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Are Abid Ali and Imran Butt the future of Pakistan's opening in Test cricket?

MenInG

MenInG

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This is what the PCB/Team management will have us believe.

But what we have seen against South Africa and now against Zimbabwe, I would beg to differ.

Excluding this match (1st Test v Zimbabwe, 2021):

Abid Ali

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Imran Butt

Capture.JPG

be7a1dbd-b3ef-41fe-84a4-5b217107029b.jpg
 
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No they are not i rather have shaan back...this was absolute no brainer to try abdullah as an opener and misbah never did which is a disgrace. I hope he gets a chance in second test.
 
The fact that both are getting preferred to Imam is simply ridiculous.

No one can state with a straight face that a pair of Imam and Sami Aslam would not be an improvement of Abid and Butt.

We lost Sami Aslam and we are wasting Imam’s development simply because we refuse to accept that Abid and Butt will never be good enough for this level.
 
Imran Butt will be exposed against half good quality bowling attack...
Pakistan should open with Azhar and Rizwan and do away with third class openers like butt, abid, masood, etc.
 
Mamoon said:
The fact that both are getting preferred to Imam is simply ridiculous.

No one can state with a straight face that a pair of Imam and Sami Aslam would not be an improvement of Abid and Butt.

We lost Sami Aslam and we are wasting Imam’s development simply because we refuse to accept that Abid and Butt will never be good enough for this level.
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Yea at this point imam should get abids spot. And we should just open with azhar..

Bringing him back down to 3 was a mistake. Saud shakeel shouldve been picked to play, but i think he broke his toe..

I dont see mich changing untill the country changes. Just gonna be running in circles chasing a tail.
 
Mamoon said:
The fact that both are getting preferred to Imam is simply ridiculous.

No one can state with a straight face that a pair of Imam and Sami Aslam would not be an improvement of Abid and Butt.

We lost Sami Aslam and we are wasting Imam’s development simply because we refuse to accept that Abid and Butt will never be good enough for this level.
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Actually agree with you fully (for once).

Such a waste- Imam and Sami would have been the ideal partnership and one with a high ceiling and longevity.
 
We’ll always be stuck with mediocre players as long as we continue to play against weak teams in any format. Our mediocre players will get exposed by the bigger teams and then they’ll play for their spot against the weaker teams.

If Bazid Khan was to debut today, he’d have 100 test caps by 2030
 
It is just same old, same old. Misbah playing his favorites.

Don't tell me he doesn't have influence with M Wasim - who despite some bold calls, has himself made some shockers.

These openers are not a long term solution - and decent opposition will eat them alive - which has been demonstrated many times.
 
Imam not playing over the tweedle dee and tweedle dum of Pakistan opening batsman is ridiculous. Imam has sound technique and I think has enough temperament for the long innings. He should be given a shot. Abid Ali's half century helmet off celebration was the last straw.
 
Abid has been looking scratchy for sometime now and his 50 against Zim was no different. He doesnt even have much time at 33-34 years of age so definitely cant be said as future of Pak's opening batting. If he turns it around in coming innings than maybe he can stretch the run to an year or two but, if he gets dropped anytime soon I dont think at this age there will have much chance to get back.

If Imran can built upon his innings of 96 he can be as he looked in control of what he was doing vs Zim (Yes not the best of opposition to judge but talking about the process) and at the expense of being repetitive Imran Butt is a top slip fielder. People often undecimated how important it is to have a generally reliable slip fielder who can take some pretty impressive catches on his good days especially for Pak.
 
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Imran scored 91 but....235 balls against Zimbabwe? I think he'll struggle against genuine test attacks if had to labour for runs against Zimbabwe.
 
Aviator said:
Imran Butt will be exposed against half good quality bowling attack...
Pakistan should open with Azhar and Rizwan and do away with third class openers like butt, abid, masood, etc.
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How long have you been watching test cricket. No team plays wicket keeper as an opener in tests
 
Imam definitely needs a look in, there’s nothing he doesn’t offer that imran or abid do, furthermore he’s still youngish so he can still develop and improve on his game, abid is reaching the twilight of his career
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
Imran scored 91 but....235 balls against Zimbabwe? I think he'll struggle against genuine test attacks if had to labour for runs against Zimbabwe.
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It’s quite obvious from the FC career that he doesn’t belong to the intl level.

Usman Salahuddin, Imam ul haq, Sami aslam, Umar Amin, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel are benched , and these two Abid ali and imran butt are opening

I know some of them are not openers but they are top order batsman who can easily open in test cricket.

Only Misbah can find a gem in Imran butt and Abidali.
 
ask_analyse_act said:
Usman Salahuddin, Imam ul haq, Sami aslam, Umar Amin, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel are benched , and these two Abid ali and imran butt are opening
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Only 3 guys you have mentioned here are openers, out of them one is not available for selection anymore as has left and another one has 1 FC match (Yes has some potential but not sure if fully cooked yet). Yes regarding Imam I have also mentioned that he has been hard done.

Lack of genuine opening option is an issue. Yes if some of the middle order batsmen want to become openers than they will have to perform at domestic level at same number as it is highly unlikely that someone who hasnt opened against red ball at domestic level as well is put in the test xi as an opener.
 
Abid Ali deserved a run as he was the most consistent opener in domestic cricket for a few years but he looks a soft cricketer. I mean if you can't impose yourself against Zimbabwe B when can you ?

Imran Butt's domestic record doesn't inspire much confidence. The 2019/20 QEA Teophy was only time he averaged above 40 in 6-7 years in a very batting friendly season. He may be a gun fielder but he must be judged on his primary suit.

Anyone asking for Abdullah Shafique to debut now shouldn't be taken seriously. The guy has played how many FC matches ? Let's not shortcircuit his development.

Sami Aslam had his chance and couldn't even impose himself on Sri Lanka on dead UAE pitches. He had a row with his coach and ran off to the USA. His attitude stinks.

So the cupboard is bare meaning we must consider out of the box solutions. One option is to convert Usman Salahuddin into a opener given he has a fairly compact technique. The other is to utilise Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, the only proven opening pair in any format in the last few years for Pakistan, in Tests. With the next WTC Cycle presenting a kinder set of fixtures than the last, it would be a good opportunity to attempt such an experiment.
 
Misbah is unbelievable. Both these players were about to be dropped especially Abid ali and now they will secure there place for the next year or so after a few good performances vs Zimbabwe. I can’t believe that misbahs thinking is so backwards that for short term gains (wins against Zimbabwe) he is ready for the long term damage to his own team. These guys will get badly exposed against any half decent side. Even in their home conditions vs South Africa they weren’t able to perform so I don’t know why he’s got so much fear of losing and criticism that he’s being so stubborn. Azhar could’ve opened and they could’ve fit saud shakeel in the middle order or even Imam opening who has time on his side and potential to improve. he could’ve done better as I feel his technique is best suited to tests. And Abdullah shafique?? Discarded so early, serious injustice with him after making him debut in T20s as an opener in NZ which wasnt his natural format. Also Usman Salahudin, will he be the next Fawad alam? When will this incompetent bunch learn. They don’t even know which players to play in which format. They don’t know who there openers are or who the middle order players are. No planning or vision, looks like Misbah will do everything his way regardless of what majority of the country’s cricket experts are saying. For gods sake just listen Misbah. There’s definitely likes and dislikes going on. I don’t care if Malik comes back or not but why can’t all the Misbah lovers see that all his tweets were 100% right believe it or not. With this kind of mindset from Misbah it’s not a surprise that all the players will eventually be playing selfish innings for them selves. Geez I’m a 19 year old Kiwi/Pakistani in NZ and if Gary stead (NZ coach) did even half of the damage Misbah has done and there was criticism on this level he would’ve simply resigned but perhaps Misbah is lucky to be a niazi and isn’t going anywhere until Imran Khan is removed.
 
Totally unimpressive both of them, from what I have seen of them against SA and now against Zimbabwe. What was wrong with Fakhar and Imam pair? Imam should be a certain starter atleast in test cricket.
 
Both need drastic improvement to their technique.

They look like players who will score some runs, sometimes on low bounce wickets against poor attacks, but the minute there is any life in the wicket and any class in the bowling attack, they will struggle.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
Imran scored 91 but....235 balls against Zimbabwe? I think he'll struggle against genuine test attacks if had to labour for runs against Zimbabwe.
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It was a slow innings but he needed a big score and to occupy the crease wich he did.
 
Mamoon said:
The fact that both are getting preferred to Imam is simply ridiculous.

No one can state with a straight face that a pair of Imam and Sami Aslam would not be an improvement of Abid and Butt.

We lost Sami Aslam and we are wasting Imam’s development simply because we refuse to accept that Abid and Butt will never be good enough for this level.
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Yea you kept avoiding me when i brought this up and haven't really answered me. Imam has had 21 test innings and not a significant score in sight with an average of 27, so where is his test injustice? He and Imran both average about the same in FC as well which again you haven't answered.

Opening is always gonna be a concern for Pak but need to back it up with performances. Good performances in ODI don't necessarily mean the same will be replicated in tests. Imam needs a season in QeA before being considered again in my view. Great lad with great potential but can't just select him off of the basis of nothing.
 
shamaan said:
It was a slow innings but he needed a big score and to occupy the crease wich he did.
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Yep, very very disappointed with his lack of intent. Gutted for him he didn't get a hundred but honestly the scoring rate was too slow and going nowhere.
 
Shoaibbtt said:
Yep, very very disappointed with his lack of intent. Gutted for him he didn't get a hundred but honestly the scoring rate was too slow and going nowhere.
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I think he is generally a slow player which is fine aslong as he's scoring
 
Imam is a far better cricketer than Abid Ali and Imran Butt.His only weakness is against short pitched bowling but it can be overcome.Imam and Abdullah Shafiq can be future openers.
 
They both are scared of being dropped for good hence very cautious approach by the two. Abid Ali should have been dropped, Imran Butt only played 2 tests so he deserved a chance in all fairness. The only silver lining is Shaan Masood (Aka Asad Shaiq 2.0) is not playing. He will never be a consistent opener. He has played 25 tests and is yet to become a reliable bat. Imam Ul haq and Azhar ali should open. And if Imran Butt starts performing after 91 that he just scored. Imran Butt and Imam ul haq should open.
 
Usman Salahuddin needs to start opening in FC as I don't see a place for him in middle order now
 
MenInG said:
This is what the PCB/Team management will have us believe.

But what we have seen against South Africa and now against Zimbabwe, I would beg to differ.

Excluding this match (1st Test v Zimbabwe, 2021):

Abid Ali

View attachment 108912


Imran Butt

View attachment 108912
Click to expand...

Fakhar Zaman’s FC average of 37 is better than Shan’s, Butt’s, and Abid Ali’s. Zaman also has a better SR of 60 vs virtually all the openers. He’s only improved since and he hasn’t even played FC with the new KKB balls He had a decent start to his career and I can see he was dropped after couple tests. Does anyone know what happened, he could be a good option to have a scoring option top of the order.
 
Imran Butt is playing his 3rd Test. While I wouldn't have selected him to start with, he deserves a longer run. I would've gone with Imam along side him. Abid is not an option.
 
Farabi said:
Fakhar Zaman’s FC average of 37 is better than Shan’s, Butt’s, and Abid Ali’s. Zaman also has a better SR of 60 vs virtually all the openers. He’s only improved since and he hasn’t even played FC with the new KKB balls He had a decent start to his career and I can see he was dropped after couple tests. Does anyone know what happened, he could be a good option to have a scoring option top of the order.
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Fakhar would be a walking wicket outside of Asia, especially on green tops. But I’d definitely have him instead of these two.
 
Titan24 said:
Only 3 guys you have mentioned here are openers, out of them one is not available for selection anymore as has left and another one has 1 FC match (Yes has some potential but not sure if fully cooked yet). Yes regarding Imam I have also mentioned that he has been hard done.

Lack of genuine opening option is an issue. Yes if some of the middle order batsmen want to become openers than they will have to perform at domestic level at same number as it is highly unlikely that someone who hasnt opened against red ball at domestic level as well is put in the test xi as an opener.
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I agree with the fact that the top order batsman like Usman and Amin should perform at domestic level at the same number before giving a chance in national side. But this series against Zimbabwe is a good time to try that out. I believe Amin has already been opening for northern. Usman showed interest and plans to open for his domestic side in the upcoming season.
 
This is arguably the weakest ever opening pair for Pakistan.

Think we need to groom Imam-ul-Haq as that will also provide left and right hand combo. The Zimbabwe series was the ideal platform to give Imam confidence.
 
Artaxerxes said:
Imam is a far better cricketer than Abid Ali and Imran Butt.His only weakness is against short pitched bowling but it can be overcome.Imam and Abdullah Shafiq can be future openers.
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Most new ball bowlers will not bang the ball in short in places like England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, etc.

It means that Imam, if he can play the moving/seaming ball, will be successful at the top of the order until the ball becomes older.

I'm not convinced with his technique in pulling the ball, and he will need to improve his ability to leave sharp bouncers and rising short deliveries.

He is still a better prospect in my opinion, but needs to farm runs in domestic before he can be considered.
 
This Abid Ali whos averaging 17 since his debut against Sri Lanka C?

Abid-Ali.png
 
Both of them are awful. Imran Butt has a garbage domestic record as well and it shows when you watch him bat
 
Same old pakistani think tank decision making.... seen it too many times at this point. Nothing will change the people thinking changes because at this point we are just changing faces who have thd same old thinking...
 
Same old pakistani think tank decision making.... seen it too many times at this point. Nothing will change untill the peoples thinking changes because at this point we are just changing faces who have the same decision making as the previous management.


This why pakistan cricket is slowly dying and losing interest. No long term goals of winning the WC no real rebuilding phase same old lets just wing it attitude with low iq decision making
 
Babar Azam speaking to the media:

"The more time they spend on the crease the better and it sets the tone for the batting order; Both opener made a good stand in the previous game and hopefully they will go into the next game with the same confidence"
 
https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...pens-up-on-imamul-haqs-inclusion-in-test-team

Babar Azam opens up on Imamul Haq's inclusion in Test team
Pakistan captain said that Imam’s services can be utilized in future considering his record in red-ball cricket

News Desk News Desk in Karachi06 May, 2021Babar Azam opens up on Imamul Haq's inclusion in Test teamPHOTO: AFP
Pakistan captain Babar Azam opened up about the possibility of including left-hand opener Imamul Haq in the Test squad for future series.

While speaking in a virtual press conference on Thursday, Babar said that Imam’s services can be utilised in future considering his record in red-ball cricket.

“We will carry the backup [openers] we have right now. If we think we should try him [Imam], then we will do so, as his record with red ball is also really good. We will utilise whoever suits us," said Babar.

ALSO READ: Babar Azam eager to make up for 'golden duck' ahead of second Test

Imam has played 11 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 485 runs at an average of 25.52. The Lahore-born, who made his debut against Ireland in 2018, has not played Test cricket since the 2019 Adelaide Test against Australia.

However, the Pakistan captain maintained that performances of the backup openers will be seen before inducting them in the squad.

“Our main focus is on the performance rather than having left and right hand opening batsmen pair just for the sake of it. We are keeping an eye on all the openers, including Shan Masood," he said.
 
MenInG said:
Babar Azam speaking to the media:

"The more time they spend on the crease the better and it sets the tone for the batting order; Both opener made a good stand in the previous game and hopefully they will go into the next game with the same confidence"
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Zimbabwe bangladesh sri lanka Abid will do well
 
babar stating that imam has a good red ball record. April fools was last month. utter garbage that imam is some sort of saviour as a test opener. the guy cudnt handle NZ bowlers in UAE. hes just as rubbish as shan, abid and butt.
 
gazza619 said:
This is arguably the weakest ever opening pair for Pakistan.

Think we need to groom Imam-ul-Haq as that will also provide left and right hand combo. The Zimbabwe series was the ideal platform to give Imam confidence.
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give imam confidence for what? he scored runs against minnows called ireland and then was exposed against better sides.

since been dropped from test side what has imam done to earn a recall?

nothing. yet half posters on this thread raving on like imam is pakistani hayden or graeme smith.
 
We are doomed if they are. Both are club level players. You can drive a truck in the gap between Imran’s bay and pad.

Imran is a good fielder though. Abid Ali is a waste of space
 
Imran Butt definitely needs to be backed he's a very good slip fielder but he has to work pretty hard on his batting. But please get rid of Abid Ali
 
Imran butt allows the extra benefit of being an above average slipper by our standards. Abid Ali - the less said the better. Hes old, he has glaring technical flaws, and tops that off with a soft mentality.
Shan masood should not have been dropped. he is not world class but he's better than this dross.
 
mo wasim said that imam had to improve his red ball performances to get a recall to the side.

imam has played 49 FC (87 inns) with an average of 35. Apart from 1 good domestic season in 2016/17 hes done nothing of real note since.

yes Abid and butt arent the answer. but niether is a one season wonder domestically which imam is.

if he performs donestically or plays county cricket and does well fair enough. instead people are raving on like imam has done something of great note to be given a look in the side again.
 
The names out there make me realise just how mediocre Pakistan's options are regarding the opening spots in Test cricket.

But that's no surprise as the options in domestic cricket are virtually non-existent.

The stats, the standard of QeA openers is pretty average to say the least.
 
Only other option is Imam..im quite confident he can make it in test cricket.

You've given everyone a go...give him one too.

If he doesnt perform, then use the go-back-to-first class-cricket card.

It should be Imam first and then any other opener.

Lets see...if Paratha in one hand Sharjeel can play, so can anyone else?
 
Another slow and steady start for Pak openers...
 
For crying out loud This is insanity

Instead of trying from this mediocre pile why cant they just pick a couple of middle order batsmen to open like ghulam and sallahuddin who wasting away in domestic cricket

A good batsman is a good batsman at the end of the day and a poor one poor whichever position they bat
 
Ami said:
Only other option is Imam..im quite confident he can make it in test cricket.

You've given everyone a go...give him one too.

If he doesnt perform, then use the go-back-to-first class-cricket card.

It should be Imam first and then any other opener.

Lets see...if Paratha in one hand Sharjeel can play, so can anyone else?
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Imam is the best Test opener in Pakistan. He is young, has good temperament and has grit. He will do well in the long run if he is backed properly.

Our management and selectors will eventually accept the reality but they will do it the hard way.

M Wasim stated that Imam is not ready for Test cricket, so why not give him a go against what is effectively a club level attack so that he can get some Test runs under his belt and gains confidence?
 
Mamoon said:
Imam is the best Test opener in Pakistan. He is young, has good temperament and has grit. He will do well in the long run if he is backed properly.

Our management and selectors will eventually accept the reality but they will do it the hard way.

M Wasim stated that Imam is not ready for Test cricket, so why not give him a go against what is effectively a club level attack so that he can get some Test runs under his belt and gains confidence?
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Look at Imran Butt’s domestic record. Based on what is he ready for Test Cricket?
 
At least Abid Ali has a good domestic record and can hit mediocre bowling. Imran Butt is awful
 
imam ul haq needs a go to be honest. Fakhar Zaman would be an out of the box solution that wouldn't be such a bad idea either.
 
Abid Ali - taking singles only to get to his 100 - Don't understand this.
 
We should play regularly with more matches to teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, Sl, Bangladesh in order to make hack like Abid or expired Azhar as Bradman.
 
Wanted to ensure I say this on a day Abid scores a test century . . He has absolutely no future! He is a mediocre opener who will struggle against any attack worth its salt . . Shan Masood is a 100 times better than Abid . . The sooner we are able to get rid of Abid (even if its for Shan), the better . .

Imran, well he has been given a chance now . . so minimum for anyone who gets a cap should be 8 to 10 tests before we hand out a judgement . . hope he succeeds, but he has a lot of work to do!
 
Abid Ali has significantly better test record than Imam so on what grounds some of you are asking to replace Abid Ali with Imam in test cricket? :facepalm:

We can talk about replacing Imran Butt as he is pretty mediocre so far but Imam is also pretty mediocre. Better idea is to find a opener who is much better than the likes of Imran Butt and Imam. And if there is no such opener than try a middle order player like Saud as an opener (I remember this strategy has been used before with success by Pakistan)
 
srh said:
Abid Ali has significantly better test record than Imam so on what grounds some of you are asking to replace Abid Ali with Imam in test cricket? :facepalm:

We can talk about replacing Imran Butt as he is pretty mediocre so far but Imam is also pretty mediocre. Better idea is to find a opener who is much better than the likes of Imran Butt and Imam. And if there is no such opener than try a middle order player like Saud as an opener (I remember this strategy has been used before with success by Pakistan)
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The innings he's played is smoke and mirrors and people like you will fall for it. His technique is lackluster. Once we start playing quality opposition this guy will fold quicker than me playing poker.
 
Suddenly Abid Ali not looking so bad with most of the batting back in the hut.
 
They aren’t the future. But now they have scored against Zimbabwe, they will play another few series and we will learn the harsh way ie against top teams that they aren’t good enough.
 
Abid is decent for our mediocre standards as they say.

Imran is a GUN slip catcher who happens to bat.

Unless we have Alistair Cook waiting in our domestics, these two are the worst
 
Mamoon said:
Imam is the best Test opener in Pakistan. He is young, has good temperament and has grit. He will do well in the long run if he is backed properly.

Our management and selectors will eventually accept the reality but they will do it the hard way.

M Wasim stated that Imam is not ready for Test cricket, so why not give him a go against what is effectively a club level attack so that he can get some Test runs under his belt and gains confidence?
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imam was given a go against club level bowlers called ireland. then was exposed against england, NZ and SA afterwards.

but according to you hes pakistans hayden or langer.

stick to watching indian cricket as you have no clue about pakistan.

supposidly we should pamper imam so he becomes a so called world beater.
 
marlonbrowndo said:
Look at Imran Butt’s domestic record. Based on what is he ready for Test Cricket?
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butt nor imam should have be called up to pakistan team based on one good domestic season and here lies the problem.
 
silentkiller187 said:
Imam definitely needs a look in, there’s nothing he doesn’t offer that imran or abid do, furthermore he’s still youngish so he can still develop and improve on his game, abid is reaching the twilight of his career
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since being dropped what development has imam shown?

has he gone back to domestic cricket and scored loads of runs?

has he improved against shortball?

all our openers are rubbish but doesnt mean we then go oh lets pick the youngest one when they have done nothing to earn a recall.

really shows how stupid some pakistan fans are.

look at hasan Ali as a bowler. struggled and got dropped. played domestic and improved and now you see results.

has imam done that no he hasnt.
 
hitthestump said:
Imam's ODI performances are good enough reason for a test call up no?
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what do ODIs have to do with tests?

how many players in world are currently playing as openers in both tests and ODIs and doing well?

look at englands ODI team are there openers playing test cricket? no because the flimsy technics playing on roads with poor field restrictions, white balls are exposed, but they are in tests.
 
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