Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq - Finally in the spotlight

[Rayyman]

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are generally not talked about when it comes to the best batsman in the world. This might be be due to a number of factors: humble and quiet personalities, non-flashy playing styles, or attritional style of cricket played in UAE. Well now after both of them have scored in England and Australia, they are no longer underrated. Gone are the days when Shafiq walks to the crease and people call him a young talent. Both have stepped up and I believe the time is right for them to take the roles of senior batsmen.

 

[Hasan123]

Lol [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] called them wasted investments . Well both of them have played the best innings on this tour. Shafiq at the Gaba,Azhar right now.

 

[LegbreakGoogly]

First of all congratulation to Azhar on a brilliant hundred. 2ndly in my viewe they are going to be new generation's Misbah and Younis. good luck to both

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Need to push Asad to 5 at least. Enough of Misbah.

 

[Syed1]

First of all congratulation to Azhar on a brilliant hundred. 2ndly in my viewe they are going to be new generation's Misbah and Younis. good luck to both

Better versions of them.

 

[Rayyman]

Just another point as [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] pointed out in the match thread: Warner is opening in the World Test XI for 2016. Azhar has had a much better year. Just shows how underrated he is.

 

[Rayyman]

Need to push Asad to 5 at least. Enough of Misbah.

Aussie commie also wants Shafiq to move up.

 

[ali ray]

Just another point as [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] pointed out in the match thread: Warner is opening in the World Test XI for 2016. Azhar has had a much better year. Just shows how underrated he is.

no the deadline is from september 2015 to september 2016 in which warner is better

 

[Rayyman]

no the deadline is from september 2015 to september 2016 in which warner is better

Regardless. Ask any foreign commentator who they will want opening, and they will say Warner and Cook. Now that Azhar has scored a century, hopefully he will be more recognized.

 

[ali ray]

Regardless. Ask any foreign commentator who they will want opening, and they will say Warner and Cook. Now that Azhar has scored a century, hopefully he will be more recognized.

Now the next deadline is september 2016 to september 2017

 

[Rayyman]

Now the next deadline is september 2016 to september 2017

Azhar looking good for a dominant "year" Triple vs WI and now more runs vs NZ and Aus. WI is coming up again in March.

 

[yasir]

Aussie commie also wants Shafiq to move up.

Same discussion was in England too, they were surprised, how can such a player be batting at 6?? - He is not no 3, but 4/5 is his best spot.

Now Pakistani fans and management should realize old guys are screwing the team not helping it develop. Misbah and YK are weakest link in batting, why Sharyar was making non sense statements before this series

Harris was never introduced, Babar has introduced late and thrown on tough tour, so he was Sami. Pakistan batting has lot more depth to continue 40 years old forever

 

[coy0607]

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are generally not talked about when it comes to the best batsman in the world

thats because they aren't among the best in the world!

yes they are both good batsmen, but definitely not the best in the world.

guys like Root, Williamson, Kohli, Smith, Amla... dominate all formats of the game and score around the world

in comparison Azhar and Asad are really only proven in 1 format, and even then they are inferior to the others

very good batsmen, but 2nd tier, not the best in the world

 

[LegbreakGoogly]

let's see.For now they are ahead.

 

[street cricketer]

Brilliant from Azhar. A solid test opener and fast becoming one of the best ones in the world.

Shafiq as usual defying his haters where the likes of veterans in Misbah and Younis failed. [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION]

Need to kick on and make a 400+ score. This is a very inexperienced Aussie batting line up and need to put them under the cosh. Yasir will come into the play if you have a good total on the board. Not many Aussie batsmen are great against spin.

Partnership reminds me of the Kohli-Rahane partnership at the MCG 2 years back. Great to see against a very good bowling attack.

 

[Syed1]

I can't believe that Azhar and Asad (to a lessar extent) didn't make it to the test side of year, despite the year both of them have had.

I guess if your nationality is Pakistani you get a step-motherly treatment from the esteemed and impartial ICC.

 

[street cricketer]

I can't believe that Azhar and Asad (to a lessar extent) didn't make it to the test side of year, despite the year both of them have had.

I guess if your nationality is Pakistani you get a step-motherly treatment from the esteemed and impartial ICC.

Kohli had the best year of his entire career and yet didn't make it despite averaging 70+ and ascending to the no.2 rank. That was because the timeline for the selection period was different and neither Asad, Azhar and Kohli were good enough to get in that XI during that period ahead of someone more deserving like Smith who averaged 66 and yet found himself in the 12th position.

 

[Syed1]

Kohli had the best year of his entire career and yet didn't make it despite averaging 70+ and ascending to the no.2 rank. That was because the timeline for the selection period was different and neither Asad, Azhar and Kohli were good enough to get in that XI during that period ahead of someone more deserving like Smith who averaged 66 and yet found himself in the 12th position.

How did Warner make it?

 

[street cricketer]

How did Warner make it?

Last year (sep 2015-2016) wasn't a particularly great year for the openers. I think Warner was the 2nd best among the openers in that specific period. Not sure, have to check.

 

[Abdullah719]

How did Warner make it?

Batsmen stats for the selected period: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...5;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

[shane]

I am especially enjoying watching Shafiq - he is a breath of fresh air which followxs Pakistan's attritional middle order.

 

[LordJames]

Younis
Yusuf
Inzimam


Replaced by

Asad
Babar
Haris


Potential!

 

[Rayyman]

thats because they aren't among the best in the world!

yes they are both good batsmen, but definitely not the best in the world.

guys like Root, Williamson, Kohli, Smith, Amla... dominate all formats of the game and score around the world

in comparison Azhar and Asad are really only proven in 1 format, and even then they are inferior to the others

very good batsmen, but 2nd tier, not the best in the world

Azhar is in the Top 3 for openers. Shafiq is Top 10 for middle order batsman. They are of the best. I reckon Shafiq will average around 50+ when he moves up to 4 or 5.

 

[umerz]

Both of them have been playing really well however need to improve as far as consistency factor is concerned especially Asad. After Misbah and Younis I am happy we have invested in the right players and they are our number 3 and 4 for next 5 years

 

[the Great Khan]

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are generally not talked about when it comes to the best batsman in the world. This might be be due to a number of factors: humble and quiet personalities, non-flashy playing styles, or attritional style of cricket played in UAE. Well now after both of them have scored in England and Australia, they are no longer underrated. Gone are the days when Shafiq walks to the crease and people call him a young talent. Both have stepped up and I believe the time is right for them to take the roles of senior batsmen.

The only reason they weren't talked about was because they are Pakistani..with the cultural boycott imposed on the country now seemingly shattering the team has forced people to acknowledge them..once again Pakistanis are showing us what resilience is all about..

 

[Madplayer]

Not even Pakistanis talked about them.

Truth is most of the players who are talked about around the world are good in more than one formats. Of course exceptions like cook are there but its due to other factors like being exceptionally good in tests and having many a records against your name, being the senior leaders in the side, playing against top teams in high profile series like Ashes etc.

 

[JibranAnsari]

They are good but not special players like root , kw , kohli , smith ; yah they are getting some recognition but they are not world beaters by any stretch of imagination.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Not as consistent as misbah

And not yet to score double or triple hundreds like yk


Once the odi team gets on track under younger leadership the test team will follow suit

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

I'd be quite happy with my 'Tier 3' boys who help us draw the toughest foreign tours than having rock stars and super stars, in the team, who become proper tailenders when stepping out of their comfort zones.

Kids can be happy with their T20 stars having the limelight while I'd have blokes who are mentally tough enough to grind out foreign test tours in places like Australia and England.

Nothing against any particular set of fans but I consider the test format the greatest cricket contest and a drawn series of Australia and England is bigger than a WT20 or a Champions Trophy!!

The only thing that comes close is the 50 over World Cup and that happens every four years so no biggie whatsoever

 

[Madplayer]

Not as consistent as misbah

And not yet to score double or triple hundreds like yk


Once the odi team gets on track under younger leadership the test team will follow suit

Azhar has a triple to his name.

 

[New Yorker]

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are generally not talked about when it comes to the best batsman in the world. This might be be due to a number of factors: humble and quiet personalities, non-flashy playing styles, or attritional style of cricket played in UAE. Well now after both of them have scored in England and Australia, they are no longer underrated. Gone are the days when Shafiq walks to the crease and people call him a young talent. Both have stepped up and I believe the time is right for them to take the roles of senior batsmen.

Or because they have not been among the very best batsman in the world so far. Root, Smith, before them Sanga, Kallis, Clarke were not recognized because they had flashy personalities. They scored prodigiously when it matter and neither Azhar nor Asad have done that regularly enough so far. I still doubt that they will be able to emulate players of this calibre. And they are still a ways behind Younis as far as career feats are concerned. So they are not overdue recognition, but they should be recognized of course for what they achieve going forward.

 

[Rayyman]

Or because they have not been among the very best batsman in the world so far. Root, Smith, before them Sanga, Kallis, Clarke were not recognized because they had flashy personalities. They scored prodigiously when it matter and neither Azhar nor Asad have done that regularly enough so far. I still doubt that they will be able to emulate players of this calibre. And they are still a ways behind Younis as far as career feats are concerned. So they are not overdue recognition, but they should be recognized of course for what they achieve going forward.

Azhar is as good as Root, Smith, Kohli and Williamson. It's now a Fab 5.

 

[New Yorker]

Azhar is as good as Root, Smith, Kohli and Williamson. It's now a Fab 5.

azhar as good as kohli ah?

how do you figure?

 

[New Yorker]

I'd be quite happy with my 'Tier 3' boys who help us draw the toughest foreign tours than having rock stars and super stars, in the team, who become proper tailenders when stepping out of their comfort zones.

Kids can be happy with their T20 stars having the limelight while I'd have blokes who are mentally tough enough to grind out foreign test tours in places like Australia and England.

Nothing against any particular set of fans but I consider the test format the greatest cricket contest and a drawn series of Australia and England is bigger than a WT20 or a Champions Trophy!!

The only thing that comes close is the 50 over World Cup and that happens every four years so no biggie whatsoever

So would I. But in addition to the Shehzads and Hafeezes of the world, there are genuine rock stars out there. Compared to which Azhar is certainly at the very least Tier 2.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

So would I. But in addition to the Shehzads and Hafeezes of the world, there are genuine rock stars out there. Compared to which Azhar is certainly at the very least Tier 2.

By all means keep them to yourself..... I'd rather root for blokes who hold their own in different conditions than batsman who can't average more than Shan Masood when the ball starts moving laterally !!

 

[New Yorker]

By all means keep them to yourself..... I'd rather root for blokes who hold their own in different conditions than batsman who can't average more than Shan Masood when the ball starts moving laterally !!

Ok Ill take Kohli you keep Azhar

 

[New Yorker]

Azhar is in the Top 3 for openers. Shafiq is Top 10 for middle order batsman. They are of the best. I reckon Shafiq will average around 50+ when he moves up to 4 or 5.

Yes as of this year.

They should be recognized for their performances, but let us not fabricate a longer history in which
they were averaging 70 every year but unfairly ignored. Not too long ago they both went through
very long and lean patches, of the kind which would have some PPers fire Sami Aslam from a cannon.

 

[Pete Rose]

Yes as of this year.

They should be recognized for their performances, but let us not fabricate a longer history in which
they were averaging 70 every year but unfairly ignored. Not too long ago they both went through
very long and lean patches, of the kind which would have some PPers fire Sami Aslam from a cannon.

You seem to be trying hard to downplay. Live the moment...life can be miserable otherwise.

 

[Rayyman]

azhar as good as kohli ah?

how do you figure?

When we talk about Fab 4, we talk about the best batsman in the next 5-6 years. Cook, Amla and others are too old for that. Remember, Azhar is an opener so he just has to average 45+ to be considered a great player. Not 50+ like the rest of the Fab 5.

 

[KhalidRafi]

Azhar is as good as Root, Smith, Kohli and Williamson. It's now a Fab 5.

Not yet. But he's getting there.
And tbh I thought it was a three person club - Smith, Root, Kohli

 

[AZulfi]

It was unspectacular attritional cricket from Pakistan but it was the need of the hour. Azhar and Asad did the job but I would like both to improve their strike rotation (infact all of our batsmen need to...). Azhar has a somewhat ungainly stance at the wicket. Asad is slightly more watchable.

Azhar Ali is all about grit and grind. Since making his debut in 2010, he has been remarkably consistent with the bat averaging 50 plus in every calendar year bar 2013 (when like most Pak batsmen he failed in South Africa!)

I would argue that none of our current batsmen are attractive to watch; certainly not as exciting or fluent as batsmen of yesteryear. Zaheer Abbas was the epitome of grace and style at the crease. His timing was sublime. Others (from memory): Majid Khan, Wasim Raja, Saleem Malik, Saeed Anwar and Yousuf. Even Miandad (unorthodox style) and Inzi (more power than grace) were more watchable than the current lot.

Rain has marred what could have been an exciting contest. At least Pak should not lose the game from here.

 

[Buffet]

It was unspectacular attritional cricket from Pakistan

Rain, attritional cricket and some more expected rain has made it safe to not lose this test. Not a bad outcome with the last test favoring Pakistan the most out of all three pitches.

 

[UN talkz]

really best batsmen

these two guys are just superb.......azhar ali concentration is just amazing and guys shafiq technique is beauty to watch.

 

[AZulfi]

Rain, attritional cricket and some more expected rain has made it safe to not lose this test. Not a bad outcome with the last test favoring Pakistan the most out of all three pitches.

If Azhar and the tail can take us to 400 plus >>> a few early wickets in Australia's first innings and suddenly the game could become very interesting despite the weather...

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Azhar has a triple to his name.

Good for azhar

Let's see what he does in the second innings

 

[Sachin136]

I'd be quite happy with my 'Tier 3' boys who help us draw the toughest foreign tours than having rock stars and super stars, in the team, who become proper tailenders when stepping out of their comfort zones.

Kids can be happy with their T20 stars having the limelight while I'd have blokes who are mentally tough enough to grind out foreign test tours in places like Australia and England.

Nothing against any particular set of fans but I consider the test format the greatest cricket contest and a drawn series of Australia and England is bigger than a WT20 or a Champions Trophy!!

The only thing that comes close is the 50 over World Cup and that happens every four years so no biggie whatsoever

Which drawn tours are you talking about? Until now Pakistan only drew in England, and got humiliated in NZ.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Which drawn tours are you talking about? Until now Pakistan only drew in England, and got humiliated in NZ.

Indians are the last people who should talk about foreign tours...... You lot get humiliated everywhere

#Remember0-8

 

[street cricketer]

He might not be flamboyant, but has by far the most mettle in this Pakistan team.

I've said it already earlier here. Most Pakistan batsmen have a very good temperament, but are very poor in batting time to save a test on the last day. If Pakistan end up saving this, it will be due to the efforts of Azhar Ali.

The duo should take responsibility now.

 

[Mamoon]

Important series for them, but Shafiq would like another big score in Sydney. Azhar has played at an exceptional level and has settled the debate regarding who our best Test batsman is.