Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad opening in ODIs : A recipe for total and utter disaster

[Sherlock]

Why are Pakistan persisting with not one, but both of these players in LOIs?

If one is essential then it would've been a wise decision to try Umar Amin or someone of that nature to open with them.

Having both these players open makes me want to gauge my eye balls out and scream at the top of my lungs.

Azhar hasn't shown a semblance of how a modern day ODI player should be playing, yet he's included in the squad, and more than likely in the final XI.

Then you have the dot-ball prince in Shehzad, who hasn't done much since coming back from his exclusion.

You look at teams around the World and they have big-hitters right at the top. We have a bunch of useless players that when push comes to shove, they'll likely fall and cry foul.

Truly a pathetic way of going about our business in a high calibre ICC tournament.

 

[Markhor]

Its appalling. Supposedly the selectors want them to "blunt the new ball" in English conditions but pitches in ODIs here have been mostly flat with 300+ scores being the norm. Shehzad has his deficiencies against seam/swing so he can't be trusted to do that job anyway.

I know the selectors, robbed of Sharjeel, Latif and Shahzaib who are three of our most explosive openers, were in a tough spot. But they need to let Azhar focus on Tests where he's doing a perfectly good job, drop Shehzad who eats up way too many dot balls even on a good day and draft in openers actually capable of getting us off to fast starts not 40-1 after 10.

 

[Sherlock]

Its appalling. Supposedly the selectors want them to "blunt the new ball" in English conditions but pitches in ODIs here have been mostly flat with 300+ scores being the norm. Shehzad has his deficiencies against seam/swing so he can't be trusted to do that job anyway.

I know the selectors, robbed of Sharjeel, Latif and Shahzaib who are three of our most explosive openers, were in a tough spot. But they need to let Azhar focus on Tests where he's doing a perfectly good job, drop Shehzad who eats up way too many dot balls even on a good day and draft in openers actually capable of getting us off to fast starts not 40-1 after 10.

Swinging conditions too. Don't expect the likes of Azhar and Shehzad to last long all the while trying to blunt the new ball.

It's not a good ploy by Arthur or the selectors, and once again we're looking at a wasted chance.

 

[idrizzy]

Its appalling. Supposedly the selectors want them to "blunt the new ball" in English conditions but pitches in ODIs here have been mostly flat with 300+ scores being the norm. Shehzad has his deficiencies against seam/swing so he can't be trusted to do that job anyway.

I know the selectors, robbed of Sharjeel, Latif and Shahzaib who are three of our most explosive openers, were in a tough spot. But they need to let Azhar focus on Tests where he's doing a perfectly good job, drop Shehzad who eats up way too many dot balls even on a good day and draft in openers actually capable of getting us off to fast starts not 40-1 after 10.

As if it looks like we have explosive batsmen to make up for the 'safe start'. If these two play we're gonna be stumbling to a score of 250 since there's no power hitters in our team except Faheem.

I agree that it was unfortunate what hapoened to Sharjeel, Latif. But to replace them with 80s cricketers is beyond astounding. It's like trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

I'd rather have middle order batsmen as openers than play these two - heck even let Imad open batting. Anything but this

 

[pakistan cricket fan]

Oh men its better to sleep than watching these two batting in the powerplay.

 

[Syed1]

Swinging conditions too. Don't expect the likes of Azhar and Shehzad to last long all the while trying to blunt the new ball.

It's not a good ploy by Arthur or the selectors, and once again we're looking at a wasted chance.

I'm hoping we get a full match in the ongoing warmup and Azhar fails again. That's the only way we won't have him in the side on the 4th.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

It's inexplicable

I hope Fahkar gets a go, as bad as maybe he can't be any worse than what we have

It's a joke that Pakistan has two openers who struggle to strike more than 75, easily the worst opening pair, worse than Afghanistan or Ireland

 

[Sherlock]

I doubt we'll get a game on, tbh. It's bucketing here.

That's my worry now because Haris hasn't had a bat yet, and we've persisted on Azhar and Shehzad again. No way are we going to try another combo before India match.

 

[Sherlock]

No joke here but I rather they'd try Amin opening. A left-right opening combo could be the only way to go sometimes, despite Amin's lack of playing time in the side.

 

[idrizzy]

No joke here but I rather they'd try Amin opening. A left-right opening combo could be the only way to go sometimes, despite Amin's lack of playing time in the side.

Amin's not in the squad.

 

[Sherlock]

Amin's not in the squad.

I know. When they picked Azhar they should've given Amin a chance.

 

[coy0607]

Saeed Anwar was a more aggressive opener than either of them

Literally our cricket has gone backwards since the 90s

 

[Hawkeye]

Its appalling. Supposedly the selectors want them to "blunt the new ball" in English conditions but pitches in ODIs here have been mostly flat with 300+ scores being the norm. Shehzad has his deficiencies against seam/swing so he can't be trusted to do that job anyway.

I know the selectors, robbed of Sharjeel, Latif and Shahzaib who are three of our most explosive openers, were in a tough spot. But they need to let Azhar focus on Tests where he's doing a perfectly good job, drop Shehzad who eats up way too many dot balls even on a good day and draft in openers actually capable of getting us off to fast starts not 40-1 after 10.

Selectors? ) )

You mean Mickey Arthur and team management, right? Please, come to the real world.

Mickey Arthur and captain has FULL selection rights, and it's THEM who have wanted these openers. That's why they are in the team.

NOT A SINGLE selection is without approval of Mickey + captain, under Inzi's era.

Bash him all you want for whatever reason, but Inzi is the only selector who has given all the selection/rejection powers to coach.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I hope they fail so miserably that both are dropped forever after CT.

Unfortunately, that will happen at the cost of CT.

 

[Hawkeye]

I hope they fail so miserably that both are dropped forever after CT.

Unfortunately, that will happen at the cost of CT.

Both Mickey Arthur and Inzi love them.

 

[Shafi]

Inzamam should be given the credit to select not 1 but both of them. A so-called revolutionist by talk not by his deed.

 

[Syed1]

Inzamam should be given the credit to select not 1 but both of them. A so-called revolutionist by talk not by his deed.

In his latest interview he said he wants to build a team that can score 325+ consistently, and his way of going about doing that is selecting two openers who struggle to bat at 70 SR.


In any other country Inzi would have been fired a long time ago for his incompetency.

 

[Shafi]

Selectors? ) )

You mean Mickey Arthur and team management, right? Please, come to the real world.

Mickey Arthur and captain has FULL selection rights, and it's THEM who have wanted these openers. That's why they are in the team.

NOT A SINGLE selection is without approval of Mickey + captain, under Inzi's era.

Bash him all you want for whatever reason, but Inzi is the only selector who has given all the selection/rejection powers to coach.

If that is the case why Inzamam will take the blame for failure? He should resign.

 

[Shafi]

In his latest interview he said he wants to build a team that can score 325+ consistently, and his way of going about doing that is selecting two openers who struggle to bat at 70 SR.


In any other country Inzi would have been fired a long time ago for his incompetency.

Inzamam himself is a mirror of corruption/nepotism/bias/favoritism. So we should not expect any significant step
from him.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Inzamam should be given the credit to select not 1 but both of them. A so-called revolutionist by talk not by his deed.

That's most people's worst nightmare coming true.

I think last time they opened in NZ together and it was one of the worst ODI series to watch.

 

[coy0607]

I hope they fail so miserably that both are dropped forever after CT.

Unfortunately, that will happen at the cost of CT.

I have no doubt they'll fail in CT, but I doubt they will be dropped

Looks like with Inzamam performance isn't a criteria for selection, else they wouldn't have been selected to begin with

 

[IAJ]

Easy [MENTION=47000]Sherlock[/MENTION], there are a few posters here who already are waiting impatiently to bump this thread.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I want to see AA and AS tuk tuking to make 30-0 in 10 overs against india and MICKEY going crazy...

Not sure whose hand is tied,, is it Inzi, Mickey and Sarfraz... It is very clear that something big is behind the selection of

Azhar, Shehzad, hafeez, wahab and UA...is it LRCA quota...

 

[Sherlock]

Easy [MENTION=47000]Sherlock[/MENTION], there are a few posters here who already are waiting impatiently to bump this thread.

I'll happily admit to that, seeing as though it'll mean one, if not both have been successful. But that in itself is a long shot.

 

[Olympian]

Cant wait to watch Pak vs India match with these Hard hitting openers

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Terrible ODI batsmen

 

[sarmadsl]

If both are replaced by farhan and hussain talat that might look light on paper but we will br getting good fast starts.
Next hafeez needs to go now . Haris needs to play at his spot
Ideally pakistan can have a good batting line up
Farhan
Hussain talat
Babar
Harris
Sarfraz
Malik
Faheem
Shadab
Hassan
Amir
Any new young bowler

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Hafeez should open just for this CT along with Fakhar. Don't rate either but they are better than these 2

 

[Hasan123]

One can open up but both shouldn't open together. I would go with Fakhar and Shehzad as the openers.

 

[The_Odd_One]

21 years ago Anwar and Sohail gave Pakistan a brisk start of 84 runs in 10 overs chasing 286 vs India in India on a moderately good batting pitch.

Can anybody even imagine Azhar and Shehzad doing the same on a much easier batting pitch in 2017?

From the likes of Afridi and Nazeer to give fast starts, Pakistan has gone to batmen similar to Ramiz Raja and Shoaib Mohammad opening in ODIs.

 

[Brainy sturdy]

Given the team we have the ideal combination would be .

Why are Pakistan persisting with not one, but both of these players in LOIs?

If one is essential then it would've been a wise decision to try Umar Amin or someone of that nature to open with them.

Having both these players open makes me want to gauge my eye balls out and scream at the top of my lungs.

Azhar hasn't shown a semblance of how a modern day ODI player should be playing, yet he's included in the squad, and more than likely in the final XI.

Then you have the dot-ball prince in Shehzad, who hasn't done much since coming back from his exclusion.

You look at teams around the World and they have big-hitters right at the top. We have a bunch of useless players that when push comes to shove, they'll likely fall and cry foul.

Truly a pathetic way of going about our business in a high calibre ICC tournament.

1.Sarfraz Ahmed
2.Shehzad
2.Babar
3.Hafeez
4.Malik
5.Suhail/Fakhar
6.Imad
7.Faheem
8.Hasan
9.Shadaab /Wahab
10.Amir
11.Junaid
Playing Sarfraz low down the order is like wasting him .He is a proper batsman and can't hit it big in crunch situations.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I'm hoping we get a full match in the ongoing warmup and Azhar fails again. That's the only way we won't have him in the side on the 4th.

he escaped it.... if pak bat first he will bat at 40 SR and when they bat 2nd chasing 300+ he will go about 60 SR

 

[ask_analyse_act]

champions trophy was the best chance to take a giant leap to their rankings but they have planned to open with azhar and shehzad,,, sit haris in the bench... fantastic...

 

[Speedster777]

Conservative approach is recipe for disaster. Mickey and Sarfraz got to make bold decision and bench azhar, shehzad or hafeez. Playing these 3 TTFs would take us nowhere.

 

[90MPH]

Disgusting selections and approach by the management.

One of the main reasons I didn't bother getting tickets for the SA and Sri Lanka matches even though I was inundated with emails to purchase them.

No Thanks.

 

[shaz619]

I'd have no issue playing Azhar Ali on a green top or in overcast conditions, but if the conditions are great for batting then I'd not play him. Lets me honest none of our openers are dynamic enough to adjust to all conditions like Alex Hales and Jason Roy.

 

[dauntless]

Atleast Azhar Ali can play fast bowling but this shahzad is one of the worst batsman I have ever seen he should have dropped after his performance against w.Indies.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

I'd give Amir a go on top spot. Best case: quick fire 30 to set pace. Worst case : out after scratching around for 10 balls for a solid 2. How is that different from our other openers?

 

[Sherlock]

Fakhar Zaman isn't even that good from what I've seen of him. Thought he was awful vs WI in the T20s.

I'd much rather they have a pinch hitter at the top and gamble a bit more. Instead we'll be getting a slow and anaemic start, then a wicket falls and the batsmen are too weak to counter attack and our final score takes a major hit.

Rinse and bloody repeat.

 

[Manager101]

Considering the choices in current squad, our only best option for opening position are Fakhar Zaman and Sarfraz Ahmed, atleast they will try to play at a 100 S.R.

 

[Titan24]

I would definitely go with Fakhar Zaman, guy averages almost 50 in list A cricket and what I have seen of him in PSL and Pakistan Cup he has the ability to be match winner and he doesnt copy anyone he just plays like Fakhar Zaman.
As its unfair with him to make him debut in such a big touranment, he should be told that it doesnt matter what you score in these matches just play your game and you are going to be part of our future plans.
Thing to be noted here is that he is not unfamiliar with the English conditions as he toured with A team here along with Sharjeel and others.

 

[Titan24]

Fakhar Zaman isn't even that good from what I've seen of him. Thought he was awful vs WI in the T20s.

I'd much rather they have a pinch hitter at the top and gamble a bit more. Instead we'll be getting a slow and anaemic start, then a wicket falls and the batsmen are too weak to counter attack and our final score takes a major hit.
Rinse and bloody repeat.

Bro he has played almost all his cricket batting at top 3 positions, he averages almost 50 in list A. He likes ball coming onto the bat. Playing him such low down the order was unfair with him, but at that time might be what team management needed.

 

[New Yorker]

1.Sarfraz Ahmed
2.Shehzad
2.Babar
3.Hafeez
4.Malik
5.Suhail/Fakhar
6.Imad
7.Faheem
8.Hasan
9.Shadaab /Wahab
10.Amir
11.Junaid
Playing Sarfraz low down the order is like wasting him .He is a proper batsman and can't hit it big in crunch situations.

Let's get radical. Forget Shehzad; Open with Sarfraz and Haris, one likes to put pacers off their lengths
early, the other is best player of swing in the team. Let Hafeez come so far down the order that he has
to start hitting out big from the get go - no centuries to collect. If he does get the time, ie there is collapse
playing cautiously is what one would in any case want from him. Imad has a terrific record in England but
I'm not convinced that he will be a wicket taker against the Indians and taking wickets will be key; if they have
a few in hand come the 40th over they will always make it count. Sarfraz has to go aggressive.

1. Sarfraz
2. Haris
3. Babar
4. Fakhar
5. Malik
6. Hafeez
7. Shadab
8. Faheem
9. Hasan
10. Amir
11. Junaid

 

[asifp]

Fakhr
Azhar / Ahmed
Babar
Hafeez
Harris
Malik
Sarfraz
Faheem
Hasan
Amir
Junaid

If need to play an extra bowler, drop Azhar or Ahmed, move Hafeez to open and play Shadab

 

[Sherlock]

Bro he has played almost all his cricket batting at top 3 positions, he averages almost 50 in list A. He likes ball coming onto the bat. Playing him such low down the order was unfair with him, but at that time might be what team management needed.

I've seen him in the T20s vs WI. He was simply batting as if it was the first time he picked up the bat. Everything was on the legside [just like K. Latif] and anything on the offside he struggled with.

Do you honestly believe international players won't cotton on to his weakness? WI players did that in-between overs in the T20s.

 

[Titan24]

I've seen him in the T20s vs WI. He was simply batting as if it was the first time he picked up the bat. Everything was on the legside [just like K. Latif] and anything on the offside he struggled with.
Do you honestly believe international players won't cotton on to his weakness? WI players did that in-between overs in the T20s.

Just watch the highlights of his Pakistan cup innings, he is a very compact offside player as well. With the position he was sent at and the overs remaining at that time he was supposed to hit sixes and like many other hitters of the world six hitting is majorly done on long on and mid on, specially at that time of the innings. So him prefering leg side to do that isnt a big deal in my opinion. Also you cant get an average of 50 with strike rate of 94 having six centuries by playing on just one side of the wicket.
He is a proper batsman and technically reasonably sound as well.
I can assure you one thing if he makes a fifty or a hundred, it will give Pakistan a solid position considering the strike rate he can bat at.

 

[Slog]

Its appalling. Supposedly the selectors want them to "blunt the new ball" in English conditions but pitches in ODIs here have been mostly flat with 300+ scores being the norm. Shehzad has his deficiencies against seam/swing so he can't be trusted to do that job anyway.

I know the selectors, robbed of Sharjeel, Latif and Shahzaib who are three of our most explosive openers, were in a tough spot. But they need to let Azhar focus on Tests where he's doing a perfectly good job, drop Shehzad who eats up way too many dot balls even on a good day and draft in openers actually capable of getting us off to fast starts not 40-1 after 10.

How many ODI matches did Shahzaib and Latif play in the last three years before the ban?

Shahzaib especially was nowhere near the side and wasn't even putting up a whole lot of runs in domestic. Had another no show in PSL. Latif had a couple of good innings but there was nothing to suggest it was anything other than a few good innings mixed with mediocre ones which is par for the course for him. On merit Manzoor has a claim before both of these.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Hope they both don't play

 

[Abdullah719]

Can't believe that this is the best opening combo we can muster after the 2015 World Cup fiasco.

 

[Hamza_]

Can't believe that this is the best opening combo we can muster after the 2015 World Cup fiasco.

It's painful really. I don't know how revolutionary can sleep these days.