb not bowling now ? Just go for kill

 

[imshally81]

50 for Imam...

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan's batting has been ordinary but this pitch is horrific for ODI cricket. It's nearly impossible to accelerate.

These kind of pitches were fairly common until 2013 . We have all just got used to flatter, faster pitches over the last decade.

We can't simultaneously criticise high scoring pitches and then say these kind of pitches are horrible.

Batting on slow pitches in Asia is a skill in itself

 

[Cric1234]

Shadab scoring at over 100 strike rate...

 

[imshally81]

Good shot by Shadab... 4 runs

 

[ZaidTR]

Nice!!! Shadab is doing well, ChaCha should learn something. Rather thn playing Tuktuk Test match with dot balls

 

[heddie19]

At a strike rate of 88 though.

Exactly my point. He literally owns the spinners usually. He got out by pacers more than spinners but then again, a team has less no. of spinners as compare to pacers. He is giving his leg for LBW recently to spinners when they're bowling a straight'un (jayasuria, Mujeeb today) which is a slight worry but other than that all of his spin dismissals have been him going for the 6 after scoring a 50 or 100 which I have no problem with at all.

 

[Hextro]

Got back and had a peak at the scorecard, dreadful performance so far.

I sort of expected them to falter on these Sri Lankan pitches against Afghan's spin attack. This series will be good practice.

 

[SamNJ]

Goodness. Afghans can't catch cold.

 

[Cric1234]

You can’t play 80 plus balls and still be struggling to score while all rounders are scoring freely Imam exposed that’s why he has a strike close to 80 batting on mostly road wickets against B teams.

 

[heddie19]

Got back and had a peak at the scorecard, dreadful performance so far.

I sort of expected them to falter on these Sri Lankan pitches against Afghan's spin attack. This series will be good practice.

He needs to watch some more overs to get the actual idea of the pitch

 

[boomboomcheema]

Very useful partnership so far..

 

[Hextro]

He needs to watch some more overs to get the actual idea of the pitch

Getting out on 0 or in the single digits isn't a good score on any pitch. I expect a better performance from an elite batsman like Babar. Imam is grinding it out.

 

[cricenjoyer]

Imam's doing well. Rest of the team needs to bat around him and if that is done for the full 50 overs than should be a simple win

 

[Firebat]

Roughly 100 runs from 90 balls needed to get to 250.

 

[boomboomcheema]

For Pakistan, imam needs to convert this knock into a 100.

 

[Hextro]

Just play out the spinners and then score off the fast bowler in the death overs.

 

[Hextro]

First time in a long time I've seen people not go after Imam for his low strike rate.

 

[mominsaigol]

First time in a long time I've seen people not go after Imam for his low strike rate.

Because their finally starting to realise he's been our best Opener in over a decade and can actually play according to the conditions. He has one weakness which is the short ball.

 

[mominsaigol]

We badly need Saud at no 4 in the team. Babar against spin worries me tbh.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Wicket gone

 

[boomboomcheema]

Now Pakistan in trouble big time. Even 200 looks away.

 

[cricenjoyer]

Not needed Imam. Should have batted the whole 50

Oh well let's see how the tail goes

 

[Devadwal]

Nabi get big fish

 

[Ahmed216]

Nabi get big fish

Big fish was lucky to be still out there

 

[Rana]

Wait until the 19th November and then you will see

Wait and what? I stay in the present.

 

[Hextro]

Why go after the spinner when the fast bowlers are gonna bowl in a bit? The thinking here is beyond me.

 

[Rana]

He was desperate to get out to Nabi wasn’t he?

 

[Jazx]

Didn't understand why Imam was playing suicidal shots since he reached half century.
Situation demanded him to stay till the end when you are 5 down and have a long tail.

 

[Rana]

We badly need Saud at no 4 in the team. Babar against spin worries me tbh.

Ab ayi samajh?

No we have a Pak ATG at number 4

 

[Shafi]

Parchi Imam gone?????

 

[Jazx]

Number 5 needs a more recognised batsman and pakistan is playing too many all-rounders.
It should be either Agha or iftikhar in the playing eleven and should be batting at number 6.

 

[Hextro]

Why go after the spinner when the fast bowlers are gonna bowl in a bit? The thinking here is beyond me.

I stand corrected. Farooqi comes on to bowl the next over.

Imam could've cashed in if he was a little more patient.

 

[Hextro]

Number 5 needs a more recognised batsman and pakistan is playing too many all-rounders.
It should be either Agha or iftikhar in the playing eleven and should be batting at number 6.

Haris could play in place of Ifti. Fakhar, Imam, Babar, Rizwan, Agha, and Haris should be in the batting order.

 

[mominsaigol]

Ab ayi samajh?

No we have a Pak ATG at number 4

Yes, you were right, I should have listened to you.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Nothing can save Pakistan now.

 

[Omer2002]

Haris is not a solution only way i would have him is drop fakhar and rizzy and then play him. We are 7 down ans 13 overs left..

 

[boomboomcheema]

200 looks like a miracle now.

 

[Devadwal]

Pakistan is need to play full over .230 is good score

 

[Ahmed216]

7 bowling options against Afghanistan at the cost of proper players of spin Saud and Tayyab.
I thought babar is clueless but not to this extent

 

[Jazx]

Ab ayi samajh?

No we have a Pak ATG at number 4

Number 4 looked in great nick today, got out to a great delivery.

 

[Devadwal]

4 over of spin bowling left

 

[cricenjoyer]

Haris is not a solution only way i would have him is drop fakhar and rizzy and then play him. We are 7 down ans 13 overs left..

You would play on 10 players?

 

[boomboomcheema]

Another gone. Afghanistan too good for Pakistan.

 

[Rana]

Number 4 looked in great nick today, got out to a great delivery.

He was all at sea against spin. Not convincing at all. You view cricket differently than I do

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

If Afghans find some very capable batters they are a serious threat in Asian conditions. There spin bowlers are top class for LOI Cricket.

 

[Saj]

Pakistan clueless against high quality spin once again.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

looking forward to Naseem's sixes