Are Abdullah Shafique and Salman Ali Agha the solution to Pakistan's middle order woes?

[Sher Khan]

I'd like to see Shafique and Salman Ali Agha given a long run in the T20 and ODI side as middle order batsmen. Let's move on from trash like Iftekhar Ahmed and Azam Khan.

We have Saud Shakeel who is doing okay at number 4 in Odis so far but 5 and 6 remain an issue and in t20s, Saud does not have the power game to have a good impact.

So my idea is let's give Shafique and Agha a go, surely they'll do no worse than Ifitkhar and Azam.

 

[stani_pak]

Both should be in ODI and T20 Squad

In odi I think Shafique should still open but would like to see him tried at Number 4 in t20. Salman Ali Agha should be 5 or 6 in both ODIs and T20s.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Players can improvise. I have seen that happen in the IPL. Murali Vijay was a 40 strike rate batsman when he started his career. Even in Tests he would leave a lot of balls. But in the iPL MSD converted him into a beast. ATleast 2 or 3 seasons he was in crazy form. Won the man of the match in the IPL final. Then Rahane last season they converted him into a beast. Played a role in winning the IPL. Nowadays Shai Hope has added an extra gear to his batting and started hitting. Shubman Gill turned himself into a big six hitter last season. They have to work on it.

 

[mon858]

Salman Ali Agha definitely yes. He was big miss in this world cup.
Abdullah Shafiq, not for middle order, backup opener or number 3 fine.
I would put Saud Shakeel as opener with Babar. Saud had decent stats and has much better technique than Saim. It will also help his ODI game. He can be our Travis Head.

For our middle order:
Fakhar
Salman Ali Agha
M Haris
Haider Ali (can't be worse than Azam for sure) or Qasim Akram

Given them consistent chance for 1 year and 3 out of last 4 above can easily do better than chacha azam and shadab over time.

 

[mon858]

Salman Ali Agha definitely yes. He was big miss in this world cup.
Abdullah Shafiq, not for middle order, backup opener or number 3 fine.
I would put Saud Shakeel as opener with Babar. Saud had decent stats and has much better technique than Saim. It will also help his ODI game. He can be our Travis Head.

For our middle order:
Fakhar
Salman Ali Agha
M Haris
Haider Ali (can't be worse than Azam for sure) or Qasim Akram

Given them consistent chance for 1 year and 3 out of last 4 above can easily do better than chacha azam and shadab over time.

Add Mohammed Irfan Khan to above list. He also deserves a decent chance.

Also if we don't have any national team white ball tours in near future, PCB should arrange some A team tours or tour with any associate country even and send the bench strength team under Gary Kirsten so he can identify some good options as well. Maybe even include folks like Shamyl Hussain, Khwaja Nafay, etc.

 

[cricketmania22]

Abdullah Shafiq is a top order batsman in my opinion. It won’t make sense to make him bat at number 4. He can lift the ball with ease, so it makes more sense to put him in as an opener.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Abdullah Shafique is a top-order batter and needs to be playing at the top. It's by confusing roles that we make things even worse. Not everyone can just adapt and play at any position. We just had a World Cup where we had openers from 1-5.

Agha Salman has done fairly well with the opportunities that he has been given. I think he should be given a consistent run in the middle order across formats. He is one of the better players of spin too, a good fielder and a handy extra bowling option, which make him a very useful addition.

Besides him, I'd go with Mohammad Haris and potentially Haider Ali, provided he does well in domestic.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Abdullah is a natural opener and is playing in the right spot but I think they should bring Salman Ali Agha up a bit because he is not a finisher. He can play longer innings specially in ODI cricket so why not try him at the number 4 position?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Both need to be given a long run as they can be important 3 format players for Pakistan.

However Abdullah belongs in the Top 3 not the lower order.

 

[sweep_shot]

Both should play.

Abdullah should open. Agha should be #5 or #6.

 

[mominsaigol]

Abdullah is a natural opener and is playing in the right spot but I think they should bring Salman Ali Agha up a bit because he is not a finisher. He can play longer innings specially in ODI cricket so why not try him at the number 4 position?

He averaged 50 with a sr of 97 at no 4 before Mr Mein Khush nahi Hoon whined

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Both should play.

Abdullah should open. Agha should be #5 or #6.

Salman Agha is actually justifting his spot but Abdullah is just a waste of resource at the top order.

 

[sweep_shot]

Salman Agha is actually justifting his spot but Abdullah is just a waste of resource at the top order.

I made the post in August. Saim Ayub wasn't in good form back then.

Right now, Abdullah shouldn't be selected. I agree.

Top 3 should be --> Saim, Fakhar, and Babar.

 

[BouncerGuy]

ABdullah is actually a woe for Pakistan. He should be kicked out of the team now. Salman has proven his worth once again in ODIs, and I am sure, he will do fine job in tests as well.

Abdullah needs to be sent packing home.

 

[shamaan]

I think pretty much everyone wants to see Fakhar and Saim oppening in odis.