Asif Afridi v Usman Qadir v Zahid Mahmood: one specialist spinner spot

[Rana]

My vote goes to Afridi. He’s been brilliant in the National cup, and has today showed a beast mode with the bat as well.

All 3 bowlers turn the ball away from the right hand bat. All 3 have a decent variation ball. From what I have seen, Asif Afridi has the best control so far.

I’m tempted to go with him, it is the safest option.

Maybe we could have a poll?

 

[NoBallZombie]

Babar is going to pick usman.

 

[Titan24]

Zahid and Asif Afridi have outperformed Qadir so far by some margin in terms of consistency.

Asif provides something with the bat as well and we will have a leggy in Shadab so I would be tilted towards Asif as well.

However, doubt selectors are going to think in that direction which is a shame. Even if they do the criticism of the fans who dont follow much cricket based upon Asif’s age would hold them back anyways.

So I guess he is going to just remain a topic of discussions and I feel bad for him as he has literally done everything at domestic level in last 4 or so whiteball tournaments.

 

[nextover666666]

Zahid Mahmood is the one that's needs to be selected

 

[Shafi]

I would rather take Sadab/Imad over Usman. This guy is as bad as Azam Khan with the ball. He wouldn't even picked in 2nd XI if his father was a great spinner in 80s.

 

[Zaz]

I dont understand what the fascination pakistan has with leggies

They are expensive and not accurate

Id rather go with a good SLA any day of the week

As we have seen with nauman and afridi now They are much the better choices

 

[Barragan]

Usman shouldn't even be mentioned!

Mediocre and only gets into the team for the same reason as azam khan.

Afridi easily the best option!

All of Imad, Shadab and Nawaz are far superior to qadir.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

All three are terrible selections and have nothing on Imad, Shadab and Nawaz who are all superior spinners to these three.

Asif Afridi is another domestic baba who is having a good tournament but should not in any way be a serious consideration for the World Cup.

Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood are rubbish. They have absolutely no control and will get hammered against any half-decent side.

Qadir has an economy rate of 10.5 if you take out his performances against Zimbabwe. You wanna take that to the World Cup?

 

[jawwada]

Just looking at a couple of matches and putting in the world cup squad is not the right thing to do. These days every tailender hits boundaries. Imad and Nawaz are very good batsmen and team players, Imad is highly succ essful under pressure. Pakistan's current faulty balance with slow opneres, babar and rizwanmrequires someone like Imad at number 7.

 

[Rana]

Just looking at a couple of matches and putting in the world cup squad is not the right thing to do. These days every tailender hits boundaries. Imad and Nawaz are very good batsmen and team players, Imad is highly succ essful under pressure. Pakistan's current faulty balance with slow opneres, babar and rizwanmrequires someone like Imad at number 7.

The thread title says ‘specialist spinner spot’. We acknowledge that Imad, Shadab and Nawaz are bowling all rounders and not specialist bowlers. However, every team will have that one spinner who they will bank on to bowl 4 overs and take a couple of wickets less than 25 runs. Pakistan have to pick one proper spinner to bowl 4 vital overs. Imad, Shadab, Nawaz and Hafeez may not be very good without that proper strike spinner

 

[TeymurBlake]

For Asif Afridi's case, Mohammad Nawaz and Imad Wasim are ahead of him. As for Zahid and Usman there essentially competing with Shadab Khan who is in terrible form over the last couple of months and years.

 

[Rana]

For Asif Afridi's case, Mohammad Nawaz and Imad Wasim are ahead of him. As for Zahid and Usman there essentially competing with Shadab Khan who is in terrible form over the last couple of months and years.

It is easy to say they are ahead of him, but the National T20 does not suggest that at all

 

[Rana]

Asif Afridi has taken 8 wickets @11 with an economy of 5.5

This cannot be disregarded considering Shadab and Imad have 3 wickets, whilst Nawaz has 4.

There is nothing to suggest his competitors are well ahead of him!

 

[TeymurBlake]

It is easy to say they are ahead of him, but the National T20 does not suggest that at all

Yes I agree. But I can't see Pakistan are going with a new spinner in UAE, when they have Nawaz and Imad give you more balance with the bat. In terms of spinners taking wickets in UAE, Asif Afridi wouldn't be bad option but Pakistan are going to be looking at that.

 

[MenInG]

Poll added
[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] - I am assuming you meant for the T20 World Cup?

 

[Rana]

Poll added
[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] - I am assuming you meant for the T20 World Cup?

Yes 100%

I am hoping Pakistan pick the one spinner spot wisely.

 

[Salman4.]

My vote goes to Afridi. He’s been brilliant in the National cup, and has today showed a beast mode with the bat as well.

All 3 bowlers turn the ball away from the right hand bat. All 3 have a decent variation ball. From what I have seen, Asif Afridi has the best control so far.

I’m tempted to go with him, it is the safest option.

Maybe we could have a poll?

Specifically mentioning the National T20 cup makes it sound reactionary when it's not.
Asif Afridi has sailed through every challenge in the last 1.5 years with zero nerves. Not a bad option at all.

 

[Rana]

Babar Azam was too scared to bowl Qadir to Sharjeel Khan. Clearly Babar doesn’t view Qadir as a premier spinner.

 

[moghul]

Performing at domestics in familiar condition and bowling to familiar batsmen is easy but its different ball game when bowling in WC and bowling at world's best. Usman Qadir has seen the world and has played more cricket against international cricketer than Zahid. If I'm not wrong Zahid is the same cricketer who could not fly to Zimbabwe by himself because he had to make a connecting flight .

 

[Firebat]

This question makes you realise how poor the Pakistani spin talent is right now. Our 3 spin all-rounders would do just as good, if not better, and they also offer batting.

 

[Rana]

Qadir getting slaughtered by Azam Khan

Babar didn’t trust him to bowl to Sharjeel yesterday either

 

[Abdurmirr]

Usman just like Azam is a product of nepotism. Terrible bowler

Asif looks the best from the three plus can add value with the bat. The only issue I would have is that his style of bowling is quite similar to Imad and Nawaz so that might make our attack a bit monotonous.

 

[moghul]

Thanks , we don't need another Rafatullah Mohmand, even a bowler.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Too late to try a rookie spinner.

Its got to be shadab, Imad and Hafeez.

I would pick these three over the three mentioned in the OP

 

[jawwada]

Zahid is the best leg spinner in Pakistan. Period. Only spinner close to aadil rashid and rashid khan. But he will not be chosen. No point. Go with Shadab, Nawaz and Hafiz

 

[hitthestump]

Too late to try a rookie spinner.

Its got to be shadab, Imad and Hafeez.

I would pick these three over the three mentioned in the OP

Nawaz gets in before all of these btw.

 

[Rana]

Too late to try a rookie spinner.

Its got to be shadab, Imad and Hafeez.

I would pick these three over the three mentioned in the OP

These 3 don’t qualify as ‘specialist spinners’. They are all either bowling all-rounders or batting all rounders.

And Asif Afridi has outbowled them in this competition

 

[moghul]

Asif is 4 years older than Iftikhar chacha, a total liability in field, Usman is young and very good fielder and a better spinner .

 

[DeadlyVenom]

These 3 don’t qualify as ‘specialist spinners’. They are all either bowling all-rounders or batting all rounders.

And Asif Afridi has outbowled them in this competition

It doesn't matter if they are specialists or not. Its not like there is a reserved quota for a specialist spinner. If this old man gets into the T20 side based on a good run in a tier 2 domestic competition then we can kiss the world cup goodbye.

 

[Rana]

It doesn't matter if they are specialists or not. Its not like there is a reserved quota for a specialist spinner. If this old man gets into the T20 side based on a good run in a tier 2 domestic competition then we can kiss the world cup goodbye.

But I think Pakistan should pick an out and out Spinner. We haven’t done this since Ajmal has been banned and we have struggled massively. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim have not been able to be the bowlers we can bank on.

England, India, Australia, New Zealand and even South Africa will pick a specialist spinner in their sides. Why should Pakistan not do so?

 

[Rana]

Asif is 4 years older than Iftikhar chacha, a total liability in field, Usman is young and very good fielder and a better spinner .

What makes you say Usman is a better spinner than Afridi?

 

[shamaan]

These 3 don’t qualify as ‘specialist spinners’. They are all either bowling all-rounders or batting all rounders.

And Asif Afridi has outbowled them in this competition

Pakistan need imad and shadab due to batting problems.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Well I can see another successful PSL edition for him. He has serious control over his line and length and varies pace beautifully. Hard to hit.

Note: Needs to stay injury free

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Time is up for Asif but I hope he gets a payday by having a good PSL and picks up franchise league elsewhere.

To be perfectly honest we really need Shadab to come good for our t20i to have balance.

 

[Rana]

Time is up for Asif but I hope he gets a payday by having a good PSL and picks up franchise league elsewhere.

To be perfectly honest we really need Shadab to come good for our t20i to have balance.

What you need is Arafat Minhas to establish himself. He is a complete batter who will give you 3-4 good overs.

Shadab is just never going to be the complete batter.

 

[Major]

Time is up for Asif but I hope he gets a payday by having a good PSL and picks up franchise league elsewhere.

To be perfectly honest we really need Shadab to come good for our t20i to have balance.

Shadab is not gonna improve.