Domestic cricket season 2019/20 | Team Northern | Discussion Thread

[Markhor]

Northern are blessed with a variety of young pace options such as Shaheen Afridi, Musa Khan and Haris Rauf. They are supplemented by experienced campaigners such as Sadaf Hussain, Sohail Tanvir and Waqas Ahmed.

Northern also perhaps have the most spin bowling depth. In captain Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan they possess two of Pakistan’s leading allrounders. In addition, two of Pakistan’s best young spinners in Raza Hasan and Usama Mir can be called upon from the Second XI.

The batting however looks weak with much depending on vice-captain Umar Amin and senior batsman Afaq Raheem.

Strengths: Have the ability to take 20 wickets in all conditions. Their Second XI is also one to watch with youngsters such as Raza Hasan, Usama Mir, Zeeshan Malik, Tauseeq Shah and Umair Masood gunning for First XI places.

Weaknesses: A weak batting lineup.

Players to watch: Wicketkeeper Rohail Nazir struck an assured hundred vs India in the Under 19 Asia Cup and his development will be interesting to watch. Haris Rauf and Musa Khan are two quicks that caught the eye during the recent Pakistan Super League. Their stamina for the red ball game however will be tested.

 

[Markhor]

Let's have a look at the squad.

First XI - Umar Amin (vice-captain) (Rawalpindi), Afaq Raheem (AJK), Ali Asad (Karachi), Ali Sarfraz (Islamabad), Asif Ali (Faisalabad), Haider Ali (Rawalpindi), Hammad Azam (Rawalpindi), Haris Rauf (Islamabad), Mohammad Nawaz (Rawalpindi), Musa Khan (Islamabad), Nauman Ali (Hyderabad), Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper) (Islamabad), Sadaf Hussain (Rawalpindi), Sohail Tanvir (Rawalpindi), Umar Waheed (Rawalpindi) and Waqas Ahmed (Sialkot).

Second XI – Faizan Riaz (captain) (Islamabad), Ali Imran (Islamabad), Hasan Raza (AJK), Jamal Anwar (wicketkeeper) (Rawalpindi), Naved Malik (Rawalpindi), Raza Hasan (Sialkot), Salman Irshad (AJK), Sarmad Bhatti (Islamabad), Shadab Majeed (AJK), Shehzad Azam (Islamabad), Shoaib Ahmed Minhas (Rawalpindi), Syed Tauseeq Shah (Rawalpindi), Umair Khan (Islamabad), Umair Masood (wicketkeeper) (Rawalpindi), Usama Mir (Sialkot) and Zeeshan Malik (Rawalpindi).

White ball specialists – Mohammad Amir (Rawalpindi), Sohail Akhtar (Abbottabad) and Zaid Alam (Lahore).

PCB central contract players – Imad Wasim (captain) (Islamabad), Shadab Khan (Rawalpindi) and Shaheen Shah (FATA).

 

[MenInG]

Looks to me the strongest of all teams - really looking forward to see Musa and and Rohail Nazir in action.

 

[anonymous_guy]

Looks to me the strongest of all teams - really looking forward to see Musa and and Rohail Nazir in action.

They have the best set of youngsters(followed by Sindh) and a head coach who loves working with youngsters, as shown by Md Wasim for PTV sports team, but their batting is paper thin.

If they have to reach the finals Umar Amin and Rohail Nazir/Haider Ali will need to have a spectacular season.

 

[Titan24]

Shaheen Shah, Musa and Haris Rauf is really exciting bowling trio and also with quite a lot of variety in their style of bowling.

 

[Abdullah719]

Northern, opportunity for young talent to step-up

Lahore, 12 September 2019: Northern will begin their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20 campaign against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the picturesque Abbottabad Stadium on 14 September.

In the absence of Imad Wasim, Umar Amin, who has an average of 40.05 in 121 first-class competitions, will lead the Northern First XI side.

The team is bolstered by the presence of emerging cricketers. Haris Rauf and Musa Khan, the two pacers who showed their worth with sustained pace and penetration in the last edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, are part of an accomplished bowling line-up, which include first-class stalwarts in Sadaf Hussain, Waqas Ahmed and Nauman Ali, and centrally contracted player Shaheen Shah Afridi

Rohail Nazir, Pakistan U19 captain, will take up the wicketkeeping responsibilities and U19 opener Haider Ali is expected to begin the proceedings for the First XI side.

Hammad Azam and Test cricketer Mohammad Nawaz – the two all-rounders – will provide more flexibility to Umar by extending the side’s batting and bowling line-ups. Shadab Khan has joined the side after featuring in Caribbean Premier League.

Sohail Tanvir, who has more than 3000 runs and 307 wickets in first-class cricket, is the experienced cricketer who will be a guiding light for the young and talented cricketers.

Captain Umar Amin’s squad assessment:

“We have been dissecting our squad in team meetings. We have a good mixture of senior and junior players.

“Our young pace-bowling unit for sure looks exciting. Haris Rauf and Musa Khan have proved their mettle in the high-octane HBL Pakistan Super League. And, I am sure they are looking forward to leaving a mark in red ball cricket.

“Our batting line-up is based on senior players like Afaq Rahim, Umar Waheed, Hammad Azam, and myself.”

“The presence of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz is going to strengthen our spin bowling unit.”

Northern Second XI:

The Northern Cricket Association’s Second XI side will be led by Faizan Riaz, who has played 58 first-class matches since his debut in the format in November 2009.

Their bowling line-up includes bowlers in Usama Mir and Salman Irshad, who have impressed in HBL Pakistan Super League , and their batting department includes players like Umair Khan, Ali Imran, Zeeshan Malik, Hasan Raza and Naved Malik.

Northern Second XI begin their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/northern-opportunity-for-young-talent-to-step-up.html

 

[mak36]

Likely XI:

1. Haider Ali/Afaq Raheem
2. Umar Amin
3. Umar Waheed
4. Imad Wasim (c)
5. Asif Ali
6. Hammad Azam
7. Rohail Nazir (wk)
8. Shadab Khan
9. Waqas Ahmed
10. Haris Rauf
11. Shaheen Shah

12. Musa Khan
13. Sohail Tanvir
14. Syed Tauseeq Shah
15. Umair Masood
16. Usama Mir
17. Zeeshan Malik

Comments

• Weak batting- gives Zeeshan Malik and Haider Ali chance to take on more responsibility
• Very exciting 2nd XI with the likes of Umair, Usama and Zeeshan
• Strong bowling attack, Waqas is a clever FC bowler
• Big test is how Musa and Haris are managed. Vital they get games under their belt, rather than warm the bench

 

[Nasty Naz]

Asif Ali and his 21.27 FC average in 56 innings and a whopping 1 hundred. He is soon to be 28 years old.

A poor batsmen like him is not worthy of a roster spot whatsoever.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Asif Ali should have been in the 2ndXI, there are more deserving players being wasted in the 2ndXI than Asif Ali

 

[mak36]

Asif Ali and his 21.27 FC average in 56 innings and a whopping 1 hundred. He is soon to be 28 years old.

A poor batsmen like him is not worthy of a roster spot whatsoever.

Asif Ali should have been in the 2ndXI, there are more deserving players being wasted in the 2ndXI than Asif Ali

 

[MenInG]

Top performers after round 1

Shadab Khan 4/151

Haider Ali 99

Asif Ali 114 in 2nd innings
M Nawaz 100* in 2nd innings

 

[Abdullah719]

Raza Hasan has been called up to the 1st XI now that Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan are at the training camp.

 

[mak36]

Raza Hasan has been called up to the 1st XI now that Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan are at the training camp.

Has Zeeshan been called up? Surely Wasim can see he needs another proper batsman in the first XI.

 

[The Viper]

Good news.

Hopefully he makes use of this opportunity.

Was just a promising player when he first broke through.

 

[Markhor]

Some entertaining resistance from Waqas Ahmed and Musa Khan with the bat but as expected, their batting struggled against a top bowling attack and got hanmered by Central Punjab.

They've have so many bowlers and allrounders but hardly have enough specialist batsmen.

 

[Markhor]

BTW that was the second consecutive game they had to follow on.

 

[mak36]

BTW that was the second consecutive game they had to follow on.

Two blunders:

1) Not playing Haris Rauf. Northern had CP on the ropes on day 1 (four wickets down) but lacked someone who could land that an incisive blow. Rauf in short spells would have made a difference (in the same way CP used Nasim Shah in short spells).

2) Not playing Zeeshan Malik. Playing proper batsman in your XI is usually a good idea. In a squad so short of batting talent ZM playing should have been obvious; he is clearly better than most of the top six Northern played this game (opener Raheem genuinely looked like he had never held a bat in his life).

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Umair, Zeeshan and Rauf should be playing. This Rohail hack has someone strong backing him.

 

[Abdullah719]

1st XI for National T20 Cup

Imad Wasim (c)
Umar Amin (vc)
Ali Imran
Asif Ali
Haider Ali
Hammad Azam
Haris Rauf
Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Nawaz
Muhammad Musa Khan
Naved Malik
Rohail Nazir
Shadab Khan
Sohail Akhtar
Sohail Tanvir
Zaid Alam


2nd XI for National T20 Cup

Faizan Riaz (c)
Sarmad Bhatti (vc)
Hasan Raza
Jamal Anwar
Nauman Ali
Raza Hasan
Sadaf Hussain
Salman Irshad
Shadab Majeed
Shehzad Azam Rana
Shoaib Minhas
Tayyab Riaz
Umair Khan
Umair Masood
Usama Mir
Zeeshan Malik

 

[Bewal Express]

1st XI for National T20 Cup

Imad Wasim (c)
Umar Amin (vc)
Ali Imran
Asif Ali
Haider Ali
Hammad Azam
Haris Rauf
Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Nawaz
Muhammad Musa Khan
Naved Malik
Rohail Nazir
Shadab Khan
Sohail Akhtar
Sohail Tanvir
Zaid Alam


2nd XI for National T20 Cup

Faizan Riaz (c)
Sarmad Bhatti (vc)
Hasan Raza
Jamal Anwar
Nauman Ali
Raza Hasan
Sadaf Hussain
Salman Irshad
Shadab Majeed
Shehzad Azam Rana
Shoaib Minhas
Tayyab Riaz
Umair Khan
Umair Masood
Usama Mir
Zeeshan Malik

If they don't get into the 1st team, do they not play at all?

 

[Abdullah719]

If they don't get into the 1st team, do they not play at all?

Yeah, those who are benched for the 1st XI.

2nd XI matches will be held in Karachi, 1st XI in Faisalabad.

 

[Bewal Express]

Yeah, those who are benched for the 1st XI.

2nd XI matches will be held in Karachi, 1st XI in Faisalabad.

That needs to be looked at- that cant be right.

 

[Abdullah719]

Northern's first and second XIs in the National T20 Cup final.

 

[Markhor]

After a dismal start to the QEA Trophy, Northern's white ball players came to the party and bag the first domestic trophy of the season.

 

[Abdullah719]

After a dismal start to the QEA Trophy, Northern's white ball players came to the party and bag the first domestic trophy of the season.

They have really turned it around, playing an attacking brand of cricket - both with bat and in the field.

If they can beat KP in the ongoing match, they'll make it through to the final.

 

[omairsiddiqui]

Mohammad Wasim - Northern coach

I've been really impressed with Mohammad Wasim's coaching and game planning this domestic season. He took some very brave decisions, many of which paid off. Some things that stood out to me were -

- Trusting young Rohail Nazir as the first-choice wicketkeeper (even with Jamal Anwar in the squad) and batting him up the order.
- Emergence of Faizan Riaz. Not all credit should be given to Wasim but I think his confidence to play fearlessly at his position must have come from the team management.
- Declaring at just 245 ahead vs KP and going on to win the game. Not many coaches, domestic or int'l, would allow this.
- Winning the T20 cup and now being in the top 2 of QeA.

I hope Wasim gets a key role within player development at the NCA as he does seem to be a solid coach. I've also found him to be a good analyst on PTV and his Youtube shows.

 

[shah_1]

He can do a better job than Misbah

 

[Markhor]

What a turnaround. They've played attacking cricket with Zeeshan Malik providing fast starts with the bat, and backed some young players.