Ideal Pak Squad for UAE Test Series vs NZ and Aus
I thinks we have made considerable improvement in our LOIs team, but our test result have been very poor off late but there is no lack of potential are we have making of a good if not great test team as well, but for that we have to select the right squad, right batting order on merit considering strength and weaknesses of every player, here is my probable squad for these two important test series with reason for why i picked these players.
Playing XI:-
1_ Azhar Ali (Right hander Batsman, He is an automatic choice and have done well as an opener, need to score big after a below average UK tour)
2_ Imam ul Haq (Right hander Batsman, and he has good potential to be a decent opener, but still jury is out on him if he can be a permanent member)
3_ Harris Sohail (A left Hander Batsman, He is best player of swing bowling and very decent vs spin as well and plays at decent strike rate, but he needs to improve his fitness and start converting starts into daddy hundreds or his position should be reconsidered)
4_ Babar Azam (Right Hander Batsman, A very good all format batsman potentially and he should also start setting the stage on fire in test as well, otherwise his past record isn't good enough)
5_ Fakhar Zaman (Another Leftie Batsman, He can be a great asset in Middle order, there maybe solid reason for playing him as an opener and specially in Asia, but IMO he can be more deadly option in our Middle order and can counter attack when chips are down are when we need to accelerate our run rate after a good start, he has very good FC record and now its a right time to debut him, not to mention his great ability vs spin and a handy part time option as well with ball in hand)
6- Asad Shafiq (Right Hander Batsman, In an Ideal world he should have been now a permanent number four after MisYou but he haven't been able to move to next level but still a decent option for no.6, where he has one of the best stats, and he is very well equipped to play with tail)
7_ Sarfraz (WK, Captain) (Right hander, Sarfraz is one best tactician no doubt, but we can't afford a specialist captain for too long, on pure merit he doesn't make the XI as a player)
8_ Shadab Khan ( Spin All rounder, would have been ideal he was an off spinner to compliment Yasir in test but even as a leg spinner, he is very different bowler from yasir, he doesn't have control and accuracy of Shah but has way more tricks up his sleeve, like good googly, very capable lower order batsman, and good second spinner for test)
9_ Yasir Shah (Main Spinner, An automatic choice in Asia, very handy with the bat as well)
10_ Wahab Riaz (Let Arm pacer, The Enforcer, For UAE highways we need his raw speed and aggression, specially with old reverse swinging ball, can tonk a few with the bat as well, Bowlers like Amir won't cut it on these dead roads)
11_ Hassan Ali (Right Arm Pacer, He can compliment Wahab with his skiddy pace and reverse swing, Can hit the long ball with bat as well)
Reserves:-
12_ Muhamad Abbas
13_ Junaid Khan
14_ Usman Salahudin
15_ Muhammad Asghar
I think this is very balanced squad specially in these conditions specially from the current available pool of players, and very realistic one as well, what changes would you make and why?
I would like serious and constructive discussion from all members, Cheers.
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] [MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] and others.
