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Asad Shafiq has been cotton-wrapped for seven years and is still failing to deliver

LegendInzi

LegendInzi

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The golden boy, or god emperor if you may, of Pakistan Cricket.

He has been played at comfy position of #6 for the longest time. Even debutants were shoved up the order, but nobody dare move His Highness.

Always crouching behind Misbah and Younis, making a career of 57 frikkin Test matches playing on UAE phattas.

Prime example of FAILED INVESTMENT. Congratulations PCB, Congratulations! :14::14::14:
 
Asad Shafiq should be replaced by Fawad Alam. Pak also needs to
replace Shan Masood.
 
Lets be honest, he scored a decent 38 runs in the first innings, should've done better in the second. But if a batsman is getting out on a duck that is another story, he needs to get atleast a 50 in the next test match. But this was an okayish start. Alot of these players are only realizing how big a loss is Misbah and Younis gonna be.
 
'Decent 38' is how he's managed to keep his career going for so long. When does he move on from being a player who can score in the 30s with the very, very occasional bigger score to being a dependable senior batsman that his teammates can rely on.
 
not to mention his many chances in odis


I still feel a big mistake that wasmade in 2010/11 was to drop an Umar Akmal who had only played one test in Asia yet stil had the highest average for any Pak batsmen in that time for Asad, a guy that Umar had outperformed in the last series. Umar was essentially dropped for a fluke dimissal, pulled a ball that hit silly points shoulder and balloned up.

Now let me be clear since than Umar has 90% himself to blame for all that transpired

Asad does deserve credit for some of his performances as well

But i raise this to show that Asad has given so little for all the faith and trust that was given to him.

He is a genuinely nice person, a part of me feels bad for bashing him, but its probably that reason why he hasn't gottent he critisim he deserves more broadly.
 
waleed88 said:
Lets be honest, he scored a decent 38 runs in the first innings, should've done better in the second. But if a batsman is getting out on a duck that is another story, he needs to get atleast a 50 in the next test match. But this was an okayish start. Alot of these players are only realizing how big a loss is Misbah and Younis gonna be.
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I hope you forgot to put sarcasm disclaimers there?

How is 38 a 'decent score' when only 2 players in top 6 didn't make a 50? Of those 6 players, only Azhar Ali has played more Tests than him.

he needs to get atleast a 50 in the next test match
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Bet he will and and that would be good enough for the God Emperor to keep his place until 2019.

Please warn me in PM if Asad Shafiq is some kind of underworld Don and entire PCB is held hostage by him. I would be careful in making threads highlighting his ineptness.
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
not to mention his many chances in odis


I still feel a big mistake that wasmade in 2010/11 was to drop an Umar Akmal who had only played one test in Asia yet stil had the highest average for any Pak batsmen in that time for Asad, a guy that Umar had outperformed in the last series. Umar was essentially dropped for a fluke dimissal, pulled a ball that hit silly points shoulder and balloned up.

Now let me be clear since than Umar has 90% himself to blame for all that transpired

Asad does deserve credit for some of his performances as well

But i raise this to show that Asad has given so little for all the faith and trust that was given to him.

He is a genuinely nice person, a part of me feels bad for bashing him, but its probably that reason why he hasn't gottent he critisim he deserves more broadly.
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In my opinion Akmal will outperform Shafiq and would've done in tests had he been playing.
A batsman averaging 40+ with a decent strike rate gives the team much needed balance.
 
Things not going so well for him, but too much has been invested in him to just discard him into the abyss. Ive seen times when our team was carried by middle order batsmen such as Inzimam and Yousuf...Then Yousuf and Younis...Then Younis and Misbah...

Now too much time has been spent in grooming Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to carry the mantle forward, at times the two have produced gems in knocks for Pakistan. Yes I believe hes not performing upto the expectations but dropping someone of his quality would be highly stupid IMHO
 
An average of 39 after 7 years of test cricket hiding down the order is pretty poor. Especially in this era of favourable batting conditions. He’s almost 32 and should be at his peak now yet at times he bats like a nervous debutant.

It’s a shame because he’s clearly talented however he hasn’t lived up to that talent.
 
waleed88 said:
Lets be honest, he scored a decent 38 runs in the first innings, should've done better in the second. But if a batsman is getting out on a duck that is another story, he needs to get atleast a 50 in the next test match. But this was an okayish start. Alot of these players are only realizing how big a loss is Misbah and Younis gonna be.
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That's the problem.

He scores these 30s and half the time looks a million dollars while doing so

But in recent times they've hardly ever contributed to positive results for the team
 
Rana said:
Things not going so well for him, but too much has been invested in him to just discard him into the abyss. Ive seen times when our team was carried by middle order batsmen such as Inzimam and Yousuf...Then Yousuf and Younis...Then Younis and Misbah...

Now too much time has been spent in grooming Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to carry the mantle forward, at times the two have produced gems in knocks for Pakistan. Yes I believe hes not performing upto the expectations but dropping someone of his quality would be highly stupid IMHO
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He's either a lucky guy or very smart

He is basically undroppable at this point considering theres 2 new batsmen and 2 other batsmen not firing.

Also he scored his 30s and 20s so compared to some others he will maintain his place

And that's the problem. He always does the bare minimum to stay in the team but nothing more

In England tour last year his place was being questioned and he scored a century at Oval.

Then later on down under tour his place was being questioned and he came up with a brilliant century at Gabba.

But asides from that always missing
 
7 years and it still feels like that he is playing his first match , no confidence at all. Dont think pakistan will drop him though because of his 'experience'.
 
At this stage of his career, he's not going to deliver any more than what he has in the past, so it would be unrealistic to start expecting big scores and dominant displays of batsmanship ffrom him now. Problem is we end up inducting new guys too late because the older lot simply don't budge or keep hanging on to give new prospects a chance.
 
He's not going to be dropped any time soon unfortunately, on the basis of "senior experience"
 
Slog said:
He's either a lucky guy or very smart

He is basically undroppable at this point considering theres 2 new batsmen and 2 other batsmen not firing.

Also he scored his 30s and 20s so compared to some others he will maintain his place

And that's the problem. He always does the bare minimum to stay in the team but nothing more

In England tour last year his place was being questioned and he scored a century at Oval.

Then later on down under tour his place was being questioned and he came up with a brilliant century at Gabba.

But asides from that always missing
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He didn't do the minimum to stay in team... He is the first name who deserves to be dropped for last 1-2 years based on performance but he is favourite of PCB... Even has 50 ODI matches somehow...

Just look at this team? Middle order of Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Asad, Sarfraz and Azhar: who deserves drop?? Answer is obviously Shafiq... Haris has performed good after comeback, Sarfraz captain, Azhar best test bat, Babar best ODI and T20 bat...

And of course Haris and Babar didn't get 7 years... If they did, they would be much better players than Shafiq obviously...

This idea that you can't drop him because others are worse is stupid... Others didn't get 7 years and they are already performing on par or better than Asad Shafiq...
 
Yeah his time should be up soon. He should still stay in the squad but he needs to learn that he has to either step up or he will be history.
 
Slog said:
That's the problem.

He scores these 30s and half the time looks a million dollars while doing so

But in recent times they've hardly ever contributed to positive results for the team
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Yes because he comes down the order, and he isn't Sarfraz that he can score at a rate of knots. Half the time he has to play with the tail that means farming the strike. There was a time when Amir wasn't a tailender and we had Rahat, Imran and Yasir as our tail. We also have to remember there was a time when Sarf wasn't in the side, and even before that.
 
LegendInzi said:
I hope you forgot to put sarcasm disclaimers there?

How is 38 a 'decent score' when only 2 players in top 6 didn't make a 50? Of those 6 players, only Azhar Ali has played more Tests than him.


Bet he will and and that would be good enough for the God Emperor to keep his place until 2019.

Please warn me in PM if Asad Shafiq is some kind of underworld Don and entire PCB is held hostage by him. I would be careful in making threads highlighting his ineptness.
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Yes he has been inept since the start of this year, I put it down to being demoralized as a result of being demoted to 6 after earning a well earned promotion as a no.3 bat. Where he scored 3 5o's and 1 100 in England and was demoted due to getting a pair.

Atleast he did better than Babar in that position
 
Asad is in his peak years. After a couple of years, he will be even less productive.

Selectors should start looking for an alternative. He will only regress from here. Time to move on.
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
not to mention his many chances in odis


I still feel a big mistake that wasmade in 2010/11 was to drop an Umar Akmal who had only played one test in Asia yet stil had the highest average for any Pak batsmen in that time for Asad, a guy that Umar had outperformed in the last series. Umar was essentially dropped for a fluke dimissal, pulled a ball that hit silly points shoulder and balloned up.

Now let me be clear since than Umar has 90% himself to blame for all that transpired

Asad does deserve credit for some of his performances as well

But i raise this to show that Asad has given so little for all the faith and trust that was given to him.

He is a genuinely nice person, a part of me feels bad for bashing him, but its probably that reason why he hasn't gottent he critisim he deserves more broadly.
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Good solid post - I also believe that is Umar Akmal was persisted with in Tests - he would have become a far better ODI/T20 than what he is today.
 
For a smooth transition of a team, the senior players need to pull their weight. In Pakistan's case it would be Asad, Azhar and Sarfraz. If these 3 don't get consistent scores, Pakistan's transition may last longer than expected. No matter how talented the new players are, they would need to bat around the seniors in the initial phase of their careers, like the above 3 did when Misbah and Younis were in the team.
 
Rana said:
Things not going so well for him, but too much has been invested in him to just discard him into the abyss. Ive seen times when our team was carried by middle order batsmen such as Inzimam and Yousuf...Then Yousuf and Younis...Then Younis and Misbah...

Now too much time has been spent in grooming Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to carry the mantle forward, at times the two have produced gems in knocks for Pakistan. Yes I believe hes not performing upto the expectations but dropping someone of his quality would be highly stupid IMHO
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If there are many better players it would be highly stupid not to. He's averaging high 30's in Test cricket. Was never more than 40's in FC. What quality are you talking about?
 
From 2016 onwards Shafiq is averaging just under 31 in 16 matches which is why his place should be questioned.
 
New Yorker said:
If there are many better players it would be highly stupid not to. He's averaging high 30's in Test cricket. Was never more than 40's in FC. What quality are you talking about?
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Shafiq averaged 64.94 in the domestic season before getting selected. He also topped the charts that year for runs scored.

He got into the team on merit.
 
Shafiq averaging a paltry 17 this year with 39 being his highest score. Should not he be scoring centuries now? If not now then when?

9 innings 160 runs this year.
 
kingusama92 said:
Shafiq averaged 64.94 in the domestic season before getting selected. He also topped the charts that year for runs scored.

He got into the team on merit.
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Were there no other deserving selections to choose from then? Since his selection, seven years ago, does he hold a place on merit?
 
New Yorker said:
For how many years had Fawad topped the charts by then?
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During the years Fawad topped the charts, Asad Shafiq was doing well in Test cricket.

In Fawad's peak (2011-2016), Asad Shafiq averaged 42.18 in Test cricket. In what world can someone drop a batsman doing that well?

Is that logical?

Asad Shafiq has started failing in 2016/2017. This is the same time Fawad has also stopped doing as well as he used to, which is why Usman Salahuddin earned a spot in the squad.

New Yorker said:
Were there no other deserving selections to choose from then? Since his selection, seven years ago, does he hold a place on merit?
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Yes, he does.

As mentioned above.

He averaged 42.18 in TEST cricket during Fawad's domestic peak. Did you want riots in the streets by dropping someone doing that well? :))
 
waleed88 said:
Lets be honest, he scored a decent 38 runs in the first innings, should've done better in the second. But if a batsman is getting out on a duck that is another story, he needs to get atleast a 50 in the next test match. But this was an okayish start. Alot of these players are only realizing how big a loss is Misbah and Younis gonna be.
Click to expand...

A duck is more forgivable than getting lots of prety thirties and forties. A duck means you were dismissed before you had time to settle and get your eye in. Getting out for 38 means you got your eye in, got used to the conditions and then got out once you were comfortable.
 
Shaan Masood must make way for Fawad Alam in the next series, Wahab Riaz for Yamin / Fahim / Hammad. Bilal Asif for Imad / Agha Salman

Once in, Fawad / Usman / Babar should be rotated for spots 3 and 4. Yamin / Imad / Shafiq should rotate for number 6 spot. This cycle should be continued for 2-3 series and once a stable middle-order develops, focus should be placed on weaning out ineffective pacers (Amir et al).
 
As usual the cliche "So much has been invested in him that we cant drop him now". Exactly how he has been able to play for 7 long years.
 
Big Mac said:
A duck is more forgivable than getting lots of prety thirties and forties. A duck means you were dismissed before you had time to settle and get your eye in. Getting out for 38 means you got your eye in, got used to the conditions and then got out once you were comfortable.
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Shafiq is never comfortable at the crease whether he is on zero, in the 30's and 40's or even on a hundred. Always looks like getting out any delivery which is why there is nothing world class about him. Atleast with Azhar, you know once he is in he will get a big one even if it is at a slower strike rate.
 
Enough is enough...
shud be kicked out now..... class, technique and shots is all ok but wen u aren't getting runs... there is no need to have him in the team
 
The only reason why he isn't criticized by the general public is because he keeps a low profile. Unlike Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad.
 
Sirris said:
The only reason why he isn't criticized by the general public is because he keeps a low profile. Unlike Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad.
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He is criticized but mostly kept getting away with it because Pakistan play so few test matches compared to other countries and that also after lengthy gaps and also because he kept hiding behind Azhar, Younis and Misbah.

Now that he has moved up, all eyes are on him now and he will not be able to get away with it.
 
Gabbar Singh said:
An average of 39 after 7 years of test cricket hiding down the order is pretty poor. Especially in this era of favourable batting conditions. He’s almost 32 and should be at his peak now yet at times he bats like a nervous debutant.

It’s a shame because he’s clearly talented however he hasn’t lived up to that talent.
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This is one of his main problem, he cannot handle pressure. He got pair in AUS as well as in ENG, if my memory servered me right. Not to mention countless time give away with second new ball... Haris looked lot assured and provide the necessary calmness from his body language, shot selection and defense. We have yet to see that from Shafiq in 7 years.

We have to think seriously about bringing back Fawad, he is another one who knows how to handle pressure in long format, you don't get ave of 55 but bottling or without tight defense. Fawad has to have a solid temperament for kind of record he posses in FC...
 
yasir said:
This is one of his main problem, he cannot handle pressure. He got pair in AUS as well as in ENG, if my memory servered me right. Not to mention countless time give away with second new ball... Haris looked lot assured and provide the necessary calmness from his body language, shot selection and defense. We have yet to see that from Shafiq in 7 years.

We have to think seriously about bringing back Fawad, he is another one who knows how to handle pressure in long format, you don't get ave of 55 but bottling or without tight defense. Fawad has to have a solid temperament for kind of record he posses in FC...
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Shafiq averaged 64+ when he was selected.

FC Average ≠ Ability to Handle Pressure.
 
kingusama92 said:
Shafiq averaged 64+ when he was selected.

FC Average ≠ Ability to Handle Pressure.
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He had a good season averaging 64 but overall his FC average is 38 that's where his test average is heading every player should be selected after a good season if we go by this logic which won't work will it.
Nepotism his technique looks good I like him more seem to be the reasons for player selection in recent times.
 
What annoyed me particularly was when Pakistan played in England last year the likes of Nasser, Athers and etc althoug my fav commentators were hyping him in the comm box because of what they saw of him in the nets.

In Australia, the Channel 9 commentator team couldn't stop talking about him because of that one innings in a losing cause where he actually choked and then after Waqar got sacked and got his commentator role back he would talk about Shafiq as if he was some ATG that Pakistan has been missing for all these years.

Overall he is the one to blame for Shafiq's handling because he wasn't challenged under his management since he had this soft spot for him and in every pic you see they have always been very cosy together and too close for my liking - where you could just sense his favouritism was clouding his judgement.

Shafiq was identified as a mental midget long time ago but under his buddy Sarfraz he will continue playing until his average drops to under 35 that is the sad reality folks!
 
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Big Mac said:
A duck is more forgivable than getting lots of prety thirties and forties. A duck means you were dismissed before you had time to settle and get your eye in. Getting out for 38 means you got your eye in, got used to the conditions and then got out once you were comfortable.
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Yes but a high score of 70 means that he is committing crimes on both ends? 15 innings and just one 50? An average of 27. That's sad. The man should quit himself if he has any shame left.
 
In addition his batsmanship has been inflated by so called experts who like to mince about his achievement of most tons as a number 6 which has no significance whatsoever.

Reason being is number 6 is the role to transition new batters under the experienced players above the order, so that when they reach their peak they can handle the responsibility. It should never take around 60 tests for a number 6 to move up the order which reinforces my point about this irrelevant stat of tons he holds at number 6.
 
kingusama92 said:
Shafiq averaged 64+ when he was selected.

FC Average ≠ Ability to Handle Pressure.
Click to expand...

No, the problem is they only looked at one season.

He's a vexing player. His knocks in South Africa and England and Australia were the kind that Pakistani batsmen rarely produce, so I see why many people have a soft spot for him. But with this kind of form he deserves a rest methinks.
 
The quality of a no 6 batsman can be told by how he bats with the tail. Laxman was brilliant at this. Hussey was also brilliant at this. Shafiq loses it and i have seen numerous times when he hits out and gets out when the tail is exposed.
 
Asad Shafiq is inconsistent, but the criticism he is receiving here is unbelievable. Not sure if posters here are young to remember the torrid time Azhar Ali had back in 2013. Now look at him. Shafiq needs to kick into high gear for sure, but to devalue all his contributions so far to Pakistan cricket is ridiculous.
 
Usman Chadda said:
Asad Shafiq is inconsistent, but the criticism he is receiving here is unbelievable. Not sure if posters here are young to remember the torrid time Azhar Ali had back in 2013. Now look at him. Shafiq needs to kick into high gear for sure, but to devalue all his contributions so far to Pakistan cricket is ridiculous.
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The stats speak for themselves. Both he and Azhar were averaging 43-44 at one point in time, Azhar's average has improved to 47 while Shafiq's average has declined to 39.
 
Usman Chadda said:
Asad Shafiq is inconsistent, but the criticism he is receiving here is unbelievable. Not sure if posters here are young to remember the torrid time Azhar Ali had back in 2013. Now look at him. Shafiq needs to kick into high gear for sure, but to devalue all his contributions so far to Pakistan cricket is ridiculous.
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Azhar was struggling on his first overseas tour(s).

Asad is still struggling after seven years of being a permanent fixture in the side.

Alongside that, criticism of Asad is not only based on his numbers. It isn't. It's the whole package, Asad the batsman, that's criticised. His lack of composure at the crease, lack of confidence, indecision - these are all contributing factors to the negative perceptions people have about him.
 
Azhar Ali has gone to another level since his debut in 2010. Anyone who watched Azhar Ali in 2010 and watches him now in 2017 can clearly tell that the guy has grown in confidence, has taken his game to another level and has added all sorts of shots to his repetoire
 
Abdullah719 said:
Azhar was struggling on his first overseas tour(s).

Asad is still struggling after seven years of being a permanent fixture in the side.

Alongside that, criticism of Asad is not only based on his numbers. It isn't. It's the whole package, Asad the batsman, that's criticised. His lack of composure at the crease, lack of confidence, indecision - these are all contributing factors to the negative perceptions people have about him.
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I hope you remember Azhar's tour to Zimbabwe in 2013? Kept on getting out to Tendai Chatara for low scores IIRC. Not such a great year. Shafiq has produced some absolute magical innings time and time again. Yes, his recent returns this year have been frustrating. But the way people are throwing mud at him, some just to see their saviour Fawad in the team, is not justified at all. I think he is just horribly out of form and rhythm as a batsman.
 
Asad is a senior batsman and is regressing which is frustrating an average of 31 in the last 2 years shows this which is why criticism is justified.
 
All you people asking for Fawad will see when he fails miserably. There was no way Fawad would survive against Herath.

Fawad couldn't even handle Lyon and the Bangali spinners....
 
Bay Garrett said:
All you people asking for Fawad will see when he fails miserably. There was no way Fawad would survive against Herath.

Fawad couldn't even handle Lyon and the Bangali spinners....
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Then who scored that 168 against Herath and Mendis?
 
Bay Garrett said:
All you people asking for Fawad will see when he fails miserably. There was no way Fawad would survive against Herath.

Fawad couldn't even handle Lyon and the Bangali spinners....
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He won't be a world beater, but most likely more consistent on these roads.
 
Time to kick him out. I did back him for a long time but if he couldn't kick on after continuously playing for seven years then he's never going to improve. That's it.
 
He's already almost 32. His peak years are ending soon. If his output is 30.xx average during his peak, imagine how bad it will be in his twilight years.

Time to drop him and move on.
 
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