Azhar Ali or Imam-ul-Haq - Who should open for Pakistan in ODIs if both are fit?

[Ahson8]

Azhar did quite well in the CT but missed out vs Sri Lanka because of injury while Imam did well in the SL series. So it begs the question, who should Pakistan go with if Azhar is fit and available for the NZ series ?

I’d go for Azhar tbh; I think his experience will count in NZ.

 

[zain7077]

Azhar did quite well in the CT but missed out vs Sri Lanka because of injury while Imam did well in the SL series. So it begs the question, who should Pakistan go with if Azhar is fit and available for the NZ series ?

I’d go for Azhar tbh; I think his experience will count in NZ.

Amin? Always felt his game is tailor made for opening the innings.

 

[Ahson8]

Amin? Always felt his game is tailor made for opening the innings.

Dont think he’ll be in the ODI squad.

 

[Extra_Cover]

Amin is easily more fluent strokemaker than both Azhar and Imam. Azhar and Imam will both however make a huge difference to out test opening pair.

 

[hadi123]

Azhar Ali. Can't have an experienced batsman like him warming the bench if he is in the next squad which he will be if fit after his good CT. Also, right hand left hand combination.

 

[proud_pakistani]

Umar Amin is the most fluid and natural batsman in the team and perhaps the best batsman in Pakistan along with the likes of Babar Azam and Haris Sohail. He had issues with temperament and seemed unsure of his shots but seems like a more confident guy now. Although, Imam scored a century I think he still needs to develop a little more to be a full time feature in this team. For now Amin is the best option.

 

[ads101]

Still think opening with Babar is the way forward, the fact that he is a right hander helps too as it gives a right-left combination.

Haris should be at 3, and Umar Amin can fit in at 6 with Sarfraz at 4.

Imam and Azhar should be our opening pair.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Still think opening with Babar is the way forward, the fact that he is a right hander helps too as it gives a right-left combination.

Haris should be at 3, and Umar Amin can fit in at 6 with Sarfraz at 4.

Imam and Azhar should be our opening pair.

In ODI’s?That would be a disaster!

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Both should be in the squad.Imam should be in the XI

 

[Abdul]

Azhar.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Neither

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

Can't believe people are supporting UA a TTF with pathetic ODI stats and his list A average is mediocre as well

I would pick Imam over him anyday...Azhar is our hero too he performed in both the KO matches

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

Umar Amin is the most fluid and natural batsman in the team and perhaps the best batsman in Pakistan along with the likes of Babar Azam and Haris Sohail. He had issues with temperament and seemed unsure of his shots but seems like a more confident guy now. Although, Imam scored a century I think he still needs to develop a little more to be a full time feature in this team. For now Amin is the best option.

It doesn't matter if he is 'fluid' or 'natural'...his job is to score runs which he has not been able to do
His ODI stats are humiliating and his list A average is mediocre..
Imam is hundred times better..performed in Australia in 2012 plus is much younger..

 

[ads101]

In ODI’s?That would be a disaster!

I meant Imam and Azhar in tests should be our opening pair.

In ODIs it'd be Babar and Fakhar.

 

[goran]

Though Imam shows more aggression and is slightly better than Azhar, he is still not the dasher we need at the top of the order. I can't see him scoring quick runs. But he still has an edge over Azhar and should be preferred.

 

[Ahson8]

Neither

For the NZ series it’s gonna be one of these two

 

[Syed1]

Azhar should only be opening if we are planning on drawing a one-dayer...

 

[Ahson8]

Azhar should only be opening if we are planning on drawing a one-dayer...

Just like we did in the CT ? The guy was our second best batsman after Fakhar.

 

[Syed1]

Just like we did in the CT ? The guy was our second best batsman after Fakhar.

Only in the final. Care to tell me what was he doing in the matches before that? The only reason Azhar continued playing was that the only other option for opener in the squad was Ahmed Shehzad and he was even worse.

 

[Ahson8]

Only in the final. Care to tell me what was he doing in the matches before that? The only reason Azhar continued playing was that the only other option for opener in the squad was Ahmed Shehzad and he was even worse.

Pretty sure he was the highest run scorer in the semi too. Got a 50 vs India in the opening game and had an overall average of 45, which I think is pretty good.

 

[Rana]

Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman combo was brilliant for 3/4 games in which we won the CT. So I dont think we should change that combination. Azhar is the guy that can bat through and Fakhar can play his aggressive way. The only Problem I see is Azhar and Babar batting together at a pace of 3.5-4.5 runs per over in at least 10 overs of the game if they are paired up.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

For the NZ series it’s gonna be one of these two

sadly yes

If it was up to me it would be Amin. I don't expect miracles but he can maintain a decent strike rate

Down the track Farhan obviously. Shazaib depending on what happens with his case should also be considered




anyone who thinks Azhar or Imam is a long term solution are kidding themselves.

Almost every successful team have two openers who can score briskly.

We don't need someone who meanders along at a strike of 60 for the majority of the innings, that too primarily through hitting boundaries rather then rotating strike.


Our limited overs batting is a disaster waiting to happen

 

[Ahson8]

sadly yes

If it was up to me it would be Amin. I don't expect miracles but he can maintain a decent strike rate

Down the track Farhan obviously. Shazaib depending on what happens with his case should also be considered




anyone who thinks Azhar or Imam is a long term solution are kidding themselves.

Almost every successful team have two openers who can score briskly.

We don't need someone who meanders along at a strike of 60 for the majority of the innings, that too primarily through hitting boundaries rather then rotating strike.


Our limited overs batting is a disaster waiting to happen

Down the line I’d go with Farhan too but atm realistically it’s between one of these two and in NZ conditions, I’d go for Azhar anyday.

 

[Syed1]

sadly yes

If it was up to me it would be Amin. I don't expect miracles but he can maintain a decent strike rate

Down the track Farhan obviously. Shazaib depending on what happens with his case should also be considered




anyone who thinks Azhar or Imam is a long term solution are kidding themselves.

Almost every successful team have two openers who can score briskly.

We don't need someone who meanders along at a strike of 60 for the majority of the innings, that too primarily through hitting boundaries rather then rotating strike.


Our limited overs batting is a disaster waiting to happen

Good point... folks like Azhar need to charge the bowlers and be innovative to play at SR of 60-70. Amin yesterday was playing after a gap of 3-4 years and after the initial jitters he was rotating the strike with as much ease as a seasoned pro like Malik. Heck Amin was even rotating the strike alot easier than Bobby.

 

[New Yorker]

Azhar did quite well in the CT but missed out vs Sri Lanka because of injury while Imam did well in the SL series. So it begs the question, who should Pakistan go with if Azhar is fit and available for the NZ series ?

I’d go for Azhar tbh; I think his experience will count in NZ.

i can't see much difference, in terms of what they offer. both are fairly slow, low SR players in LOIs, azhar looks the more reliable bet by now. another reason for why imam's selection makes little sense. unless the idea was to make sure whoever replaced azhar would not pose a threat to his place.

 

[ManFan]

Amin is what's needed at the top. He rotates strike beautifully and can strike a boundary too. Imam faces a SR problem like Shehzad. Management will persist with him but I think he will struggle in NZ.

 

[ads101]

i can't see much difference, in terms of what they offer. both are fairly slow, low SR players in LOIs, azhar looks the more reliable bet by now. another reason for why imam's selection makes little sense. unless the idea was to make sure whoever replaced azhar would not pose a threat to his place.

Pretty sure this was the reason to why Shehzad was selected to replace Azhar, and then Imam to replace Shehzad. Was just supposed to be a stop gap until Azhar came back. I think they were expected to fail/score slowly.

 

[proud_pakistani]

It doesn't matter if he is 'fluid' or 'natural'...his job is to score runs which he has not been able to do
His ODI stats are humiliating and his list A average is mediocre..
Imam is hundred times better..performed in Australia in 2012 plus is much younger..

Imam isn’t ready. There’s nothing about his stroke play which suggests he is ready for ODIs. Amin on the other hand has had his share of failures. He has gone back to domestics, improved his technique and temperament and in that one innings I can say he is easily a better option over Azhar and Imam in ODIs. As for the stats of domestics, I don’t really trust them and they are highly misleading. We need to judge players on how they can perform on the international circuit and very importantly what strike rate can they maintain.

 

[New Yorker]

Pretty sure this was the reason to why Shehzad was selected to replace Azhar, and then Imam to replace Shehzad. Was just supposed to be a stop gap until Azhar came back. I think they were expected to fail/score slowly.

and possibly indicative of management's strategic thinking; they want one steady accumulator always in place

 

[New Yorker]

Imam isn’t ready. There’s nothing about his stroke play which suggests he is ready for ODIs. Amin on the other hand has had his share of failures. He has gone back to domestics, improved his technique and temperament and in that one innings I can say he is easily a better option over Azhar and Imam in ODIs. As for the stats of domestics, I don’t really trust them and they are highly misleading. We need to judge players on how they can perform on the international circuit and very importantly what strike rate can they maintain.

we should trust what you believe to know from one innings but disregard years of performance in domestics?
what evidence do you have for domestic stats being misleading? how many players who average a mediocre 35 something in LA cricket for a decent period of time have gone on to become beasts in internationals? why would one expect someone who middles along when the going is relatively easy to excel when standards are higher? sure we need to judge players on how they perform on the international circuit, and amin blew his first chance big time. lest we start going back to the akmals, on the ground that international failure does not matter, others should also have their turn. i wish amin all the best but my hopes are not high for him. don't know what more sahibzada has to do to get a nod.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Imam isn’t ready. There’s nothing about his stroke play which suggests he is ready for ODIs. Amin on the other hand has had his share of failures. He has gone back to domestics, improved his technique and temperament and in that one innings I can say he is easily a better option over Azhar and Imam in ODIs. As for the stats of domestics, I don’t really trust them and they are highly misleading. We need to judge players on how they can perform on the international circuit and very importantly what strike rate can they maintain.

Imam isn’t ready and doesn’t have the stroke play yet has outperformed Amin at the international level already.

Unless you count being a catastrophic failure as a performance.

And before you say that Imam played against weak opposition,Amin played and failed vs Zimbabwe and WI.

Seriously,I have no ill will towards Amin and I wish him all the best.I agree that he was hard done by in selection matters,but to discredit Imam in favour of Amin is laughable.

 

[Rana]

On the other hand, people are going nuts with the prospects of Umar Amin based on one decent (not extraordinary) performance on a flat track against a sub standard bowling attack.

I would urge fans to be a bit more realistic for the sake of Umar Amin at least

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

Imam isn’t ready. There’s nothing about his stroke play which suggests he is ready for ODIs. Amin on the other hand has had his share of failures. He has gone back to domestics, improved his technique and temperament and in that one innings I can say he is easily a better option over Azhar and Imam in ODIs. As for the stats of domestics, I don’t really trust them and they are highly misleading. We need to judge players on how they can perform on the international circuit and very importantly what strike rate can they maintain.

Yes and we have all seen how umar performs in the international circuit....throws his wicket away when he is playing good

Scored 40 on a flat track and he is rated above our two openers

He can only dream of being as good as imam..at the age of 27 i do not think he needs any more coaching..

Btw domestic stats are not misleading

All our good batsment have excellent domestic stats..

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

On the other hand, people are going nuts with the prospects of Umar Amin based on one decent (not extraordinary) performance on a flat track against a sub standard bowling attack.

I would urge fans to be a bit more realistic for the sake of Umar Amin at least

Exactly cannot imagine this guy is getting so much praise

He is becoming another umar akmal just because of his so called natural stroke play..his average is mediocre and he is a choker

I can never forgive him how threw his wicket away when we were chasing totals vs Australia and SA that triggered a collapse..

 

[Hamza78]

Azhar deserves he’s a change batsman

 

[Syed1]

[/B]

we should trust what you believe to know from one innings but disregard years of performance in domestics?
what evidence do you have for domestic stats being misleading? how many players who average a mediocre 35 something in LA cricket for a decent period of time have gone on to become beasts in internationals? why would one expect someone who middles along when the going is relatively easy to excel when standards are higher? sure we need to judge players on how they perform on the international circuit, and amin blew his first chance big time. lest we start going back to the akmals, on the ground that international failure does not matter, others should also have their turn. i wish amin all the best but my hopes are not high for him. don't know what more sahibzada has to do to get a nod.

Maybe playing more than 9 list A matches would be a start

 

[New Yorker]

Maybe playing more than 9 list A matches would be a start

great, so 5 more List A matches for him and the magical line has been crossed? because we have such an embarrassment of consistent yet fast scoring openers waiting in line before him?

how many list a matches did shadab khan have under his belt when he got his first chance? or usman shinwari?

 

[hailian]

Azhar is a class player and should be preferred over struggling Fakhar Zaman.

 

[ads101]

Maybe playing more than 9 list A matches would be a start

)

True. I don't mind him being selected, but people have become a little ridiculous, guy is very young and hasn't played a lot of domestic cricket yet. There's plenty of time to bring him in. I'm not even sure he's even played much at U19 Pak or Pak A (or any).

I usually prefer players who have had decent experience at domestic first, as it means they learn what they can from domestic already and are used to performing day in day out. I doubt in 9 matches he's got everything good he can from domestic.

 

[ExpressPacer]

)

True. I don't mind him being selected, but people have become a little ridiculous, guy is very young and hasn't played a lot of domestic cricket yet. There's plenty of time to bring him in. I'm not even sure he's even played much at U19 Pak or Pak A (or any).

I usually prefer players who have had decent experience at domestic first, as it means they learn what they can from domestic already and are used to performing day in day out. I doubt in 9 matches he's got everything good he can from domestic.

Exactly. PP'ers are overrating this guy to the moon and will most likely end up very disappointed and curse the selection committee and the PCB. Even Sami Aslam scored more runs than Farhan at a better strike rate, with more sixes and more hundreds in the very same tournament but he doesn't seem to be getting the hype for some reason.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Azhar Ali in NZ.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Still think opening with Babar is the way forward, the fact that he is a right hander helps too as it gives a right-left combination.

Haris should be at 3, and Umar Amin can fit in at 6 with Sarfraz at 4.

Imam and Azhar should be our opening pair.

looks like MISBAH strategy who plays top order batsman at 6 and 7 but opens with hafeez who has to bat at 6 or 7

 

[coy0607]

Azhar is NOT a good ODI batsmen, and has NO chance of improving at this late stage in his career

Imam may or may not be a good ODI batsmen- we don't know that yet. He's certainly off to a promising start
Regardless, he has a chance to improve over the next few years

 

[aloo paratha]

Azhar.

 

[Hasan123]

Azhar isn't an ODI player. Imam needs more game before we can give a fair assessment if he's an ODI player or not. I would rather play Umar Amin over both.

 

[babajee]

I was really impressed with Umar Amin yesterday. T20 is not his natural format but he rotated the strike beautifully and struck some nice boundaries as well.

He seems to be much more fluid than Imam and deserves another go in the national team on merit.

I’d go with Fakhar and Amin to open in NZ.

A top 4 of

Fakhar
Amin
Babar
Haris

looks very promising and exciting.

 

[proud_pakistani]

great, so 5 more List A matches for him and the magical line has been crossed? because we have such an embarrassment of consistent yet fast scoring openers waiting in line before him?

how many list a matches did shadab khan have under his belt when he got his first chance? or usman shinwari?

In ur reply to me you mention the importance of domestic performance and now to win an argument you have completely flipped ur stance.

 

[proud_pakistani]

Yes and we have all seen how umar performs in the international circuit....throws his wicket away when he is playing good

Scored 40 on a flat track and he is rated above our two openers

He can only dream of being as good as imam..at the age of 27 i do not think he needs any more coaching..

Btw domestic stats are not misleading

All our good batsment have excellent domestic stats..

Yes I think i have watched enough cricket in my lifetime to know which player to invest in. It is an opinion and we can agree to disagree. Yes there’s no doubting Amin has failed in the past but for me what is important is how he has evolved since then. He always had decent shots but got tied up as he could not find gaps. That is where his temperament was tested and he failed that. But now what I saw in the Pakistan Cup as well as in the one innings against Srilanka he is far more assured and confident of his batting. Even in one of his interviews in the Pakistan Cup he said I am making an effort to bat with a higher strike rate as I know we need a batsman like that in the Pakistan team. I want a player with that kind of attitude. Who is willing to take a role the team needs and work towards it.

Again Imam isn’t bad but he needs more work. Or else he will head the same direction as Ahmed Shehzad.

 

[Square Drive]

Imam has a higher ceiling.

He deserves it based on recent performances anyway.

Not to mention Azhar is having knee issues and I heard it could get long-term? Best to just keep him for Tests then.

 

[Ellipsism]

I was really impressed with Umar Amin yesterday. T20 is not his natural format but he rotated the strike beautifully and struck some nice boundaries as well.

He seems to be much more fluid than Imam and deserves another go in the national team on merit.

I’d go with Fakhar and Amin to open in NZ.

A top 4 of

Fakhar
Amin
Babar
Haris

looks very promising and exciting.

He's the LO version of Asad Shafiq. His mental game is non existent, and looks like a tail ender when things aren't going his way- which is the hall mark of a mediocre batsman. Thanks but no thanks.

 

[Hermoine Green]

None. both are not suited for LOI team.

 

[Extra_Cover]

)

True. I don't mind him being selected, but people have become a little ridiculous, guy is very young and hasn't played a lot of domestic cricket yet. There's plenty of time to bring him in. I'm not even sure he's even played much at U19 Pak or Pak A (or any).

I usually prefer players who have had decent experience at domestic first, as it means they learn what they can from domestic already and are used to performing day in day out. I doubt in 9 matches he's got everything good he can from domestic.

Imam played at U19 level and performed quite well. Infact Sami, Imam and Babar were the top 3 at U19 level and scored bulk of Pakistan runs in WC.

I agree with the point that we should be nurture the talent of Imam rather than simply throwing him in international matches and if he doesn't perform then sent to wilderness. I still believe these 3 U19 top 3 players are our future at least in tests. I want Sami and Imam to be part of Pakistan test squads and groomed for future.

As far as ODIs are concerned, I think at the moment Imam would fail in NZ matches and other overseas tours. ODIs have developed and changed a lot over the years best to give him time at domestics so he can return to internationals a much better and improved player. He is young and got plenty of time at hand. My only concern being him failing at next tours and then discarded for good 2-3 years.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Both dont have the shots or the make up in their game to be long term success at top of the order in ODIs. Umar Amin should be looked at or even shove babar to the top of the order and get haris sohail in at number 3 in ODIs.

 

[munirnadeem]

Azhar did quite well in the CT but missed out vs Sri Lanka because of injury while Imam did well in the SL series. So it begs the question, who should Pakistan go with if Azhar is fit and available for the NZ series ?

I’d go for Azhar tbh; I think his experience will count in NZ.

Agreed azhar as he has played in moving conditions. Imam played in uae slow tracks.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

One of them goes on to score big scores at a slow rate. The other one scores small scores without taking up too many deliveries. Both are equally harmful when they play their "natural game"

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I would give Imam the longer rope.He is 11 years younger than Azhar.He will improve his SR with time.

 

[InziRules]

Easily Imam Ul Haq. Might not be as "cute" a player as some others but still better than Azhar. [MENTION=70365]Ahson8[/MENTION]

 

[hussain.r97]

Neither should be considered for now, we need to explore other options. But if I really had to pick, I would pick Azhar. Imam's inning today was just awful.

 

[hadi123]

Not a fan of either of them for ODI's but Imam's innings today has cemented his place unless he fails miserably in rest of this series. Imagine chasing 380 against India in the Asia Cup and he comes out to bat.

 

[chinaman00]

A decent side will not allow Imam to score a 50, let alone a century after a horrid start. He was consistently being beaten by an inexperienced Zimbabwean bowler and on many occasions made to look extremely mediocre. Unless Pakistan can find a Sharjeel khan type batsman, the best option is to pair Fakhar with Azhar Ali. He provides an important stability and experience at the top and his record in England isn’t too bad. It’s disconcerting that Pakistan’s ODI team is yet to be settled with few months before the World rd Cup. A disaster in the making, really.

 

[Plumb]

Neither.... I wish Sharjeel could partner with Fakhar

 

[The_Odd_One]

Azhar does not do anything that Imam cannot in ODIs despite being at least a decade younger.

 

[Greenstorm]

Neither one. Harris and Farhan are better options.