Asad Shafiq - Last 2 years outside UAE: 27 innings, 790 runs, 29 Avg, 2 100s, 3 50s

[asifp]

From the UK tour in 2016 to now.

How can anyone justify his selection, this guy is supposed to be the rock of our batting?

Good luck even winning on series outside UAE.

 

[Abdullah719]

In the same period, he's played 5 Tests against Sri Lanka and West Indies in UAE and averages 42.

These figures hardly scream 'reliability'.

If he doesn't score heavily in the upcoming series in UAE, I'm sure Arthur and co. will lose patience with him. Or I hope...

 

[PakSarZameen]

I called for his dropping before this series but to be fair on him, he was decent in this series.

Probably looked like the best batsman we have after Shadab.

 

[ArsenalFC]

He is a mental choker. His capacity doesn't exceed averaging 40 and scoring a ton in a series although his record in England has now been dented after this miserable showing in this test.

The reality is he's been hiding behind the likes of Azhar, Younis and Misbah and now with his promotion up the order he's been exposed.

Some will say "why change something that works" and keep him at 6 with his record batting there but unfortunately he is no suited for that position either because of his inability to score quickly and protect the tail.

 

[Kroll]

Doesn't surprise me, we've all known for a long time he's too much of a mental midget to be the backbone of the batting.

 

[Adil_94]

Shafiq is a bottlejob needs to be thrown out the team. To be barely avging 40 after so many tests in uae is mediocre.

 

[AFM]

Even with 2 100s and 3 50s, his average is below 30. That is shocking.

I have lost my patience with him now and Azhar. The thing is we still need these 2 to help the youngsters in the batting line up to settle in. You cannot go to SA without these 2. I would keep them until the end of the SA tour. Babar and Haris should have settled in by then and carry our batting going forward.

 

[msb314]

Shafiq needs to be fired asap.

I would keep Azhar for one more series and if he doesn't score - get rid of him too.

 

[gani999]

Shafiq needs to be fired asap.

I would keep Azhar for one more series and if he doesn't score - get rid of him too.

Firing is easy.

Finding a replacement is not.

Who, in your opinion, can replace Shafiq and Azhar? Does Pakistan have batsmen of equal calibre in its ranks?

 

[Savak]

I have always felt the decision to back Shafiq and not back Umar Akmal enough in test cricket was a big mistake. Umar Akmal in 2010-2012 was our best ODI batsman and Umar Akmal's decline and lack of interest in representing Pakistan in the longer version and just focusing on making a career out of the T-20 leagues basically kick started from 2013 onwards

 

[srh]

His domestic first class average was not good yet he was selected in test team On merit, he should have never played a single test match for Pakistan.

 

[nam]

Firing is easy.

Finding a replacement is not.

Who, in your opinion, can replace Shafiq and Azhar? Does Pakistan have batsmen of equal calibre in its ranks?

exactly the thing that people dont understand here.. if it was easy to replace im sure inzimam would have find it already.. its not like the newcomers including Haris, Imam and Usman scored centuries and can be considered replacements..

 

[Usman Chadda]

I have always felt the decision to back Shafiq and not back Umar Akmal enough in test cricket was a big mistake. Umar Akmal in 2010-2012 was our best ODI batsman and Umar Akmal's decline and lack of interest in representing Pakistan in the longer version and just focusing on making a career out of the T-20 leagues basically kick started from 2013 onwards

Asad Shafiq has produced clutch knocks Umar Akmal is never capable of. Umar regressed because of his attitude issues and teams working him out ruthlessly. Shafiq is unfortunately still one of the better bats in Pakistan at the moment. Azhar and Shafiq have had a lot of investment in them, but I think this is the best they can produce to be honest.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

The sooner we get rid of him, the better.

 

[Azrim_91]

Azhar and Shafiq are both equally as useless. Tbh I'm more disappointed in Azhar. How people can not give him stick is beyond me. This team needs alot of work in the batting department.

I genuinely think Azhar and Shafiq should both get axed for the Zimbabwe series. It's better to try newer players and give them a chance to become more confident for the south Africa series. I can't see Azhar of shafiq doing well in SA.

 

[Buffet]

He played an ATG knock in Aus.

 

[msb314]

Firing is easy.

Finding a replacement is not.

Who, in your opinion, can replace Shafiq and Azhar? Does Pakistan have batsmen of equal calibre in its ranks?

As Azhar is practically opening right now - a like for like replacement would be Sami Aslam. Possibly Shehzad can get another look in too given how he was a good Test player.

For Shafiq's spot - the answer is the person who just broke his arm - Babar Azam. Incorporate Babar in the team and persist with a middle order of Babar, Haris and Usman 3,4 or 5. Have Fawad Alam is a backup if need be.

 

[boomboom6]

Should be dropped for good.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Firing is easy.

Finding a replacement is not.

Who, in your opinion, can replace Shafiq and Azhar? Does Pakistan have batsmen of equal calibre in its ranks?

Even Kamran Akmal as a specialist batsman will do better than Shafiq.

 

[Cric1234]

He played an ATG knock in Aus.

Azhar Mahmood played one of the top rated innnings of all time against SA doesn't mean he's good enough to be a top order batsman Shafiq hasn't been progressing and with age unlikely to get better time has come to move on 60+ tests averaging under 40.