Battle for #6: Babar Azam vs Sharjeel Khan vs Mohammad Rizwan

[Rayyman]

Mohammad Nawaz hasn't been great in his first few matches, so it looks like Pakistan will go with 6 batsman in the NZ series. The question is: Who will bat at #6?

Babar Azam had a good debut in the 1st Test match in Dubai; But he hasn't played a competitive match since, and he could be rusty. He is also a right-hander which might make the batting order one-dimensional.

Mohammad Rizwan has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket. He recently made a century, and will be eager to make his Test debut having been in the squad for a while now. He was also named in the XI for the tour match, so Mickey Arthur might go with him.

Sharjeel Khan is also in great form. He has been scoring runs in domestic cricket, and he is a good option at #6 when the second new ball is usually available. Sharjeel also adds a different dimension to the line-up, as he is left-handed and bats at a good strike-rate.

Imo Sharjeel should play in NZ. What do you guys think?

 

[moghul]

In the absence of a fast bowling all rounder, we need to go with 6 batsman and I don't think on current form anyone other than Babar deserves more.

 

[Rayyman]

In the absence of a fast bowling all rounder, we need to go with 6 batsman and I don't think on current form anyone other than Babar deserves more.

He hasn't played any match in almost a month now.

 

[aloo paratha]

Definitely Babar, that's what I would do and that's what I see Mickey and Misbah doing as well.

Sharjeel has been selected as backup opener, Rizwan is backup keeper, although he is good, I don't think there is space for him at the moment. He can come after Misbah retires since it's likely that Babar will come at 5 and our selectors won't ever select an all rounder anyways.

 

[aloo paratha]

He hasn't played any match in almost a month now.

In the off seasons, batsmen don't play games for these amounts of time too, doesn't mean they forget how to bat. I'm sure he's been practicing in the nets along with all the other test players.

 

[Rayyman]

Definitely Babar, that's what I would do and that's what I see Mickey and Misbah doing as well.

Sharjeel has been selected as backup opener, Rizwan is backup keeper, although he is good, I don't think there is space for him at the moment. He can come after Misbah retires since it's likely that Babar will come at 5 and our selectors won't ever select an all rounder anyways.

But #6 isn't a specialist spot. Anyone can bat there.

 

[aloo paratha]

But #6 isn't a specialist spot. Anyone can bat there.

So you want Sharjeel to bat there?? I don't know... Is he good enough for test cricket??

 

[Rayyman]

So you want Sharjeel to bat there?? I don't know... Is he good enough for test cricket??

Well they selected him, so yea I guess.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

It would be great if we can find a genuine allrounder to take this spot. And I believe we will. PCB and PSL teams have been really proactive in investing and developing young cricketers.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

It would be great if we can find a genuine allrounder to take this spot. And I believe we will. PCB and PSL teams have been really proactive in investing and developing young cricketers.

Hammad azam.. have a look at his domestic FC career...

 

[Slog]

Hammad azam.. have a look at his domestic FC career...

Have a look at any of his international matches

 

[Hasan123]

We should go with 4 bowlers as we don't have a seam bowling all rounder, i want Yamin to be given a chance so if were not selecting him we should just pick a specialist batsmen. So I would go with Babar Azam.

 

[MMHS]

It won't work that way - what Babar, Bradman would struggle if he has to come at 34/4 almost every time. PAK has to reorganize batting - YK & Misbah at 4/5 won't protect them against Aussie pacers when fresh.

These 2 senior batsmen has lots of experience & they can guide the batting - none of whom had traveled AUS (Sarfu played 1 Test I believe). Sharjeel can open, but I don't see any reason to drop Sami, unless he fails in NZ big time. Azhar, Sami, Babar, Asad, YK, Sarfu, Misbah will be my top 7 in that order. I'll keep Misbah at 7 for his slog swing with tail - it's clear that Sarfu can't add quick fire 100 with last 4/5 wickets; Misbah also might not do, but he has better chance to go after lesser pacers & spinners.

Top 4 has to be the best 4 batsmen with good reflex & eye sight - I'll bet my house, the ball that got Elgar last night, Misbah or YK won't have been able to block it even with their pads!!!!!!!

 

[mz123]

It won't work that way - what Babar, Bradman would struggle if he has to come at 34/4 almost every time. PAK has to reorganize batting - YK & Misbah at 4/5 won't protect them against Aussie pacers when fresh.

These 2 senior batsmen has lots of experience & they can guide the batting - none of whom had traveled AUS (Sarfu played 1 Test I believe). Sharjeel can open, but I don't see any reason to drop Sami, unless he fails in NZ big time. Azhar, Sami, Babar, Asad, YK, Sarfu, Misbah will be my top 7 in that order. I'll keep Misbah at 7 for his slog swing with tail - it's clear that Sarfu can't add quick fire 100 with last 4/5 wickets; Misbah also might not do, but he has better chance to go after lesser pacers & spinners.

Top 4 has to be the best 4 batsmen with good reflex & eye sight - I'll bet my house, the ball that got Elgar last night, Misbah or YK won't have been able to block it even with their pads!!!!!!!

nice suggestion, but believe me it will NEVER happen !

 

[aloo paratha]

It would be great if we can find a genuine allrounder to take this spot. And I believe we will. PCB and PSL teams have been really proactive in investing and developing young cricketers.

I want the same but I am honestly giving up, I don't even think they know Yamin exists anymore...

 

[mz123]

I want the same but I am honestly giving up, I don't even think they know Yamin exists anymore...

yamin is a poor bowler, especially in the longer format. Ammad Butt should be given a chance.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Only Babar Azam is the contender for number 6.

 

[Ellipsism]

Hammad azam.. have a look at his domestic FC career...

Shows how rubbish the Pakistani domestic scene is...

 

[Rayyman]

Only Babar Azam is the contender for number 6.

Rizwan was supposed to play in the tour game.

 

[aloo paratha]

yamin is a poor bowler, especially in the longer format. Ammad Butt should be given a chance.

Ammad is a poor bat, you're looking for a #6, batting is favored over bowling, plus all that Yamin needs to do is bowl us 10 overs a day, and now you that you brought up his stats, his bowling isn't even that bad, an average of 28, economy of 3 and a SR of 56, more than good enough for an all rounder who only needs to bowl us 10 overs.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Rizwan was supposed to play in the tour game.

To give Sarfraz Rest.

 

[Moiza]

Why would any team want a fielding liability in their team for 5 days, I don't know why is there even a case for sharjeel to play. If you consider his glaring weakness against the full ball then he shouldn't even be in the squad.

 

[Rayyman]

To give Sarfraz Rest.

Sarfraz was playing too.

 

[Justcrazy]

Babar MUST be played. He needs to be developed before Younis retires.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Obviously it's going to be Babar.

 

[Bilal7]

Definitely go with Babar at #6. Sharjeel is the X-factor opener we should unleash if we get destroyed in the first match. He's not a #6 player. Rizwan is a backup keeper and not a frontline batsman.

 

[Rayyman]

Definitely go with Babar at #6. Sharjeel is the X-factor opener we should unleash if we get destroyed in the first match. He's not a #6 player. Rizwan is a backup keeper and not a frontline batsman.

Why isn't he a #6 player?

 

[Square Drive]

Sharjeel at 6?

Babar.

 

[Bilal7]

Why isn't he a #6 player?

Because he's an opener and hasn't played at that position before. Plus, if we're four down for not much, Sharjeel is the last batsman I'd want at #6.

 

[Rayyman]

Because he's an opener and hasn't played at that position before. Plus, if we're four down for not much, Sharjeel is the last batsman I'd want at #6.

He can counter attack.

 

[Junaids]

I think that behind the scenes there is a battle (albeit a civilised and respectful one) going on between Misbah-ul-Haq and Mickey Arthur.

The First Test starts on Thursday 17th November.

But Mohammad Hafeez is being flown 90% of the way to New Zealand to Brisbane to have his bowling retest on that very same day.

On the England tour Misbah left after the Test matches. And it was really telling that Hafeez declared himself unfit for the ODIs but then settled in to watch them as a self-anointed senior player holding court in the dressing room. And in Misbah's absence, Mickey Arthur threw him out and sent him home.

Mickey Arthur got to watch Mohammad Hafeez at close quarters for two months in England, two months in which he failed to reach even 50 in no fewer than 7 matches, which gave him 12 failures in 12 innings.

Hafeez's scores in England were:


20 + 10 (Tour match v Somerset)
17 + 23 (Tour match v Sussex)
40 + 0 (1st Test)
18 + 42 (2nd Test)
0 + 2 (3rd Test)
37 (ODI v Ireland where Shakeel hit 152)
11 (First ODI)

I think that Misbah wants Hafeez to open with Sami Aslam and to have Asad Shafiq drop back to Number 6. And the Brisbane testing is a way to ensure that he is just 3 hours flight away from the tour, ready to step straight back into the team.

And I can't imagine that Mickey Arthur is happy with that.

By the way, these are the scores that Hafeez has produced in 12 First Class innings in the last month:

68 + 68
0 + 9
62 + 9*
5 + 8
2 + 7
42 + 11

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

I think that behind the scenes there is a battle (albeit a civilised and respectful one) going on between Misbah-ul-Haq and Mickey Arthur.

The First Test starts on Thursday 17th November.

But Mohammad Hafeez is being flown 90% of the way to New Zealand to Brisbane to have his bowling retest on that very same day.

On the England tour Misbah left after the Test matches. And it was really telling that Hafeez declared himself unfit for the ODIs but then settled in to watch them as a self-anointed senior player holding court in the dressing room. And in Misbah's absence, Mickey Arthur threw him out and sent him home.

Mickey Arthur got to watch Mohammad Hafeez at close quarters for two months in England, two months in which he failed to reach even 50 in no fewer than 7 matches, which gave him 12 failures in 12 innings.

Hafeez's scores in England were:


20 + 10 (Tour match v Somerset)
17 + 23 (Tour match v Sussex)
40 + 0 (1st Test)
18 + 42 (2nd Test)
0 + 2 (3rd Test)
37 (ODI v Ireland where Shakeel hit 152)
11 (First ODI)

I think that Misbah wants Hafeez to open with Sami Aslam and to have Asad Shafiq drop back to Number 6. And the Brisbane testing is a way to ensure that he is just 3 hours flight away from the tour, ready to step straight back into the team.

And I can't imagine that Mickey Arthur is happy with that.

By the way, these are the scores that Hafeez has produced in 12 First Class innings in the last month:

68 + 68
0 + 9
62 + 9*
5 + 8
2 + 7
42 + 11

Although this has no legs to even crawl to anywhere whatsoever but as they say.......Cool Story bro !!

 

[spade]

In the absence of any good allrounder, the no 6 spot should go to Sharjeel khan. He has an aura about him, he will score his runs quickly and can take the initiative to put pakistan in a position of strength. All the other players barring younis are defensive players and that can lead to the team's downfall.

 

[Junaids]

Although this has no legs to even crawl to anywhere whatsoever but as they say.......Cool Story bro !!

We have all known from the start that the touring party to NZ is two players short in numbers for what will be needed in Australia. The selectors can say that they will call up additional players on their QEA performance.

But why would you send Hafeez all the way to Brisbane for his bowling test? It makes no sense, unless he is being positioned to be parachuted into the national team immediately afterwards.

So I am already preparing myself for the following scorecard items:

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Starc 0
Mohammad Hafeez c Smith b Hazlewood 0
Mohammad Hafeez c Taylor b Boult 0
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Southee 0

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

We have all known from the start that the touring party to NZ is two players short in numbers for what will be needed in Australia. The selectors can say that they will call up additional players on their QEA performance.

But why would you send Hafeez all the way to Brisbane for his bowling test? It makes no sense, unless he is being positioned to be parachuted into the national team immediately afterwards.

So I am already preparing myself for the following scorecard items:

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Starc 0
Mohammad Hafeez c Smith b Hazlewood 0
Mohammad Hafeez c Taylor b Boult 0
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Southee 0

He's been sent to Brisbane because India's not a safe place for a Pakistani at the moment. If my memory serves me right, Ajmal was tested previously in Brisbane (I am not too sure about this) so it might have made sense to send another Pakistani to a testing center which PCB has interacted with before.

Junaids bhai not everything is a conspiracy and Misbah is an respectable man from the honorable Niazi tribe. If he ever wanted Hafeez back, he would have made it pretty clear to the PCB and the selection committee. Plus his entire legacy is on the line for this upcoming tour in Australia. I think he's smart enough to know who to play and who to warm the bench.

 

[proud_pakistani]

I do not really see the point of playing Sharjeel at 6. It is a goof thought and well I am sure people in their head are thinking maybe he can do what Gilchrist did for Australia. Thing is Pakistan has played Test cricket in the last few years with patience and slowly. Its not been the greatest to watch but it has brought us decent results. Pakistan has shown in 5 day games there is enough time even if you play with a RR of 3 to win games. Sharjeel coming at 6 will only give a bigger risk to expose our fragile tail. For me the best guy for 6 was Fawad Alam but since he is not there maybe Rizwan can be tested there.

 

[Suleiman]

Sharjeel at 6 is a dud decision, if you want to play him play as opener or he has no role at 6. He's not crazy good vs spin or something to bat there above Sarfraz in UAE for e.g. Better off playing Baba Azam or Rizu.

People underrating Rizwan here, I'd have tried him in England over Iftikhar mamu, but since Babar has already been tried in tests and scored well, it only makes sense to play him there.

No need to panic and remove Asad from 3 when aside from the pair he got in the last test, he's been doing fine there continuing from his sparkling 100 which won us the Oval test.

 

[Square Drive]

I don't know, but I'm somehow getting the feeling that Team Man will be rested (still recovering from dengue), and Rizwan will start the 1st Test vs NZ at #6, with Babar at 3 and Shafiq at 4. Also a part of long-term planning, and Mickey will ensure YK that his future is safe going forward.

I think there is some reasoning to the warm-up game XI that we don't know about.

 

[Deception]

Hammad azam.. have a look at his domestic FC career...

I too feel that bro hammad azam does deserves a chance in Test cricket

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Have a look at any of his international matches

he is yet to play test cricket but still his chances on LOIs are very limited and discontinuous.... I wish he had enough chances as anwar ali had.. Now Mickey and inzi gave enough chances for hasan ali, babar, nawaz, imad and they have become the part of the LOI team and undroppable now...deserving players should get chances and enough chances to get settled and flourish....

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Shows how rubbish the Pakistani domestic scene is...

well it has been the pool for performing and getting the call for national team.......cant take players from Australia or SA domestic....

 

[JibranAnsari]

Sharjeel has been selected as a third opener i think so dont think he is in line to get selected for number 6 position and rizwan is there as the back up keeper. So number 6 is between babar azam and mohammad nawaz and given nawazs tailender like batting i think it will be pretty easy for management to play babar azam at number 6.