This list, I belive is for LO cricket, more importantly ODI, whichi think is diluted between a mix bag. There are specific positions in a ODI XI and the all-rounders’ role/selection is defined by the combination for a given venue/series. Therefore, listing every potential cricketer who is good with bat & ball doesn’t tell the actual situation.
I think, there are 3 different types of venues that most ODIs are played these days - Asia (mostly UAE for PAK & WIN as well), SAF/AUS and UK/NZ. We can add SRL & BD in a separate category from UAE, because conditions are totally different there.
Cinsidering the need, there are 5 broad categories of all-rounders that PAK should look for (actually every team, this thread is about PAK’s resources),
1. Batsmen, who can bowl few overs of spin.
2. Decent spinners who can bat, and trust worthy with 10 overs
3. Genuine spinners who can contribute with bat, but must be trusted for 10 overs
4. Pace bowling version of No. 2
5. Pace bowling version of No. 3
These days, batsmen who can bowl a bit medium pace is obsolete, because of the batting condition, these bowlers will go for plenty, otherwise 25 years back there were several batsmen across glove who could make the XI as batsmen, then bowl few overs of seem-up, not any more.
In that context, at present the available resources are (these are known players, who has already played and still in contention- won’t put them in potential category any more)
#1: Hafeez, Harris, Malik
#2. Imaad, Nawaz, Shadab
#3. Blank
#4. Anwar, Fahim, Hammad, Yamin
#5. Amir, Hasan
May be I am missing 1/2 names but more or less this is the basket. If we look at the list, glaring misses are at #3, and #2 is also not so rich for ODI - and that’s probably the most important 2 positions in Asian ODI. The top Asian players in those 2 categories are Shakib, Rashid, Jadeja, Dilruhan, Akila, Miraz .... even Kuldeep has decent batting potential.
This is one major reason for PAK’s ODI struggle in Asia for me - spinners picked as all-rounder can't make a telling impact in ODI in either skills, and they are not good at containing as well. If PAK has to improve ranking further, MUST have to improve in these areas.
Now, coming to the potential, I’ll again club them in those 5 categories
#1. Saud - brilliant prospect, a potential 10-12 years career as top 4 batsman, who can give average 3-5 overs/ODI in overall career. Don’t see anyone beyond him, therefore should be drafted in squad immediately. Aga Salman has a long shot while Saad Nasim didn’t impress me much, but he had batting potential. Ifthekhar is just not worthy (& young) enough for the trouble.
However, I have seen part-time finger spinners can work, but leggis are too risky - our Sabbir is one also & I am happy that he is not trusted much with ball. Mansoor Amzad lost in that way, and hope Shadab doesn’t end in same route - Lala actually improved his bowling considerably in his last phase of 20+ years career.
#2. Potential is extreme rich here, if given opportunity with trust. The leggi Irfan (PTV), is one of the best prospect from what I have seen - definitely better spinner than Shadab, can bat as well. He is 29, therefore should be at his prime as leg-spin all-rounder - should have been a must for A team.
Kashif is 33 officially, therefore his time might be over, but his domestic stats are outstanding, deserved a call. Guy has missed out the train & I have a much better prospect, 10 years junior as well - Kamran Ghulam. The way he has performed this season with bat & ball, he should be the instant back-up for Imaad, and I belive he is a better fit in ODI than Imaad & Nawaz
#3. It’s a shame that the country producing Intekhab, Qadir, Saqlin, Afridi doesn’t have a single spinner who can command 10 overs & can contribute with bat - and I’ll put lots of blame on coaching staff for this one; they never gave the chance. I have listed Irfan in previous category, but he can serve this one as well. Apart from that, Gohar came with better potential than Shadab (but that time PSL wasn’t there, sadly), and Raza Hasan has far better batting potential than his numbers - I have seen him driving balls. One long shot can be Usama Mir as well, for his age.
#4. It’s the most abused spot in PAK team - never tried to build one in proper way. I don’t think Fahim will lose his spot, therefore he is not in immediate threat. Talat & Hasan Mohsin has potential, but they need to improve one of their core skills - either batting to make it as No. 5/6 or bowling to make it as No. 7/8 - at present, this in between status won’t help in ODI. Both are a replica of Yamin - just not good enough in any discipline to make cut (or other way, if they make the cut on merit, then team won’t be strong enough). I hear about Nasir Nawaz, but haven’t seen him bowling, while I don’t back Musa much, for a reason discussed in his thread, and he hasn’t proved me wrong yet.
There is one great potential though, if he can add just one more level in his game: Amad Butt - around 6’2”, bowls with a high arm action at pace and can bat a bit. I would play him as No. 9 in all 5 A games against Lions & if he can impress with ball - straight to SAF to compete with Fahim. I actually belive Amad has much higher celling than both Yamin & Fahim. For couple of seasons, this Lahore guy Bilawal Iqbal is putting some numbers in domestics, but already 29 officially, don’t think worthy of investment.
BUT, #4 is the zenith of all-rounders - greatest all-rounders are in this zone - one has to work probably 3 times to reach there. More than skills (talent), one needs the hunger of Imran to make a career here; simple bat-ball skill won’t take it beyond Irfan Pathan level. Wasim quited the tougher route & settled for at least 35% inferior batting stats.
#5. Amad can make this way also, he has physique & age in his side. Among potentials - Afridi can hit, what he needs is to add a little defense in his game to lengthen his stay in middle. He is not expected to bat 10-12 overs in ODI, rather 10-12 balls with few solid hits are enough. PCB should force his FC teams to put him at #7, so that his batting improves in middle. At this moment, I want him to focus on fast bowling & fitness in nets & gym than batting, but FC teams have to help him.
I know Irfan Jr. hit a hundred, but not sure he is good enough with ball to make it. Ehsan Adil is the next, had everything to be #9 in ODI or fight it out with Amir/Hasan, but time is running fast for him. PAK wasted a great opportunity for this role in Sohail Khan 10 years back, for the wrong prospect- Wahab Riaz.
