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Ahmed Shehzad's selfish batting is stretching the goodwill of Pakistan fans!

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MenInG

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Might be harsh - possibly hot today but really 39 off 34 on this pitch in Lahore?
 
Have always maintained this, he is a selfish batsman + mediocre.

I dont want to be rude or harsh but thats the truth.
 
More than lack of ability its the selfishness which angers me

Today we were fortunate that the other batsmen (Babar and Malik) were playing at crazy strike rates. So the score is still good.

However the fact is that the guy wasted 34 deliveries with no return

If you have taken that many balls to 'settle in' then you really ought to kick on and score a big 60-70 where you score the last 30-35 runs at a very high SR to offset your earlier shenanigans
 
Seems like a lot of the fans are getting sick of it aswell as I'm sure I heard a few boos when he got out.
 
i dont think its selfishness. the guy just isnt good enough to play Limited overs cricket at the international level. People assume his brash personality means that his batting will be like that too but really the guy makes paint dry with his batting.

Its the selectors fault for picking him.
 
I am just amazed that he still has fan who think he should be in the team. It's clear we have better options.
 
Adil_94 said:
i dont think its selfishness. the guy just isnt good enough to play Limited overs cricket at the international level. People assume his brash personality means that his batting will be like that too but really the guy makes paint dry with his batting.

Its the selectors fault for picking him.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's just that. In domestic cricket Shehzad's a batsman who consistently bats at a high strike rate, who's done well in T20 leagues around the world including PSL.

I don't blame Shehzad for it your right, even if it is his decision to bat like this, it's up to the selectors to decide whether if they want that type of batsman for their side or not. Which he's not.
 
Put it this way...I don't think it's his selfish batting, I think he's simply not good enough to rotate the strike or innovate like others.
 
Today showed he doesn't have the ability.

Selfishness might be a cover to hide his inefficiencies.
 
He's slightly better in ODIs than T20s. And is clearly not batting confidently. If his attitude issues are fixed, I think there's a role he can play for Pakistan in ODIs - your batting lineup isn't exactly that star-studded to be honest.

But Princess Selfiana comes with a lot of baggage, and so far, that baggage is not worth the value he adds.
 
He's selfish but Pakistanis need to realize that he just doesn't have the ability
 
IndYeah1 said:
He's slightly better in ODIs than T20s. And is clearly not batting confidently. If his attitude issues are fixed, I think there's a role he can play for Pakistan in ODIs - your batting lineup isn't exactly that star-studded to be honest.

But Princess Selfiana comes with a lot of baggage, and so far, that baggage is not worth the value he adds.
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No role for him anywhere. Enough new blood coming in to fill an opener spot. Sahibzada first up.
 
Not sure what the weather has to do with it, given the other batsmen were playing in the same conditions. The sooner he is kicked out the better.
 
Looks like Sarfaraz praised him in the match talk? I really?!?!

I hope we can set the standards higher then an opneren who just about manages run a ball during the PP overs.

I would even let a hard hitting bowler open the battin than shezad!
 
This isnt anything new We ve seen this multiple times over the years

The question needs to be asked why does he keep on getting selected?
 
Not sure why he keeps getting recalled, he's a proven TTF.
 
He's the reason why Pakistan got up to nearly 200; take him out of the match and Pakistan lose this fixture.

:inti
 
One thing is for sure his and Babar's innings showed the gulf in class between the 2 of them.
 
Haroon786 said:
He's the reason why Pakistan got up to nearly 200; take him out of the match and Pakistan lose this fixture.

:inti
Click to expand...

He's the reason we didn't post 220.

We closed the innings with 5 wickets to spare. Faheem Ashraf faced just one ball.
 
What goodwill? How did he make it back to the team? He is not a international grade batter.

We need to urgently discover more openers because with Shaerjeel gone there is huge gap.
 
Flat_Track_Bully said:
What goodwill? How did he make it back to the team? He is not a international grade batter.

We need to urgently discover more openers because with Shaerjeel gone there is huge gap.
Click to expand...

how times change...
 
Don't think we have too many other choices for t20 openers but Shehzad clearly isn't the answer with this style.
Maybe we should just try other batsman opening like Umar Amin or Babar Azam. Other option is experimenting with pinch-hitter like with Narine our options would be: Imad Wasim or a Fahim Ashraf

Really puts into perspective where all the PSL fixing scandals has left us
 
Think he's been one of our worst T20 players ever. He's had his moments in ODIs for example the hundreds against SA even if he's been below average in ODIs. And in tests actually has a decent record.

In T20s averages 24.93 SR 114. Which is due mostly to bashing Zimbabwe and Bangladesh before they got good. Take those out, averages 17.74, Sr 105. Ironically his innings today while a poor one was probably one of his best innings ever in the format bar against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

For a pure batsman that's really poor by any standards. And it's not like he's being played just because he's playing other formats. Currently he's a T20 specialist.
 
Flat_Track_Bully said:
What goodwill? How did he make it back to the team? He is not a international grade batter.

We need to urgently discover more openers because with Shaerjeel gone there is huge gap.
Click to expand...

We didn't have Fakhar before Sharjeel left and arguably Fakhar may never have played had Sharjeel still been there. So I'm not sure we can say it's because Sharjeel is gone, we directly swapped him with arguably a better player.
 
pakistani pride said:
Looks like Sarfaraz praised him in the match talk? I really?!?!

I hope we can set the standards higher then an opneren who just about manages run a ball during the PP overs.

I would even let a hard hitting bowler open the battin than shezad!
Click to expand...
Sarfraz himself does not make sense in T20 team.
 
This guy is mediocre but he will play all the games and if by some miracle he bats at 100 SR, we will see him in the SL series. Drop this guy immediately. It's been 8 years since his debut and he's useless.
 
Disappointing to see the lack of clarity in selection... wasn't he dropped from the ODI team because he isn't very good, plus he's too slow?

Then what miracles are we expecting him to perform in T20Is?
 
Abdullah719 said:
Disappointing to see the lack of clarity in selection... wasn't he dropped from the ODI team because he isn't very good, plus he's too slow?

Then what miracles are we expecting him to perform in T20Is?
Click to expand...

Seems like a lack of options.

No Sharjeel or Latif.

PAK is playing a fourth-string opener, unfortunately.
 
Is it Shehzad's fault?

No.

He has proved without any doubt that he is an ordinary batsman.

Why you selected him?Just ask the selector.Please don't insult Shehzad.
 
Mainul said:
Is it Shehzad's fault?

No.

He has proved without any doubt that he is an ordinary batsman.

Why you selected him?Just ask the selector.Please don't insult Shehzad.
Click to expand...

Read his Twitter account.

He deserves everything thrown his way. Guy was putting up stats comparing himself to Kohli at one point.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Disappointing to see the lack of clarity in selection... wasn't he dropped from the ODI team because he isn't very good, plus he's too slow?

Then what miracles are we expecting him to perform in T20Is?
Click to expand...

I can only imagine that 50 in the last t20 against Windies saved him, as they thought it would send out the wrong message to drop a batsman who scored a 50 in his last international t20. If so, that innings has cursed us all!

Don't buy the lack of options argument- there are plenty of alternatives.
 
mak36 said:
Don't buy the lack of options argument- there are plenty of alternatives.
Click to expand...

Such as?

Sahibzada Farhan (too young/no domestic experience)
Mohammad Hafeez (Yuck)
Salman Butt (Double Yuck)
Kamran Akmal (Oh Dear God! Triple Yuck!)
Mukhtar Ahmed (Hack)
Awais Zia (Hack)
Umar Amin (Silky Smooth Nervous Wreck)


Shahzaib Hasan (Maybe but Hack-ish tendencies)
Nauman Anwar (Maybe but doesn't open for domestic T20 team)

Any other name is far too young.

Babar Azam is a good one and I like the idea of promoting him up the order like Kohli. I think that's the best option right now.
 
I'm not a big fan of Shahzad , I think he has been given more than enough chances and I would like to see someone like Sahibzada to replace him. But, seems like some people have some personal issue with him, he played a decent inning and was involved, what proved to be the match winning partnership with Babar. But, he keep getting "unpleasant" response from the same people. Criticize him when not performing, but appreciate his effort when he performs.
 
kingusama92 said:
Such as?

Sahibzada Farhan (too young/no domestic experience)
Mohammad Hafeez (Yuck)
Salman Butt (Double Yuck)
Kamran Akmal (Oh Dear God! Triple Yuck!)
Mukhtar Ahmed (Hack)
Awais Zia (Hack)
Umar Amin (Silky Smooth Nervous Wreck)


Shahzaib Hasan (Maybe but Hack-ish tendencies)
Nauman Anwar (Maybe but doesn't open for domestic T20 team)

Any other name is far too young.

Babar Azam is a good one and I like the idea of promoting him up the order like Kohli. I think that's the best option right now.
Click to expand...

I will take even Kami over Shehzad. He will either score a quick 50 or will get out early without wasting too many balls.
 
While I totally agree that he has been playing such type of ineffective innings quite a bit in recent times but to be honest I am not quite sure what type of role he has been given by Micky and Sarfaraz.

If it is to give us quick starts then he is failing miserably. However, if it is to play a supporting role to Fakhar and build partnerships than he isnt doing too bad a job.

Yesterday 1st wicket fell in the very 1st over so it wasnt too bad to play like the way he did for few overs especially when run rate was already good the way Babar was playing. Unfortunately he got out of when it was his time to accelerate.

Not saying he is doing really well but it all depends on the role defined to him to judge him properly.
 
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Also I think Sarfaz can be a good T20 player if there is a need to anchor the innings at a good rate that is to come and play between overs 4 to 12.

He came at around 16th over to bat yesterday really which to me was a bad move as at that time Imad or Ashraf he would have been more useful.

However if we would have lost 2,3 wickets in the first 6 to 8 overs than Sarfaraz is really a gem of a player and you need atleast one such anchor even in T20s to carry on till 16,17 overs at a good rate.
 
kingusama92 said:
Such as?

Sahibzada Farhan (too young/no domestic experience)
Mohammad Hafeez (Yuck)
Salman Butt (Double Yuck)
Kamran Akmal (Oh Dear God! Triple Yuck!)
Mukhtar Ahmed (Hack)
Awais Zia (Hack)
Umar Amin (Silky Smooth Nervous Wreck)


Shahzaib Hasan (Maybe but Hack-ish tendencies)
Nauman Anwar (Maybe but doesn't open for domestic T20 team)

Any other name is far too young.

Babar Azam is a good one and I like the idea of promoting him up the order like Kohli. I think that's the best option right now.
Click to expand...

A lot of names in your list are better than this fellow.
 
Compared to Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad has played it smart. He was deservedly dropped during the Champions Trophy but instead of throwing his toys out of the pram like Junior - he kept himself fit, kept a low profile and got on Arthur's good side.

Now he's playing in front of his hometown crowd. Quite a sly operator.

Would rather take a punt on Sahibzada Farhan, these T20Is against an exhibition side are ideal to take a look at young batsmen.
 
kingusama92 said:
Such as?

Sahibzada Farhan (too young/no domestic experience)
Mohammad Hafeez (Yuck)
Salman Butt (Double Yuck)
Kamran Akmal (Oh Dear God! Triple Yuck!)
Mukhtar Ahmed (Hack)
Awais Zia (Hack)
Umar Amin (Silky Smooth Nervous Wreck)


Shahzaib Hasan (Maybe but Hack-ish tendencies)
Nauman Anwar (Maybe but doesn't open for domestic T20 team)

Any other name is far too young.

Babar Azam is a good one and I like the idea of promoting him up the order like Kohli. I think that's the best option right now.
Click to expand...

Get Sami Aslam as opener

or
Fahim Ashraf as opener - and get Haris sohail in team


On the topic - even Azhar Ali is better T20 player than Shahzad !
 
Can rotate the strike, eats to many dots, cant play spin very.. still has not improved at all as a batsmen.
 
ODI cricket in progress here!

Shahzad is more of a 90s opener compared to Azhar Ali.
 
Azhar Ali would be better than Shehzad, Latif, even in t20 in the long run. But hard to drop Shehzad.

He has had a couple of good performances, has to be said... needs to show he can take the ones and twos even in the first couple of overs... too much pressure on Fakhar.
 
kingusama92 said:
Such as?

Sahibzada Farhan (too young/no domestic experience)
Mohammad Hafeez (Yuck)
Salman Butt (Double Yuck)
Kamran Akmal (Oh Dear God! Triple Yuck!)
Mukhtar Ahmed (Hack)
Awais Zia (Hack)
Umar Amin (Silky Smooth Nervous Wreck)

Shahzaib Hasan (Maybe but Hack-ish tendencies)
Nauman Anwar (Maybe but doesn't open for domestic T20 team)

Any other name is far too young.

Babar Azam is a good one and I like the idea of promoting him up the order like Kohli. I think that's the best option right now.
Click to expand...

Please tell me which shop do you buy this "experience" from? And does it come in liquid or solid form?

T20s provide the perfect opportunity to road test young up-and-coming talent, especially power hitters. If they are good enough, they are old enough. I have already written a thread on this topic- if we are willing to play an 18 y/o bowler why not play an 18 y/o young batsmen (assuming he has shown ability)? Pakistan's muddled approach to batting was perfectly underlined by today's decision to drop the only power hitter in the squad (Ashraf).

I refuse to accept Shehzad is the best T20 opener Pakistan has to offer. Even with the current squad there are options. You have already mentioned Babar could open. Sarfaraz is another option. That way, Yamin could then bat in the middle order. Hussain Talat is another middle order option.

Beyond that, you have already listed some names who are better options than Shehzad (excluding Hafeez, Butt and Akmal). The most promising of the ones you have listed is Sahibzada Farhan. Zeeshan Malik is another one. Heck, I would rather send Sohail Khan in as an opener than Shehzad. Some other posters have also mentioned Sami Aslam.

So I stand by my original statement- it is a complete nonsense to say there are no other options.
 
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I am totally against Ahmed Shehzad being a part of the t20 set up. Too many dot balls. Plays nice looking shots, but straight to fielders and puts pressure on Fakhar on the other end. Can't start the innings with a batsmen who struggles with strike rotation.

T20 is a format that one has to score runs to the get-go. Don't believe in playing with mindset of settling down, saving wickets, and slogging at end, but rather a mindset of strike rotation from the start of the innings.

That's why I'd like to see Babar Azam open with Fakhar Zaman. I think Babar has loads of talent and can rotate strike, which complements Fakhar rather aggressive nature.
 
I am afraid,Shehzad has cemented his place for next series with two non T20ish 40 plus innings in T20.The more time Pakistan invest on him,the more time will be killed to bring in a new talented player.
 
Please try and understand the term anchoring the innings. Don't be jealous of Shehzad. A role model professional behind the scenes, has never failed a fitness test, is always on time for training sessions. Mickey Arthur has had no complaints against Shehzad and there is a reason why Mickey has no objections to his place in the team.
 
Savak said:
Please try and understand the term anchoring the innings. Don't be jealous of Shehzad. A role model professional behind the scenes, has never failed a fitness test, is always on time for training sessions. Mickey Arthur has had no complaints against Shehzad and there is a reason why Mickey has no objections to his place in the team.
Click to expand...

Shahzadian in the house

Typical of you. One good innings and Shehzad is the best there is. Im sure you'll also want Umar Akmal back after he scores a 50 in Afghan league
 
Slog said:
Shahzadian in the house

Typical of you. One good innings and Shehzad is the best there is. Im sure you'll also want Umar Akmal back after he scores a 50 in Afghan league
Click to expand...

If Mickey wants Shehzad in the team, then Shehzad must be in the team. If Mickey does not want Umar Akmal in the team, Umar Akmal must not be in the team.
 
Savak said:
Please try and understand the term anchoring the innings. Don't be jealous of Shehzad. A role model professional behind the scenes, has never failed a fitness test, is always on time for training sessions. Mickey Arthur has had no complaints against Shehzad and there is a reason why Mickey has no objections to his place in the team.
Click to expand...

And, Shehzad is the fittest player in the team and I guess, Micky possesses more cricketing knowledge than some of Shehzad's critics here, who seem to have some personal issues with him.
 
moghul said:
And, Shehzad is the fittest player in the team and I guess, Micky possesses more cricketing knowledge than some of Shehzad's critics here, who seem to have some personal issues with him.
Click to expand...

lol at Shehzad being the fittest player in the team

He was panting and about to collapse of exhaustion after scoring 40 odd the other day

He was more tired after his 40 in a t20 match than Younis Khan after his double centuries
 
Slog said:
Shahzadian in the house

Typical of you. One good innings and Shehzad is the best there is. Im sure you'll also want Umar Akmal back after he scores a 50 in Afghan league
Click to expand...

Nothing to write about his pathetic performances, now he's banking on "role model professional." :))
 
Ahmed Shehzad is the new Imran Farhat. Somehow or the other sneaks into the side and doesn't deserve to be there on merit. Can't wait to get rid of this gully mohallah player.
 
Shame, we haven't tried out some of the youngsters mentioned in this thread ahead of Shehzad, this would have been an ideal opportunity.
 
Savak said:
Please try and understand the term anchoring the innings. Don't be jealous of Shehzad. A role model professional behind the scenes, has never failed a fitness test, is always on time for training sessions. Mickey Arthur has had no complaints against Shehzad and there is a reason why Mickey has no objections to his place in the team.
Click to expand...

Anchoring the Innings in a T20 on a flat deck? Can you please name one other top T20I team which has one of their openers play an anchor role?
 
Slog said:
lol at Shehzad being the fittest player in the team

He was panting and about to collapse of exhaustion after scoring 40 odd the other day

He was more tired after his 40 in a t20 match than Younis Khan after his double centuries
Click to expand...

It was hot and humid so he was probably dehydrated.

It is well known that he is amongst the fittest players in the team - has top scores in all of his fitness tests.
 
msb314 said:
It was hot and humid so he was probably dehydrated.

It is well known that he is amongst the fittest players in the team - has top scores in all of his fitness tests.
Click to expand...

Which tests? Can you provide any evidence?

From what I know he fulfills the bare minimum requirement
 
I think the fan feelings pendulum has swung all the way to the other end for Princess Selfiana. He used to be over-rated, and now unless he bats at 160+ SR, he's only getting shade thrown his way. He's a serviceable player for Pakistan, better utility in ODI and tests than in T20s. But given the lack of quality batting options, and given that he has clearly worked on his fitness and fielding, well deserving of staying in the mix.

Sure, he's still an idiot when it comes to what he thinks of himself, but that shouldn't impact his valuation as a player. Pakistani fans are unlikely to accept this - but he's actually a better batsman than the slogging flavor of the season - Fakhar Zaman.
 
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