Azhar Mahmood Appreciation Thread

[yokoonodie]

Believe it or not, a few months back Pakistan seemed to have one of the worst bowling attacks in the world. When Pakistan opened the bowling with Imad Wasim in the first India match my heart sunk, seeing the fast bowling legacy down the drain, opening with a spinner in England, no one would have thought what the next two weeks had in store for us.

In a post match interview Azhar said he didnt transform the bowlers overnight, he has been working on their game awareness more than their techniques and it has taken him 6 months to do that, he mentioned he hasnt even started working on their techniques yet.

Azhad Mahmood has brought back the 90s mentality to Pakistans fast bowling and just isnt getting enough credit after this win, Mickey deserves all the accolades but what Azhar has done will result not only in Pakistan winning many more matches, but inspiring generations of kids to want to be a Pakistani fast bowler again, the talent was always there, but bowlers have just started learning the good old Pakistani mentality of Fast bowling.

In this era when the team which conceded 445 runs in an innings, restricts oppositions like SA, SRI, END and IND under 250 runs, not only that bowl most of them out, their coach deserves an unlimited amount of praise.

 

[yokoonodie]

Azhar Mahmood will be the key in preparing the bowlers for the 2019 WC since he has played with almost 7 countys, truly the best man for the Bowling Coach role, hope Mickey Azhar and Sarfi can form a strong bond and leave a long lasting legacy.

He also mentioned that he helped Hasan to get a county contract, now Junaid, Aamir and Hasan will all be playing county cricket in England.

Hoping he can get Babar and Haris contract as well

 

[yokoonodie]

There was a thread a few days back where someone said why Mohammad Aamir doesnt run in with the same intensity every game.

Azhar also mentioned that Aamir according to him is only operating on 70% potential, not always running in and for some reason holding himself back and hopes to work with Aamir on that issue

 

[Pete Rose]

We should appreciate Azhar Mahmood but please for the love of god stop talking about 90's mentality, or aggressive mentality and all this unmeasurable rubbish. Azhar Mahmood has been very in his various interview about the fact and data based approach he has used to improve our bowlers. Don't be swayed by our dime-a-dozen tv analysts who indulge in lazy stereotyping.

 

[yokoonodie]

We should appreciate Azhar Mahmood but please for the love of god stop talking about 90's mentality, or aggressive mentality and all this unmeasurable rubbish. Azhar Mahmood has been very in his various interview about the fact and data based approach he has used to improve our bowlers. Don't be swayed by our dime-a-dozen tv analysts who indulge in lazy stereotyping.

No one is being swayed away by tv analysts. The 90s saw Pakistani bowlers looking for wickets at all times, then came an era in Pak cricket where we only looked to contain the opposition from one end and hoping ajmal would deliver from the other, when Ajmal got banned Pak started struggling.

Pakistani fast bowlers before Azhar Mahmood forgot how to take wickets, you can pull out the stats.

Azhar has played with the likes of Wasim, Waqar, Akhtar, Razzak at his peak, Zahid and knows how a fast bowler needs to take wickets.

How many times did Pak manage to bowl the opposition out before the champions trophy where all the bowlers did was look to take wickets, other than imad and hafeez who were there to stop the runs, every bowler was used as an attacking option.

Azhar hasnt taken a data based approach, not sure where you came up with that, read his interview on cricinfo, he has clearly mentioned it has been all about tactics, plans and defining the right roles.

 

[yokoonodie]

Watch his interview with the local channel where he specifically mentions that he's going back to the good old blue print of attack and demolish for Pakistani fast bowlers which is why they have started to bowl the opposition out again.

 

[proud_pakistani]

Azhar has done a great job. Really must be given credit. He's actually been a better bowling coach than Waqar.

 

[Pete Rose]

No one is being swayed away by tv analysts. The 90s saw Pakistani bowlers looking for wickets at all times, then came an era in Pak cricket where we only looked to contain the opposition from one end and hoping ajmal would deliver from the other, when Ajmal got banned Pak started struggling.

Pakistani fast bowlers before Azhar Mahmood forgot how to take wickets, you can pull out the stats.

Azhar has played with the likes of Wasim, Waqar, Akhtar, Razzak at his peak, Zahid and knows how a fast bowler needs to take wickets.

How many times did Pak manage to bowl the opposition out before the champions trophy where all the bowlers did was look to take wickets, other than imad and hafeez who were there to stop the runs, every bowler was used as an attacking option.

Azhar hasnt taken a data based approach, not sure where you came up with that, read his interview on cricinfo, he has clearly mentioned it has been all about tactics, plans and defining the right roles.

He has been very clear that as an example no balls were minimized partly because he managed to get an electronic device that he uses to monitor their run ups and calls out no-ball.
But sure this fantasy: before we were not trying to take wickets, and now we are trying take wickets - sounds legitimate.

 

[Hasan123]

He has done a really good job. This is what happens when you hire a professional coach with coaching qualifications.

 

[Khwaja]

Azhar Mahmoud...

He should teach bowlers to shatter stumps... we haven't seen that for a while...

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Had it been a Waqar Younis or a Wasim Akram Pakistanis would have been giving that person credit thousand times over. Before the CT Azhar was just an ok allrounder or not aggressive enough for most people here.

It's just like how Grant Flower never gets appreciated while Azhar, Asad, YK are very positive about him. One bad serie and Flower, Azhar are the main villains yet again.

By the way Azhar was amazing with the Karachi Kings team as well. Wouldn't surprise me if the ECB poaches him for the England team.

 

[Khwaja]

Had it been a Waqar Younis or a Wasim Akram Pakistanis would have been giving that person credit thousand times over. Before the CT Azhar was just an ok allrounder or not aggressive enough for most people here.

It's just like how Grant Flower never gets appreciated while Azhar, Asad, YK are very positive about him. One bad serie and Flower, Azhar are the main villains yet again.

By the way Azhar was amazing with the Karachi Kings team as well. Wouldn't surprise me if the ECB poaches him for the England team.

wait... Azhar is not working for PCB?? PCB should give him a contract... What a shame if England hires him..

 

[The_Odd_One]

Azhar Mehmood has done more in 6 months than Waqar ever did in like 4 years.

 

[Hamza_]

Some solid points from [MENTION=107807]Pete Rose[/MENTION] in this thread which people must realize and consider.

 

[Savak]

Proving the difference between appointing a legend as a coach and appointing a guy who has been through the mill in the ground and acquired coaching degrees, certificates and experience.

 

[mak36]

The future is looking bright- impressed with Azhar so far.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Go unnecessary hate from clueless people and now he's proving them wrong

 

[YousafTheBeast]

One of the best all-rounders and most experienced Pakistani player in domestic t20s, good variations with the ball yet you wonder what he’s been doing with Shinwari

 

[Abdullah719]

He had done a reasonable job with minimising no-balls.

Pakistan have bowled plenty today.

 

[aukhan]

I don't know how good he was as bowling coach but Waqar will make him look like Million bucks.

 

[Titan24]

I don't know how good he was as bowling coach but Waqar will make him look like Million bucks.

People are too early too judge. There is a difference between having experienced bowlers like Amir and Wahab in tests and having newbies. Even with them we werent able to win a single test in SENA except in Eng.

Give the new management a year and then we would be in a better position to judge.

 

[Markhor]

People are too early too judge. There is a difference between having experienced bowlers like Amir and Wahab in tests and having newbies. Even with them we werent able to win a single test in SENA except in Eng.

Give the new management a year and then we would be in a better position to judge.

Waqar has been previously involved in coaching roles with Pakistan on four different occasions. Not sure how many more chances he needs until we all suss that he's a great player but not a great coach.

 

[Titan24]

Waqar has been previously involved in coaching roles with Pakistan on four different occasions. Not sure how many more chances he needs until we all suss that he's a great player but not a great coach.

As a bowling coach in 2000s he was pretty decent with Rana Naveed and Gul producing reverse swinging yorkers. As a head coach was ordinary - though I think Amir was progressing well under him in 2010, but as a specialist bowling coach I cant think of many better names in Pakistan. Mohammad Akram was exceptional for the first half of his tenure with and then things started to godownhill. Hassan Ali looked a much better bowler for PZ under Akram in PSL 2019 before loosing it completely with national team.

I am up for having Shane Bond, Allan Donald, David Saker or Ian Pont etc if they are available. However, there arent many proven bowling coaches at international level too.

But, definitely an all rounder like Azhar Mehmood who wasnt an express pacer himself isnt and wasnt the best option. Specialists are needed for this role as you can see from successful bowling coaches around as well.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

As a bowling coach in 2000s he was pretty decent with Rana Naveed and Gul producing reverse swinging yorkers. As a head coach was ordinary - though I think Amir was progressing well under him in 2010, but as a specialist bowling coach I cant think of many better names in Pakistan. Mohammad Akram was exceptional for the first half of his tenure with and then things started to godownhill. Hassan Ali looked a much better bowler for PZ under Akram in PSL 2019 before loosing it completely with national team.

I am up for having Shane Bond, Allan Donald, David Saker or Ian Pont etc if they are available. However, there arent many proven bowling coaches at international level too.

But, definitely an all rounder like Azhar Mehmood who wasnt an express pacer himself isnt and wasnt the best option. Specialists are needed for this role as you can see from successful bowling coaches around as well.

Mohammad Akram was ever good? I remember in like 2014 he was poor and everyone wanted him out. For pakistan NT.

 

[Titan24]

Mohammad Akram was ever good? I remember in like 2014 he was poor and everyone wanted him out. For pakistan NT.

2014 was his and team's downhill time I was referring to. Pak won in India (2012) and first time ever in SA (2013) and bowling was exceptional in both those tours with Junaid and Irfan leading it. Test bowling also did well during that time.

 

[Abdullah719]

As a bowling coach in 2000s he was pretty decent with Rana Naveed and Gul producing reverse swinging yorkers. As a head coach was ordinary - though I think Amir was progressing well under him in 2010, but as a specialist bowling coach I cant think of many better names in Pakistan. Mohammad Akram was exceptional for the first half of his tenure with and then things started to godownhill. Hassan Ali looked a much better bowler for PZ under Akram in PSL 2019 before loosing it completely with national team.

I am up for having Shane Bond, Allan Donald, David Saker or Ian Pont etc if they are available. However, there arent many proven bowling coaches at international level too.

But, definitely an all rounder like Azhar Mehmood who wasnt an express pacer himself isnt and wasnt the best option. Specialists are needed for this role as you can see from successful bowling coaches around as well.

Bharat Arun barely played any international cricket and was a medium pacer.

By all accounts, he is an exceptional bowling coach.

Not saying the same applies for Azhar Mahmood but coaching is a specialisation in itself and coaches' reputations should depend on their coaching achievements and abilities, and need to be disconnected from their playing career.

 

[Titan24]

Bharat Arun barely played any international cricket and was a medium pacer.

By all accounts, he is an exceptional bowling coach.

Not saying the same applies for Azhar Mahmood but coaching is a specialisation in itself and coaches' reputations should depend on their coaching achievements and abilities, and need to be disconnected from their playing career.

Agreed Baharat Arun is an exceptional coach. Surprisingly he was also an all rounder to an extent with 4 FC centuries. So yes I agree that playing career should have no influence when judging coaches.