Cold, Hard Data: An Incisive Insight into Misbah’s T20I Strategies

[Thunderbolt14]

Selection wise, we’ve got it all wrong. That may not sound like news to many posters here, but there is a darker side to the story that shows that Misbah has no idea what the team strategy looks like. Let me explain.

It begins with Malik and Hafeez, of course, but the key issue of discussion here, ironically, is Babar. As our best bat, he plays the majority of the innings allowing the rest to build around him. Of the current Pakistan T20 setup, Babar’s inclusion is perhaps the only non-negotiable aspect.

However, this means we must begin to build our strategy around him. His career strike rate of 128 combined with his average of 51 show us that an average expected innings by Babar Azam is 50(39).

That means that, over the course of a match, Babar faces a total of 6.3 overs leaving 13.3 overs for the remainder of the team to bat through. Let’s say we want to target a score of 180. This is a reasonable target in modern day T20’s for any side that wants to bat the opposition out of the game, and this should be the primary focus for any batting unit. Any less, say 160, and the expectation falls to a good performance by your bowling unit; ideally, though your batting should be good enough to secure the game on its own.

In fact, it would not be wrong to call a T20 target on modern-day flat tracks of 160, a defensive target.

That means that after Babar scores his 50, the rest of the team must score 130 between themselves in the remaining 13.5 overs.

That amounts to 9.63 runs per over - in other words, for the rest of the innings, we require a consistent SR of 160 by every other batsman in the lineup.

How are we expecting to get these totals with Hafeez, Malik, and the like?

Babar has made concerted efforts to up his Strike Rate in recent times, and we have witnessed individual games with his SR at 150 but the rest falling below the baseline. Even in the most recent PSL, this holds to be the case - and Karachi Kings occasionally suffers for it, because it means Sharjeel Khan and Alex Hales are the most important people in the lineup, or else the team is only good enough for 150s and at most 160s unless Babar goes on a rampage.

Let’s come back to the main point: we’re basing our strategy around Babar! Therefore, we need high SR batsmen packed into our team, with Babar being the only player to bat as an anchor. And yet, our selections of late have not just seen the return of non-performing seniors, but the return of seniors whose roles in the team are that of an anchor! Hafeez has a career strike rate of 116, and Malik a career strike rate of 123. Now, it is one thing to select seniors like Iftikhar who has proven time and again that he can fulfill the role of smashing the ball at high strike rate, even if not for a long time. But how do we build a batting unit around 3 batsmen who bat at 120-130? That means consistent scores of 140-150!

Simply on a statistical level, we need the likes of Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Fakhar Zaman, and even Iftikhar Ahmed to take the ball on from the get go, with absolute freedom. Even the selections of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal would have fit within this school of thought.

Yet suddenly, our T20I team seems devoid of strategy and planning - not only are we failing to develop youngsters, which should be the main priority, but we’re not even bringing back the right TTF’s! You might as well bring back Kamran Akmal who will be of far more value to the team than Hafeez and Malik. And I mean this with the sincerest irony.

So, where is the PCB data team, who are they, and why are they not outlining these basic tactical combinations to Misbah! It’s basic math!

 

[shamaan]

Selection wise, we’ve got it all wrong. That may not sound like news to many posters here, but there is a darker side to the story that shows that Misbah has no idea what the team strategy looks like. Let me explain.

It begins with Malik and Hafeez, of course, but the key issue of discussion here, ironically, is Babar. As our best bat, he plays the majority of the innings allowing the rest to build around him. Of the current Pakistan T20 setup, Babar’s inclusion is perhaps the only non-negotiable aspect.

However, this means we must begin to build our strategy around him. His career strike rate of 128 combined with his average of 51 show us that an average expected innings by Babar Azam is 50(39).

That means that, over the course of a match, Babar faces a total of 6.3 overs leaving 13.3 overs for the remainder of the team to bat through. Let’s say we want to target a score of 180. This is a reasonable target in modern day T20’s for any side that wants to bat the opposition out of the game, and this should be the primary focus for any batting unit. Any less, say 160, and the expectation falls to a good performance by your bowling unit; ideally, though your batting should be good enough to secure the game on its own.

In fact, it would not be wrong to call a T20 target on modern-day flat tracks of 160, a defensive target.

That means that after Babar scores his 50, the rest of the team must score 130 between themselves in the remaining 13.5 overs.

That amounts to 9.63 runs per over - in other words, for the rest of the innings, we require a consistent SR of 160 by every other batsman in the lineup.

How are we expecting to get these totals with Hafeez, Malik, and the like?

Babar has made concerted efforts to up his Strike Rate in recent times, and we have witnessed individual games with his SR at 150 but the rest falling below the baseline. Even in the most recent PSL, this holds to be the case - and Karachi Kings occasionally suffers for it, because it means Sharjeel Khan and Alex Hales are the most important people in the lineup, or else the team is only good enough for 150s and at most 160s unless Babar goes on a rampage.

Let’s come back to the main point: we’re basing our strategy around Babar! Therefore, we need high SR batsmen packed into our team, with Babar being the only player to bat as an anchor. And yet, our selections of late have not just seen the return of non-performing seniors, but the return of seniors whose roles in the team are that of an anchor! Hafeez has a career strike rate of 116, and Malik a career strike rate of 123. Now, it is one thing to select seniors like Iftikhar who has proven time and again that he can fulfill the role of smashing the ball at high strike rate, even if not for a long time. But how do we build a batting unit around 3 batsmen who bat at 120-130? That means consistent scores of 140-150!

Simply on a statistical level, we need the likes of Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Fakhar Zaman, and even Iftikhar Ahmed to take the ball on from the get go, with absolute freedom. Even the selections of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal would have fit within this school of thought.

Yet suddenly, our T20I team seems devoid of strategy and planning - not only are we failing to develop youngsters, which should be the main priority, but we’re not even bringing back the right TTF’s! You might as well bring back Kamran Akmal who will be of far more value to the team than Hafeez and Malik. And I mean this with the sincerest irony.

So, where is the PCB data team, who are they, and why are they not outlining these basic tactical combinations to Misbah! It’s basic math!

I think babar also wanted Malik and hafeez in the squad one of them will play

 

[CleverSir]

I think babar also wanted Malik and hafeez in the squad one of them will play

The team can’t afford to carry them both. One or the other has to sit.

 

[unemployedgm]

Selection wise, we’ve got it all wrong. That may not sound like news to many posters here, but there is a darker side to the story that shows that Misbah has no idea what the team strategy looks like. Let me explain.

It begins with Malik and Hafeez, of course, but the key issue of discussion here, ironically, is Babar. As our best bat, he plays the majority of the innings allowing the rest to build around him. Of the current Pakistan T20 setup, Babar’s inclusion is perhaps the only non-negotiable aspect.

However, this means we must begin to build our strategy around him. His career strike rate of 128 combined with his average of 51 show us that an average expected innings by Babar Azam is 50(39).

That means that, over the course of a match, Babar faces a total of 6.3 overs leaving 13.3 overs for the remainder of the team to bat through. Let’s say we want to target a score of 180. This is a reasonable target in modern day T20’s for any side that wants to bat the opposition out of the game, and this should be the primary focus for any batting unit. Any less, say 160, and the expectation falls to a good performance by your bowling unit; ideally, though your batting should be good enough to secure the game on its own.

In fact, it would not be wrong to call a T20 target on modern-day flat tracks of 160, a defensive target.

That means that after Babar scores his 50, the rest of the team must score 130 between themselves in the remaining 13.5 overs.

That amounts to 9.63 runs per over - in other words, for the rest of the innings, we require a consistent SR of 160 by every other batsman in the lineup.

How are we expecting to get these totals with Hafeez, Malik, and the like?

Babar has made concerted efforts to up his Strike Rate in recent times, and we have witnessed individual games with his SR at 150 but the rest falling below the baseline. Even in the most recent PSL, this holds to be the case - and Karachi Kings occasionally suffers for it, because it means Sharjeel Khan and Alex Hales are the most important people in the lineup, or else the team is only good enough for 150s and at most 160s unless Babar goes on a rampage.

Let’s come back to the main point: we’re basing our strategy around Babar! Therefore, we need high SR batsmen packed into our team, with Babar being the only player to bat as an anchor. And yet, our selections of late have not just seen the return of non-performing seniors, but the return of seniors whose roles in the team are that of an anchor! Hafeez has a career strike rate of 116, and Malik a career strike rate of 123. Now, it is one thing to select seniors like Iftikhar who has proven time and again that he can fulfill the role of smashing the ball at high strike rate, even if not for a long time. But how do we build a batting unit around 3 batsmen who bat at 120-130? That means consistent scores of 140-150!

Simply on a statistical level, we need the likes of Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Fakhar Zaman, and even Iftikhar Ahmed to take the ball on from the get go, with absolute freedom. Even the selections of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal would have fit within this school of thought.

Yet suddenly, our T20I team seems devoid of strategy and planning - not only are we failing to develop youngsters, which should be the main priority, but we’re not even bringing back the right TTF’s! You might as well bring back Kamran Akmal who will be of far more value to the team than Hafeez and Malik. And I mean this with the sincerest irony.

So, where is the PCB data team, who are they, and why are they not outlining these basic tactical combinations to Misbah! It’s basic math!

Too complex for PK

 

[Greenstorm]

You are making a very simple point that is too obvious to see but it is too complex for Misbah.

It is very rare to have batsmen in T20 who can score as consistently as Babar does. But Babar will never be able to win matches on his own because he cannot score at 150+ strike rate. Therefore, it is imperative to form a batting lineup in which there is consistent-dependable Babar along with 4 to 5 big hitters who can clear the ropes with ease.

Sharjeel Khan's non selection is baffling. Shoaib Malik and Hafeez in T20s . Even Ireland and Zimbabwe have better T20 wicket keeper batsmen than Rizwan and Sarfaraz. Misbah has made us a joke.

 

[Mamoon]

Misbah took over as the T20 coach at the wrong time. Pakistan racked up plenty of cheap wins under Mickey at a time when other sides were focused on ODIs because of the World Cup and played underpowered sides in meaningless T20I matches.

The reality of Pakistan’s so-called number 1 T20I side from 2016 to 2018 would have been ripped to shreds had we played India in that period. It would have been a repeat of the Asia Cup humiliation.

Take Mickey’s 2016-2018 so-called great team and make them play 10 matches against India and England and they would end up losing at least 8 of those 10 matches.

Things are different now. We have two WT20s in the next two years and teams are no prioritizing this format over the ODI one, so now it is no surprise that we are getting exposed like no tomorrow.

When teams were focused on ODIs, Mickey Arthur the guru was taking Pakistan to 21 defeats in 25 ODIs including a 12 match losing streak.

 

[mumtaz]

Although I generally agree with what the OP is saying, the analysis is obviously too simplistic.

Babar will go on his average strike rate on an average wicket (that's a 160 wicket), he is expected to go at a higher strike rate on a 180 wicket. Secondly, Babar plays an average of 39 balls in an innings but there will be days when he doesn't. Whats the plan B then, you obviously need a second anchor in the lineup although as long as Babar is there, he shouldn't come in.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Although I generally agree with what the OP is saying, the analysis is obviously too simplistic.

Babar will go on his average strike rate on an average wicket (that's a 160 wicket), he is expected to go at a higher strike rate on a 180 wicket. Secondly, Babar plays an average of 39 balls in an innings but there will be days when he doesn't. Whats the plan B then, you obviously need a second anchor in the lineup although as long as Babar is there, he shouldn't come in.

Absolutely — let’s go into more detail.

1. On a 160 wicket, 160 is the par total. But your team is actually aiming for 180 as a batting unit: you never aim for the par score, you aim above it. Similarly, on a 180 wicket, you are aiming for a score of 200 to bat the opposition out of the game. My analysis applies in either case — Babar is not the batsman who will hit you 2 sixes and a four off of an average over!

I’ve simply run the numbers, and indeed, at its base level, my analysis is definitely very simple to understand. That makes it all the more shocking that Misbah hasn’t taken it into account; you would expect, in such a situation, that the data team would be the safety net, ringing Misbah up and telling him that the numbers don’t compute. It’s similar to the Woakes situation: anyone who was watching the England vs West Indies series could tell you what type of delivery Pakistan should have tried against him, but if it slips through Misbah’s planning then there should be an analyst running the numbers and telling you how much Woakes averages against the short ball from left handers round the wicket. So, where is the safety net? Why is a data team not involved in these strategies?

2. Yes, Babar does indeed play an average of 39 balls but might get out sooner — you’re completely correct. But it’s not the case that we don’t already have other anchors in the lineup. For one, take the wicket keeper position. Our first choice wicket keeper, Sarfaraz, is an anchor. Our second choice, Rizwan, is also an anchor. And our backup backup choice, Rohail, is also an anchor. Therefore, you can safely say that we have at least one backup anchor in the unit, should Babar fall early.

Now, let’s take the remaining folks — Haider, Khushdil, Shadab, Fakhar, and Iftikhar. These are the primary selections who have been inducted to bat at high strike rates. All of them are expected to bat around the anchors - however, if something bad were to happen, we have seen folks like Iftikhar in Australia and Shadab in the PSL take on the anchor role in the T20 format. What is the need for Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik?

At the end of the day, it is not shocking when we say Misbah made a mistake bringing them back. It is one thing to draw up a plan, and have it be flawed. But buried in the subtlety is a darker menace: if they have been brought back, it means Misbah hasn’t even thought about the plan. Nor is there an analytics team helping with strategy. Our T20 team is playing it by ear!

 

[MMHS]

Again, I’ll say MoHa/Malik are earning their spot in PAK team. I myself isn’t the biggest fan of them, which one should know but still I can’t deny that against a depleted BD side, it took a Malik masterclass to win first T20 & MoHa also chipped in second one.

To me, formula for PAK in T20 is the simplest of all - batsmen will put some runs some how, five bowlers will defend it .... or bowling first, bowlers will keep the target to a level that batting out 20 overs somehow should take PAK home. If bowlers fail - 11 batsmen won’t win it.

The main reason for that is PAK’s batting bar Babar & to an extent MoHa/Malik is extremely limited - batsmen can’t rotate strike for singles, can’t place balls for double/triple; can’t find gaps & doesn’t time it well enough to hit boundaries and can’t hit/loft it sweetly enough to hit six. Batting is extremely laborious effort where runs come at a premium risk. In between some days bat swing can connect it in middle for a considerable period - we may see a blasting innings like Fakhar played at Oval. On top of that, PAK can’t use batting depth, because in a 20 or even 50 overs game - whoever bats at top including Babar, bats moderate to extreme selfishly to eat up overs and PAK often will end up at 100/2 after 15 overs with a depth of Imad, Shadab, Amir, Wahab at 8-9-10-11. I saw SAF in 90s when they had Symcox at 10, often they were ahead of asking but 4-5 down by 25th over and still comfortably chasing a target or setting a target beyond reach - that’s bringing batting depth.

If I were in charge, I would have picked even five genuine No. 11s but on bowling merit to bowl 20 overs and then ask six batsmen play selfishly to bat out 20 overs - most of the time it’ll work, rather than trying to play “modern” game where you may concede 200, but your fire power & batting depth can take you to the target. PAK is at least 35 years behind when it comes to T20 batting - that team of 2007-2012 was built around the bowling of five bowlers, and the day bowlers failed, it didn’t work - it still is applicable, me thinks.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Again, I’ll say MoHa/Malik are earning their spot in PAK team. I myself isn’t the biggest fan of them, which one should know but still I can’t deny that against a depleted BD side, it took a Malik masterclass to win first T20 & MoHa also chipped in second one.

To me, formula for PAK in T20 is the simplest of all - batsmen will put some runs some how, five bowlers will defend it .... or bowling first, bowlers will keep the target to a level that batting out 20 overs somehow should take PAK home. If bowlers fail - 11 batsmen won’t win it.

The main reason for that is PAK’s batting bar Babar & to an extent MoHa/Malik is extremely limited - batsmen can’t rotate strike for singles, can’t place balls for double/triple; can’t find gaps & doesn’t time it well enough to hit boundaries and can’t hit/loft it sweetly enough to hit six. Batting is extremely laborious effort where runs come at a premium risk. In between some days bat swing can connect it in middle for a considerable period - we may see a blasting innings like Fakhar played at Oval. On top of that, PAK can’t use batting depth, because in a 20 or even 50 overs game - whoever bats at top including Babar, bats moderate to extreme selfishly to eat up overs and PAK often will end up at 100/2 after 15 overs with a depth of Imad, Shadab, Amir, Wahab at 8-9-10-11. I saw SAF in 90s when they had Symcox at 10, often they were ahead of asking but 4-5 down by 25th over and still comfortably chasing a target or setting a target beyond reach - that’s bringing batting depth.

If I were in charge, I would have picked even five genuine No. 11s but on bowling merit to bowl 20 overs and then ask six batsmen play selfishly to bat out 20 overs - most of the time it’ll work, rather than trying to play “modern” game where you may concede 200, but your fire power & batting depth can take you to the target. PAK is at least 35 years behind when it comes to T20 batting - that team of 2007-2012 was built around the bowling of five bowlers, and the day bowlers failed, it didn’t work - it still is applicable, me thinks.

See this is Misbah’s mentality exactly - but you can’t progress with this mindset. You selfishly bat out 20 overs to make 160, you’re still going to lose as even the best bowlers will find it difficult to defend against Bairstow, Morgan, and the like. It’s too much to ask. Rather, let’s say you tell your entire unit to go berzerk without a care for their wicket. Here are the scores:

1. Fakhar Zaman 4(2)
2. Babar Azam 50(39)
3. Haider Ali 18(10)
4. Shadab Khan 25(18)
5. Iftikhar Ahmed 30(22)
6. Khushdil Shah 20(12)
7. Sarfaraz Ahmed 10*(6)
7. Imad Wasim 13(8)
8. Wahab Riaz 8*(3)
9,10,11 — DNB

178-7 (20)

This is a total of 178 in 20 overs. Not a single batsman aside from Babar has gotten more than 30 runs. I have even accounted for a failure from Fakhar, and relatively low scores from several other batsmen, who smashed a few fours then got out. T20 is all about Strike Rate — if you give your batsmen the freedom to go and express themselves, they will come good.

Right now, the entire team is batting defensively - the focus is on 50(40) by Hafeez rather than 18(10) from Haider Ali — I argue that those 18 runs are far more valuable than the 50!

 

[MMHS]

See this is Misbah’s mentality exactly - but you can’t progress with this mindset. You selfishly bat out 20 overs to make 160, you’re still going to lose as even the best bowlers will find it difficult to defend against Bairstow, Morgan, and the like. It’s too much to ask. Rather, let’s say you tell your entire unit to go berzerk without a care for their wicket. Here are the scores:

1. Fakhar Zaman 4(2)
2. Babar Azam 50(39)
3. Haider Ali 18(10)
4. Shadab Khan 25(18)
5. Iftikhar Ahmed 30(22)
6. Khushdil Shah 20(12)
7. Sarfaraz Ahmed 10*(6)
7. Imad Wasim 13(8)
8. Wahab Riaz 8*(3)
9,10,11 — DNB

178-7 (20)

This is a total of 178 in 20 overs. Not a single batsman aside from Babar has gotten more than 30 runs. I have even accounted for a failure from Fakhar, and relatively low scores from several other batsmen, who smashed a few fours then got out. T20 is all about Strike Rate — if you give your batsmen the freedom to go and express themselves, they will come good.

Right now, the entire team is batting defensively - the focus is on 50(40) by Hafeez rather than 18(10) from Haider Ali — I argue that those 18 runs are far more valuable than the 50!

Then, PAK fans first should accept that they’ll go down to somewhere between 8th to 12th in T20 ranking for 3-4 years if that changeover is to happen - with current available resources, they’ll be massacred if they try to do humpty with bat. The players are simply not there - Haider Ali will give you the biggest shock, if you are to bank on his batting. I have read much more on Asif Ali few years back until whole sky crashed on us.

I personally believe PAK (every team) should try to win as many games as possible, backing their strength - international cricket is not for changing the cricket style of the country or testing new tactics/players. If PAK really wants to bring that change in their strategy - it should start from PSL & National T20 - change wickets to faster, truer & bouncier tracks; enlarge boundary size where batsmen have to get in behind the ball with full weight for a six, force teams to change their combination and promote attacking players at the top - in 3-4 years, it may happen. At present, basically you are asking PAK players (& Managment) to play a game that is unknown to them.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Then, PAK fans first should accept that they’ll go down to somewhere between 8th to 12th in T20 ranking for 3-4 years if that changeover is to happen - with current available resources, they’ll be massacred if they try to do humpty with bat. The players are simply not there - Haider Ali will give you the biggest shock, if you are to bank on his batting. I have read much more on Asif Ali few years back until whole sky crashed on us.

I personally believe PAK (every team) should try to win as many games as possible, backing their strength - international cricket is not for changing the cricket style of the country or testing new tactics/players. If PAK really wants to bring that change in their strategy - it should start from PSL & National T20 - change wickets to faster, truer & bouncier tracks; enlarge boundary size where batsmen have to get in behind the ball with full weight for a six, force teams to change their combination and promote attacking players at the top - in 3-4 years, it may happen. At present, basically you are asking PAK players (& Managment) to play a game that is unknown to them.

Is it really that bad to go down to 8th in T20 rankings if you are modernizing your team’s setup and approach? We need to aim to win 2021,2022, and 2023 limited overs world cups — most importantly 2023. It won’t happen if we play attritional in the shorter formats.

I was just listening to Babar Azam’s press conference, here is his answer to one of the questions:

Journalist: “Who would you judge as the most important player in the team aside from yourself?”
Babar: “I would say Hafeez, Shoaib bhai, Iftikhar, Imad Wasim and of course Shadab are all equally important.”

Later - “what’s important is that someone in the top 3 gets set and plays throughout the innings to take you to a 160-170 score.”

How are these two situations compatible?

 

[MMHS]

Is it really that bad to go down to 8th in T20 rankings if you are modernizing your team’s setup and approach? We need to aim to win 2021,2022, and 2023 limited overs world cups — most importantly 2023. It won’t happen if we play attritional in the shorter formats.

I was just listening to Babar Azam’s press conference, here is his answer to one of the questions:

Journalist: “Who would you judge as the most important player in the team aside from yourself?”
Babar: “I would say Hafeez, Shoaib bhai, Iftikhar, Imad Wasim and of course Shadab are all equally important.”

Later - “what’s important is that someone in the top 3 gets set and plays throughout the innings to take you to a 160-170 score.”

How are these two situations compatible?

There is a disconnect for sure, but he is not wrong to say that to reach 170, MoHa & Malik still are important, because they can rotate strike & hit properly as well. Without better shot productivity (opposite to dot ball %) you can’t achieve 8.5+ RR, just backed on boundaries. The only guy (apart from Babar) junior to these two who could rotate strike & hit big is now trying to save his club career & in a legal battle with PCB.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

There is a disconnect for sure, but he is not wrong to say that to reach 170, MoHa & Malik still are important, because they can rotate strike & hit properly as well. Without better shot productivity (opposite to dot ball %) you can’t achieve 8.5+ RR, just backed on boundaries. The only guy (apart from Babar) junior to these two who could rotate strike & hit big is now trying to save his club career & in a legal battle with PCB.

Can they both play at Strikes Rates of 150+?

Here is a “successful innings” from all three of Babar, Hafeez, and Malik:
Haider 10(4)
Babar 50(39)
Hafeez 45(35)
Malik 46(36)
Iftikhar 9(6)

That’s 160 in 20 overs. How do we ever achieve 170-180?

And how much worse can youngsters like Khushdil do? Even if we lose? Isn’t the focus on the 2021 T20WC?

 

[MMHS]

Can they both play at Strikes Rates of 150+?

Here is a “successful innings” from all three of Babar, Hafeez, and Malik:
Haider 10(4)
Babar 50(39)
Hafeez 45(35)
Malik 46(36)
Iftikhar 9(6)

That’s 160 in 20 overs. How do we ever achieve 170-180?

And how much worse can youngsters like Khushdil do? Even if we lose? Isn’t the focus on the 2021 T20WC?

The point is not about what they can do, rather what are the alternatives. I have surrendered to the point that MoHa, Malik actually has earned their spot and if Hafeez comes back to Test cricket, I’ll slot him in the XI over these Fawad, Asad, Shan, Abid, Shadab - in-fact, this was Azhar’s only contribution in probably two years.

As I said, to achieve 170+, it has to come from domestics - PSL & National T20... and that by playing proper cricket, on right size of field & right type of wickets. NSK or Gaddafi are two of the largest grounds in world, but to excite passionate fans, what PCB is doing is pulling the boundary for a 60 metre six, we do Bhangra with the “stroke play” and quality of PSL’s bowling .... then we wonder why team struggles to reach 100 & Australia smokes that in 10 overs without any wicket - there were no MoHa/Malik to blame!!!!

One thing I can suggest is to create a separate T20 team (May be few like Babar/Shaheen common players) and appoint a separate coaching setup for that team - it might work better. I don’t think Misbah is that smart to work with three teams with three different philosophies. His Test team might not be eye catching, but damn effective - with a better line up, Mickey Arthur’s PAK blew four Tests in a better equation than the 3rd Test here - at Birmingham, MCG, Auckland & UAE (NZ).

 

[QalandarFan]

Misbah took over as the T20 coach at the wrong time. Pakistan racked up plenty of cheap wins under Mickey at a time when other sides were focused on ODIs because of the World Cup and played underpowered sides in meaningless T20I matches.

The reality of Pakistan’s so-called number 1 T20I side from 2016 to 2018 would have been ripped to shreds had we played India in that period. It would have been a repeat of the Asia Cup humiliation.

Take Mickey’s 2016-2018 so-called great team and make them play 10 matches against India and England and they would end up losing at least 8 of those 10 matches.

Things are different now. We have two WT20s in the next two years and teams are no prioritizing this format over the ODI one, so now it is no surprise that we are getting exposed like no tomorrow.

When teams were focused on ODIs, Mickey Arthur the guru was taking Pakistan to 21 defeats in 25 ODIs including a 12 match losing streak.

We also won the Champions Trophy and finished 5th in the World Cup under Mickey. Say what you want about Mickey but, Allah maar kare under Misbah we’d be sitting at the bottom of the pile in both those tournaments, knowing Misbah he’d pick guys like Shehzad, Akmal, Sohail Khan, and Irfan in the team.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

The point is not about what they can do, rather what are the alternatives.

The alternatives are there though! Take Khushdil - he has been with the squad for a year but is yet to get a sustained run in T20’s. Even if he fails, isn’t it better to play him over Malik?

Also, the idea that Misbah must adopt a completely new philosophy or change the players’ mindsets is incorrect - Khushdil, Haider, and even Ifti chacha are all naturally aggressive players who have been given the same aggressive gameplan I am talking about in PSL and domestics by Peshawar, Multan, etc.

Even with Hafeez and Malik in the team, we will be lucky to win this T20 series against England. Might as well develop 1-2 players in Haider and Khushdil.

 

[Energy]

And that is why we needed Fakhar and Asif to be consistent at the top and middle. There's no power hitting in the team but as much as we would like to criticise Misbah, at least he is not responsible for these two explosive batsmen to decline.

 

[MMHS]

The alternatives are there though! Take Khushdil - he has been with the squad for a year but is yet to get a sustained run in T20’s. Even if he fails, isn’t it better to play him over Malik?

Also, the idea that Misbah must adopt a completely new philosophy or change the players’ mindsets is incorrect - Khushdil, Haider, and even Ifti chacha are all naturally aggressive players who have been given the same aggressive gameplan I am talking about in PSL and domestics by Peshawar, Multan, etc.

Even with Hafeez and Malik in the team, we will be lucky to win this T20 series against England. Might as well develop 1-2 players in Haider and Khushdil.

For future project, yes. Problem is PAK is carrying a chip on shoulder which is not allowing anyone to experiment. The want to win every game and playing best possible XI. In other way, more than MoHa/Malik, PAK should have rested Shaheen here. I guess you got the clue - if Misbah plays an experimental XI and PAK loses to this Pom team half of the players I don’t know much about, there will be bloodshed for Misbah here in PP, and all over PAK. But, it’s acceptable to lose with seasoned pros - no coach or selector will risk that. Lots of former PAK players are waiting for their share of pie and praying for the team to fail, so that they can bash left right & centre. Playing Sr players is the safer option. That’s why at first I said that 2-3 years sacrifice is required.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

For future project, yes. Problem is PAK is carrying a chip on shoulder which is not allowing anyone to experiment. The want to win every game and playing best possible XI. In other way, more than MoHa/Malik, PAK should have rested Shaheen here. I guess you got the clue - if Misbah plays an experimental XI and PAK loses to this Pom team half of the players I don’t know much about, there will be bloodshed for Misbah here in PP, and all over PAK. But, it’s acceptable to lose with seasoned pros - no coach or selector will risk that. Lots of former PAK players are waiting for their share of pie and praying for the team to fail, so that they can bash left right & centre. Playing Sr players is the safer option. That’s why at first I said that 2-3 years sacrifice is required.

And why should people get emotional about Mickey mouse format, especially bilaterally? T20 cricket should just be used to let youngsters play. I couldn't care less if Pakistan lost matches for 5 years in T20 cricket, provided youngsters get a chance to taste international cricket.

 

[Greenstorm]

Again, I’ll say MoHa/Malik are earning their spot in PAK team. I myself isn’t the biggest fan of them, which one should know but still I can’t deny that against a depleted BD side, it took a Malik masterclass to win first T20 & MoHa also chipped in second one.

To me, formula for PAK in T20 is the simplest of all - batsmen will put some runs some how, five bowlers will defend it .... or bowling first, bowlers will keep the target to a level that batting out 20 overs somehow should take PAK home. If bowlers fail - 11 batsmen won’t win it.

The main reason for that is PAK’s batting bar Babar & to an extent MoHa/Malik is extremely limited - batsmen can’t rotate strike for singles, can’t place balls for double/triple; can’t find gaps & doesn’t time it well enough to hit boundaries and can’t hit/loft it sweetly enough to hit six. Batting is extremely laborious effort where runs come at a premium risk. In between some days bat swing can connect it in middle for a considerable period - we may see a blasting innings like Fakhar played at Oval. On top of that, PAK can’t use batting depth, because in a 20 or even 50 overs game - whoever bats at top including Babar, bats moderate to extreme selfishly to eat up overs and PAK often will end up at 100/2 after 15 overs with a depth of Imad, Shadab, Amir, Wahab at 8-9-10-11. I saw SAF in 90s when they had Symcox at 10, often they were ahead of asking but 4-5 down by 25th over and still comfortably chasing a target or setting a target beyond reach - that’s bringing batting depth.

If I were in charge, I would have picked even five genuine No. 11s but on bowling merit to bowl 20 overs and then ask six batsmen play selfishly to bat out 20 overs - most of the time it’ll work, rather than trying to play “modern” game where you may concede 200, but your fire power & batting depth can take you to the target. PAK is at least 35 years behind when it comes to T20 batting - that team of 2007-2012 was built around the bowling of five bowlers, and the day bowlers failed, it didn’t work - it still is applicable, me thinks.

2007-12 was a different era. 150-160 was a considerable total back then. Nowadays, 180 is minimum that a team targets.

I am actually shocked that you are advocating for Malik and Hafeez in T20s. This probably stems from your pessimistic bucket/tank is empty theory but I am not buying it, at least in LOIs.

 

[shamaan]

The team can’t afford to carry them both. One or the other has to sit.

Agreed I fink hafeez will fit out

 

[shamaan]

You are making a very simple point that is too obvious to see but it is too complex for Misbah.

It is very rare to have batsmen in T20 who can score as consistently as Babar does. But Babar will never be able to win matches on his own because he cannot score at 150+ strike rate. Therefore, it is imperative to form a batting lineup in which there is consistent-dependable Babar along with 4 to 5 big hitters who can clear the ropes with ease.

Sharjeel Khan's non selection is baffling. Shoaib Malik and Hafeez in T20s . Even Ireland and Zimbabwe have better T20 wicket keeper batsmen than Rizwan and Sarfaraz. Misbah has made us a joke.

Muhammed harris or rohail nazir need to be given a chance.sharjeel needs to work on his fitness.hopefully haider ali shines

 

[shamaan]

Misbah took over as the T20 coach at the wrong time. Pakistan racked up plenty of cheap wins under Mickey at a time when other sides were focused on ODIs because of the World Cup and played underpowered sides in meaningless T20I matches.

The reality of Pakistan’s so-called number 1 T20I side from 2016 to 2018 would have been ripped to shreds had we played India in that period. It would have been a repeat of the Asia Cup humiliation.

Take Mickey’s 2016-2018 so-called great team and make them play 10 matches against India and England and they would end up losing at least 8 of those 10 matches.

Things are different now. We have two WT20s in the next two years and teams are no prioritizing this format over the ODI one, so now it is no surprise that we are getting exposed like no tomorrow.

When teams were focused on ODIs, Mickey Arthur the guru was taking Pakistan to 21 defeats in 25 ODIs including a 12 match losing streak.

What about New Zealand south Africa west indies ?

 

[shamaan]

And that is why we needed Fakhar and Asif to be consistent at the top and middle. There's no power hitting in the team but as much as we would like to criticise Misbah, at least he is not responsible for these two explosive batsmen to decline.

Asif ali is average he hasnt won pakistan a game