Case for Hassan Nawaz to replace Saim Ayub as opener in T20Is

[mominsaigol]

Crediting @RidiculousMan who also advocated for this notion

Saim Ayub has been a complete and utterly failure at International atleast in t20 cricket.

I believe he has played more then 30+ t20 international games and minus one 98 score against SA he has nothing to show for it.

Enough time has passed that people can no longer hide behind injury or talent excuse. I have no doubt Saim is talented but performances matter more then anything else.

Hasan Nawaz is struggling at no 5 and no 6 as most cricketers tend to at T20 international so why not promote him to opening?

He made a 44 ball 100 in nightmarish conditons against NZ and has had a stellar start to his odi career at well? He does well when given more overs?

Also personally I believe Hasan Nawaz is more talented then Saim.

Lets avoid the bowling route for Saim. If he's useless with the bat, you can replace him for Mehran Mumtaz, Mubasir Khan, Sajid Khan(granted hes not suitable for t20), and many other players.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Crediting @RidiculousMan who also advocated for this notion

Saim Ayub has been a complete and utterly failure at International atleast in t20 cricket.

I believe he has played more then 30+ t20 international games and minus one 98 score against SA he has nothing to show for it.

Enough time has passed that people can no longer hide behind injury or talent excuse. I have no doubt Saim is talented but performances matter more then anything else.

Hasan Nawaz is struggling at no 5 and no 6 as most cricketers tend to at T20 international so why not promote him to opening?

He made a 44 ball 100 in nightmarish conditons against NZ and has had a stellar start to his odi career at well? He does well when given more overs?

Also personally I believe Hasan Nawaz is more talented then Saim.

Lets avoid the bowling route for Saim. If he's useless with the bat, you can replace him for Mehran Mumtaz, Mubasir Khan, Sajid Khan(granted hes not suitable for t20), and many other players.

You need patience with these guys. Be it Saim or Hasan or any other youngster.

Sure if you think that Saim has played enough T20s. But we can't be chopping and changing them.

Saim and Hasan have performed but inconsistently.

Saim is due to perform and I'm giving him this Asia Cup to show his batting performances. Afterwards people can make their judgement on him as a T20 opener.

Whoever youngster that will be brought in, in whatever position will need time. More so than the established Cricketing nations. Precisely because of the poor infrastructure, unstable management and insecurity within players for their position in the team.

 

[mominsaigol]

You need patience with these guys. Be it Saim or Hasan or any other youngster.

Sure if you think that Saim has played enough T20s. But we can't be chopping and changing them.

Saim and Hasan have performed but inconsistently.

Saim is due to perform and I'm giving him this Asia Cup to show his batting performances. Afterwards people can make their judgement on him as a T20 opener.

Whoever youngster that will be brought in, in whatever position will need time. More so than the established Cricketing nations. Precisely because of the poor infrastructure, unstable management and insecurity within players for their position in the team.

Well patience eventually runs out. Saim has played 43 t20's now.

Also ik India is a strong team but that delivery he got out on has a hit me for 6 sign written all over it.

Pandya is a good bowler but I think even he knew that delivery was bad but saim was even worse

 

[Asad T]

Maybe but I would not change anything mid series.

The reason why Pak cricket is in the dumps is because we have little patience, and we keep chopping-and-changing. Let these guys have a run till after the WC and then see.

 

[mominsaigol]

Maybe but I would not change anything mid series.

The reason why Pak cricket is in the dumps is because we have little patience, and we keep chopping-and-changing. Let these guys have a run till after the WC and then see.

Let me clarify to you and @RidiculousMan

After Asia cup, not before.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Maybe but I would not change anything mid series.

The reason why Pak cricket is in the dumps is because we have little patience, and we keep chopping-and-changing. Let these guys have a run till after the WC and then see.

This is what I also think. Why not give them a complete run till WT20? To Salman and Hesson and this whole setup?

When a decision has been made. You back it and run its course. Otherwise like the whole country where government is changed without completing its term. Team will continue to struggle.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

No.

Stick with him for longer. Chop and change has ruined multiple generations of players.

He is the best T20 batter in Pakistan.

 

[RKhan_Cricket]

I would give him this Asia Cup. We already were aware we are gonna struggle in this Asia Cup. I am not surprised with this performance but yes I expect better from saim he is not here to take wickets but to score runs and give bowlers a good score to defend. Let's wait till this Asia Cup ends.

 

[sweep_shot]

I actually thought about posting this (i.e., drop Saim down the order; maybe at #4).

Opening with Hassan Nawaz sounds interesting. Pakistan should give it a try.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Let's just give this whole setup some sort of continuity till the World T20 next year? Make little modifications, not wholesale changes like breaking up the Saim-Farhan opening combo. Hassan Nawaz has been given confidence in that middle-order, he should be given enough games to prove himself there.

We knew we will get exposed against India, they are the best T20 side in the world for a reason. Let's not take this too hard and work on a template where we have to improve.

 

[Obaidd]

I actually thought about posting this (i.e., drop Saim down the order; maybe at #4).

Opening with Hassan Nawaz sounds interesting. Pakistan should give it a try.

Playing Haris at 3 also sounded interesting to some. See how that messed up Pak’s whole preparation.

Go back to tri-series batting order, that allowed most folks to play at their preferred positions.

 

[ads101]

I'd stick with Saim and Farhan for a while. They are our best openers in domestic right now. Both have shown some promise even if they're not perfect. I still think Saim is the most talented batsman in domestic.

Saim is trying to be this sort of aggressive hitter batsman. It's not what he is naturally nor what we need right now. Needs to stop these premeditated swipes before he is set. Still think Saim was rushed into internationals, it was too early but he's here now. He hasn't figured out how he wants to play in internationals, which is because he's still experimenting with his style of play. Which is a sign there's still things for him to learn and practise in domestic.

Hasan should be batting at 3 or 4. And none of the batsmen that are being played there instead (or middle order) deserve to usurp Hasan from those positions. They need to be fit around him even if they don't play at their ideal position. I'd give him 4, but if no one wants to play at 3 bar Haris, maybe he should be even given no.3 (as I don't feel Haris should play no.3, he can play down the order).

Farhan and Saim are a good pair to persist with. Saim is the most talented batsmen in domestic. Farhan is the most consistent these days. It's worth on that basis continuing with both for a long time. No point going with someone again so soon who is going to be less talented or less consistent.

 

[ads101]

Playing Haris at 3 also sounded interesting to some. See how that messed up Pak’s whole preparation.

Go back to tri-series batting order, that allowed most folks to play at their preferred positions.

Yeah it was a really dumb move. Promoting Haris to 3, dropping Hasan down to 6. Never should have been moved from 4. All this moving around of non-performing players to try to get them to perform and we've led to the performing player in Hasan being moved out of position and not performing.

I know people like adaptable positions but I prefer fixed. Players get used to a position and stick with it. Even in the match, they know when they're coming in and their role. In practice I hardly ever see it working. Only time I support it is when we're off to a flier and maybe you bring in more aggressive batsmen. That's it.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Let's just give this whole setup some sort of continuity till the World T20 next year? Make little modifications, not wholesale changes like breaking up the Saim-Farhan opening combo. Hassan Nawaz has been given confidence in that middle-order, he should be given enough games to prove himself there.

We knew we will get exposed against India, they are the best T20 side in the world for a reason. Let's not take this too hard and work on a template where we have to improve.

Hasan Nawaz has performed as no. 4 before this Asia Cup. It didn't make sense to shove him at no. 6 in this Asia Cup. Are we trying to turn him into a slogger now?

 

[Major]

We r f either way

 

[Obaidd]

Yeah it was a really dumb move. Promoting Haris to 3, dropping Hasan down to 6. Never should have been moved from 4. All this moving around of non-performing players to try to get them to perform and we've led to the performing player in Hasan being moved out of position and not performing.

I know people like adaptable positions but I prefer fixed. Players get used to a position and stick with it. Even in the match, they know when they're coming in and their role. In practice I hardly ever see it working. Only time I support it is when we're off to a flier and maybe you bring in more aggressive batsmen. That's it.

Spot on. Adaptability/flexibility in Pak’s setup results in shifting of goalposts/blame/instability/excuses.

Having specified roles and responsibilities leads to better situational awareness, transparency and accountability.

Which is why in my opinion, our openers should be specialist batters unburdened by bowling and keeping. Our keeper should come in at 7 and Agha should try to find a role for himself too. Just because he doesn’t have a hitting game is no reason for him to put himself before Hassan in the order.

 

[shamaan]

The ball he got out from pandya was a hit me for 6 ball.he won't get dropped because he is doing a decent job with the ball.

 

[cricfan432]

I dont think hasan nawaz has technique against swing bowling. Better option would be maaz sadaqat/khwaja nafay/yasir khan but saim is future so i wont discard him.

 

[Robbie]

Pakistani team had 5 openers in the line up and they chose the worst opener Saim to open

Saim is not good with the new ball and he should be playing in the middle order where he could be a game changer.

 

[saabir]

Saim is not suitable for middle order. He is very short man and with old balls in these Pitches he won't be able to hit big against spinners..while Hasan Nawaz can hit big at any position. Pakistan need tall long leavers players like India and Australia have . These small height thin batters won't be able to hit big

 

[JaDed]

Hasan was irresponsible yesterday, he got a chance after being dropped and very next ball did something stupid.

 

[gazza619]

There is defo a case for Hasan Nawaz up the order. I would drop the blind slogger M Haris and play Hasan at 3.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Hassan Nawaz is also not having a good time with the bat for some games now... Not sure it will work... maybe move Fakhar up.. drop saim.. haris at 3 so there are no excuses left anymore.

 

[Devadwal]

There is defo a case for Hasan Nawaz up the order. I would drop the blind slogger M Haris and play Hasan at 3.

@BouncerGuy another candidate for batting at 3 after Saim , Fakhar and Haris

 

[ads101]

Doesn’t Hasan bat at 4 even in PSL? And he performed there in internationals. I believe he should just stick there abouts.

Have to clarify if Haris is to bat at 3 I don’t mind with current squad. I don’t think he’s the best option for no.3. Haris does have performance at 3 in PSL. However if him batting at 3 results in Hasan batting low down at 6, it definitely isn’t worth it.

Saim and Hasan are the last cricketers I’d drop as they have talent and are young. I’m more worried about the rest who are much older and still not obvious to say whether or not they will perform in t20s.

 

[BouncerGuy]

@BouncerGuy another candidate for batting at 3 after Saim , Fakhar and Haris

They will keep coming and they will get exposed most of the times...

 

[shamaan]

Hassan Nawaz had a brain fade against India and also after Henson coming out on the field.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

I feel that Saim is able to handle bounce but he's not able to handle spin or swing.

He did well in ODIs in Aus/RSA on pitches that were offering true bounce where he could cut or play shots behind the square on the leg side. His technique feels too flimsy when the ball seams a little and he ends up playing wafts outside the offstump.

We can replace him with Fakhar and use Hassan at 4. We are just trying to accommodate Agha in the order & it's not really working great.

 

[sweep_shot]

I feel that Saim is able to handle bounce but he's not able to handle spin or swing.

He did well in ODIs in Aus/RSA on pitches that were offering true bounce where he could cut or play shots behind the square on the leg side. His technique feels too flimsy when the ball seams a little and he ends up playing wafts outside the offstump.

We can replace him with Fakhar and use Hassan at 4. We are just trying to accommodate Agha in the order & it's not really working great.

Agree.

Saim did excellent in Australia. He can play bounce well.

I think he is not good for spin-friendly pitches.