Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq - The 35 & 34 year old future of Pakistan batting!

[Slog]

Misbah’s late career resurgence where he was a fixture in the team from the ages of 36 to 42 has to be one of the most damaging legacies for Pakistan cricket in the long-term.

These two batsmen have perennially been the future of the pakistan side and have been totally unwilling to take any responsibility even after the departures of Misbah and Younis.

Both have been averaging in the 20s and below for a couple of years now with little impactful scores but instead of talk of them being dropped one has been awarded the captaincy and the other being backed to come good again.

What really angers me is that there literally is no acknowledgment that they are in the final stages of their career. If you couldn’t check their ages on the internet you would think they are in their 20s

 

[Junaids]

Azhar Mahmood on BBC Radio after the First Test excused Azhar Ali’s inept and timid captaincy by claiming that “he’s just a youngster”.

 

[King_Kohli]

Azhar Ali in Tests outside Asia since 2018:
19 inns
232 runs
12 avg
1 fifty

 

[unemployedgm]

Never good enough.

 

[coy0607]

Can't just look at their numbers in a vacuum. You have to account for the fact that they are both good and decent men, it is a gentlemen's game after all

Anyone who looks at pure batting numbers doesn't understand Test cricket

 

[Bhaijaan]

Azhar played well today. Took the shine off the new ball.

Now the onus is on middle order to cash in on a good foundation.

 

[Slog]

I was watching Azhar Ali’s interview few months ago where he was talking about 4-5 years left

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Please kick them both out the team Misbah. I trust you to do so...

 

[Savak]

We hired an Indian girl a year ago as a full time live in caregiver. She was very efficient, effective in the first few months and we treated her, giving her almost everything just like a member of the family. However in the last few months, her work ethic has dropped so significantly to the point where she eventually started doing the very bare minimum work around the house and where she was sleeping in the living room in the morning or afternoons and today my dad had enough and told her to pack up her things and leave within one week while we are searching for a replacement.

Moral of the story is that our captains, selectors needed to be a lot tougher with the likes of Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq. There is a reason why their averages have dropped from the high 40's to the 30's now.

 

[Pacy with wisdom]

Please kick them both out the team Misbah. I trust you to do so...

He should kick himself out first. He is the reason that these two acha bachas are still there, and one of them has been made captain instead of being dropped.

 

[shamaan]

Azhar defo needs to be dropped his technique is now awful

 

[IMMY69]

I remain flabbergasted..... It seems unless you're Babar Azam, the age criteria for a batsman has to be 30+.. Furthermore, it helps your cause if you've already been playing for 10 years and averaging below 40 overall and in the single digits if the games are overseas.

We have literally wasted the last 4 or 5 years not selecting the right players for the right format.

Talat Hussain & Umar Amin are just two examples... Both middle order left handers with good techniques only selected to play T20's and then dropped altogether. What on earth is that about?

Imam Ul Haq is a million times better investment as an opener then Abid Ali.. For one thing he's got ten years over him in age so why not persist with him?

 

[Hasan123]

Will Misbah drop Azhar and Asad?

After this series the futures of Azhar and Asad need to be questioned. They have had enough time to prove themselves and they haven't.

We all know they need to go. But the worry I have is will Misbah dropped them when he has been instrumental in them getting such a long run in the team?

I fear Misbah is going to stick with them for a while yet. If Misbah drops these 2 it shows he is capable of making tough decisions ( it's an easy decision for us but Misbah loves them so it's a tough decision for him).

 

[MMHS]

You should think about the other option as well - Azhar sacked as Captain and replaced by Asad, or MoHa......

 

[Hasan123]

You should think about the other option as well - Azhar sacked as Captain and replaced by Asad, or MoHa......

Hafeez has retired from tests. Don't see him coming back.

I think if Azhar is sacked or stands down as captain Shan or Babar would take over.

 

[shamaan]

After this series the futures of Azhar and Asad need to be questioned. They have had enough time to prove themselves and they haven't.

We all know they need to go. But the worry I have is will Misbah dropped them when he has been instrumental in them getting such a long run in the team?

I fear Misbah is going to stick with them for a while yet. If Misbah drops these 2 it shows he is capable of making tough decisions ( it's an easy decision for us but Misbah loves them so it's a tough decision for him).

Who will make the decision wasim khan or that older guy or the coaches

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I was watching Azhar Ali’s interview few months ago where he was talking about 4-5 years left

Lol .. you people are in for a ride

 

[Suleiman]

Agreed. Everyone in Pakistan coming through at 33-35 thinks they can be the next Misbah and Younis, yet none of them have that level of fitness, or grit to grind through in a match.

These weak willed fools need to retire already. No skill, no stones in them to fight it out- you need to have a level of mental toughness if you’re going to go against nature in fading reflexes and whatnot and play into and past your mid 30s.

 

[Slog]

Agreed. Everyone in Pakistan coming through at 33-35 thinks they can be the next Misbah and Younis, yet none of them have that level of fitness, or grit to grind through in a match.

These weak willed fools need to retire already. No skill, no stones in them to fight it out- you need to have a level of mental toughness if you’re going to go against nature in fading reflexes and whatnot and play into and past your mid 30s.

lmao Ahmed shehzad said he can represent Pakistan for ANOTHER 12 years

Officially he is 28 and Im sure unofficially few years older

 

[Suleiman]

lmao Ahmed shehzad said he can represent Pakistan for ANOTHER 12 years

Officially he is 28 and Im sure unofficially few years older

If he remodels himself into a one-down bat, no telling how far he can go. I’ll say he is an exception.

 

[ElRaja]

we seem to be forgetting misbah was using his real age, apart from shan in this team, i would doubt anyone else is.

 

[Junaids]

we seem to be forgetting misbah was using his real age, apart from shan in this team, i would doubt anyone else is.

That is such a good point!

 

[Bewal Express]

2 average players given the long rope as if they are 2 ATGs just going through a bad spell. Poor by Misbah but not surprising

 

[Bewal Express]

That is such a good point!

AA is close to 40.

 

[Kaddy]

lmao Ahmed shehzad said he can represent Pakistan for ANOTHER 12 years

Officially he is 28 and Im sure unofficially few years older

Now a days, every Pakistani player wants to play till 40.

Shoaib is 'Officially' 38 and still playing

Hafeez will be Officially 40 in 2 months and still playing

Kamran Akmal is 38 and still cries for selection.

Salman Butt, who will be Officially 36 in two months, was showing disappointment on twitter when he was not selected for England tour.

Even last year Azhar Ali, during an interview, expressed his desire to play for another 4 to 5 years.

 

[Bewal Express]

Now a days, every Pakistani player wants to play till 40.

Shoaib is 'Officially' 38 and still playing

Hafeez will be Officially 40 in 2 months and still playing

Kamran Akmal is 38 and still cries for selection.

Salman Butt, who will be Officially 36 in two months, was showing disappointment on twitter when he was not selected for England tour.

Even last year Azhar Ali, during an interview, expressed his desire to play for another 4 to 5 years.

They have to earn a living and I don't have a problem with that, my problem is with idiots that select them.

 

[King_Kohli]

Misbha has set the bench mark , everyone wants to play till 40.

He inspiring many

 

[King_Kohli]

Now a days, every Pakistani player wants to play till 40.

Shoaib is 'Officially' 38 and still playing

Hafeez will be Officially 40 in 2 months and still playing

Kamran Akmal is 38 and still cries for selection.

Salman Butt, who will be Officially 36 in two months, was showing disappointment on twitter when he was not selected for England tour.

Even last year Azhar Ali, during an interview, expressed his desire to play for another 4 to 5 years.

Surprised to see that he still playing. How he is doing in domestic cricket?
is there any chance to comeback to international cricket?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Surprised to see that he still playing. How he is doing in domestic cricket?
is there any chance to comeback to international cricket?

He’s doing decently well actually in domestic, but he definitely won’t be getting a comeback any time soon. He also plays various T10 leagues.

 

[Kaddy]

Surprised to see that he still playing. How he is doing in domestic cricket?
is there any chance to comeback to international cricket?

He is still playing domestic cricket regularly. Infact he was the third highest run scorer in the last season.

As far as his comeback is concerned, i doubt he will ever play for Pakistan again.

He isn't very popular among Pakistani fans plus he is too old now. So, selectors and Pcb will have to face public wrath if they select him now.