Don't take this Pakistan-Australia ODI series too seriously

[The_Odd_One]

Likes of Head and Mitch Marsh have equal or better players playing ahead of them.Cummins is already in the squad. For him to play Richardson or Stonis would have to be left out. Listed absent players for Australia even though all cannot be played at once and have to replace some good players in this team. So what about the 7 regular players missing in Pak squad?
Only deluded posters would think that Fakhar,Babar, Shadab, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah would not boost this team. We performed very well against NZ in UAE and only rain lost us the chance of winning the series. Even against SA we were winning the series again rain ruined our chances and we lost Sarfraz as a captain and much better batsman than Rizwan. This Australia B team beat India in their own tailored made pitches home.
I have no hope for Pak in the world cup but does not mean all Pak players are rubbish.

Each of missing Australian player is more than good enough to be on Pakistan’s main team. Fakhar has been thoroughly exposed by all teams and he’s not even great in the UAE. Haris has played the same type of inning that Babar would. Rizwan has been an upgrade over the specialist captain who I don’t even remember when scored a century in any format last time. Shadab averages 40+ against non minnows. Hassan averages 35+ since the start of 2018. Only, Shaheen has been missing in this team who alone will not make a big difference.

 

[giri26]

To be frank, don't know what Pakistan wanted to achieve with this series. They are not playing majority of their first choice players. The players they are fielding in this series might not even be part of the WC squad. What bench strength are Pakistan testing? Just a year ago, Pakistan was playing full strength teams against all comers in both T20I's and ODI's and now with WC just couple of months away with limited opportunities left to test your combination, they decide to rest everyone?

Since Jan 2018, the rested players have done this:
Fakhar Zaman - 1042 at 57.88 (Without the Zim series he has 360 runs at 32.7)
Safaraz - 292 at 24
Babar - 792 @ 39
Faheem - 126 @ 12
Shadab Khan - 228 @ 22

Now the bowlers:
Shadab Khan - 28 wickets @ 29
Hasan Ali - 21 wickets @ 35 (If you take out Zim series he has 15 wickets at 43)
Ashraf - 17 wickets @ 31

So what are these players resting for?

 

[Chokli]

they should have been rested for the first two odis.


the last three should have been the full squad.

 

[Usman Chadda]

To be frank, don't know what Pakistan wanted to achieve with this series. They are not playing majority of their first choice players. The players they are fielding in this series might not even be part of the WC squad. What bench strength are Pakistan testing? Just a year ago, Pakistan was playing full strength teams against all comers in both T20I's and ODI's and now with WC just couple of months away with limited opportunities left to test your combination, they decide to rest everyone?

Since Jan 2018, the rested players have done this:
Fakhar Zaman - 1042 at 57.88 (Without the Zim series he has 360 runs at 32.7)
Safaraz - 292 at 24
Babar - 792 @ 39
Faheem - 126 @ 12
Shadab Khan - 228 @ 22

Now the bowlers:
Shadab Khan - 28 wickets @ 29
Hasan Ali - 21 wickets @ 35 (If you take out Zim series he has 15 wickets at 43)
Ashraf - 17 wickets @ 31

So what are these players resting for?

Faheem Ashraf played the first two ODIs, so he ain't rested in the true sense of the word.

 

[giri26]

Faheem Ashraf played the first two ODIs, so he ain't rested in the true sense of the word.

He has been rested for the reminder of the series, even though he did not do anything in the first couple of games. None of these players were in any sort of form in ODIs for over a year and yet PCB thinks they require rest before 2-3 months of a world tournament when your side is not even settled.

 

[Darkrai]

The captain of Pakistan team isn't even taking this series seriously, who are we?

 

[Suleiman]

I have had a change of heart. We should be taking this series seriously. I was in denial I admit, now I have seen the light, sun shining on me.

This is no way for a champion team to be operating. If you rest players you best believe the benchers should be able to hold their own else why were they on the bench in the first place? Instead of warming benches they should be warming up microwaveable kebab rolls.
[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] bhai please change title to Why is Pakistan not taking this series seriously instead. Thanks brother.

 

[Usman Chadda]

I have had a change of heart. We should be taking this series seriously. I was in denial I admit, now I have seen the light, sun shining on me.

This is no way for a champion team to be operating. If you rest players you best believe the benchers should be able to hold their own else why were they on the bench in the first place? Instead of warming benches they should be warming up microwaveable kebab rolls.
[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] bhai please change title to Why is Pakistan not taking this series seriously instead. Thanks brother.

The likes of Umar Akmal should stick to that, rather than try to play cricket. However, I doubt he is smart enough to be good at that too.

 

[light]

Does OP realizes that this is Australia's B (or you may go ahead and call it C) team that's thrashing Pakistan's B team? If that isn't a big red signal for you, I donno what is. Not to mention this tour is bringing back some of AUS players into form and bringing back their confidence.

 

[Technics 1210]

In some sense it is true that this series should not be taken seriously, because the more serious series will be vs England just before the World Cup, in England!

I see the current series as a chance to experiment with player lineups.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Does OP realizes that this is Australia's B (or you may go ahead and call it C) team that's thrashing Pakistan's B team? If that isn't a big red signal for you, I donno what is. Not to mention this tour is bringing back some of AUS players into form and bringing back their confidence.

What do you know about this Pakistan B team? Please elaborate.

 

[Syed1]

Does OP realizes that this is Australia's B (or you may go ahead and call it C) team that's thrashing Pakistan's B team? If that isn't a big red signal for you, I donno what is. Not to mention this tour is bringing back some of AUS players into form and bringing back their confidence.

This same Australia B (or C) side just demolished India's best eleven in India a couple of weeks ago.


Those living in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

 

[Bigbb]

This same Australia B (or C) side just demolished India's best eleven in India a couple of weeks ago.


Those living in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

Atleast the India series was competitive and evenly fought. We are just rolling over for them.

 

[Syed1]

Atleast the India series was competitive and evenly fought. We are just rolling over for them.

Had we played our first eleven like India did we would have been more competitive as well.

 

[light]

This same Australia B (or C) side just demolished India's best eleven in India a couple of weeks ago.


Those living in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

Don't worry, we have been throwing plenty of words at our own players. But seems like you want to live in denial and hide behind the truth. Our team is terrible, take the top 3 out and it's open hunting season.

 

[light]

What do you know about this Pakistan B team? Please elaborate.

I don't understand your question to even elaborate. Please elaborate on what you mean by what do you know about this team. Please elaborate.

 

[Chokli]

Had we played our first eleven like India did we would have been more competitive as well.

) like against bangladesh?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

For some fans, India - Kohli = India C

But Australia - Smith, Warner and Starc = Full Strength Aus Side

And Pakistan - Babar, Sarfaraz, Zaman and Shaheen = Full Strength Pak Side

Mind you these are the same fans who call these bilateral series 'fun and laughter series' and call IPL the pinnacle of cricket.

On an average, one match thread of this fun and laughter series gets 300-400 replies from disinterested indian fans. On the other hand biggest league in the world hasn't even surpassed this number yet even if you combine all the replies of all the matches so far. #ShowbaaziZindabad

 

[Hasan123]

For some fans, India - Kohli = India C

But Australia - Smith, Warner and Starc = Full Strength Aus Side

And Pakistan - Babar, Sarfaraz, Zaman and Shaheen = Full Strength Pak Side

Mind you these are the same fans who call these bilateral series 'fun and laughter series' and call IPL the pinnacle of cricket.

On an average, one match thread of this fun and laughter series gets 300-400 replies from disinterested indian fans. On the other hand biggest league in the world hasn't even surpassed this number yet even if you combine all the replies of all the matches so far. #ShowbaaziZindabad

As a Pakistan fan I think some players should been rested. But some shouldn't have. I think we have wasted this series So far.

 

[Bilal7]

Malik said it best when he said the point is not to win the series and that more youngsters will be tried out in the next match.

The kiddies who want instant gratification should just watch the IPL for the next few weeks. Haris Sohail and Mohammad Rizwan have put their hands up for the World Cup and that is exactly what we needed from this series.

If we lose all five matches but Junaid, Akmal and Imam join Haris and Rizwan in finding form before we go off to England, we'll be in a much better position than we were coming into this series.

 

[Bilal7]

Don't worry, we have been throwing plenty of words at our own players. But seems like you want to live in denial and hide behind the truth. Our team is terrible, take the top 3 out and it's open hunting season.

Yet, the BCCI did not try to find a couple of proper middle-order batsmen. What was the point in playing Sharma, Dhawan and Kohli in that series? Play six batsmen who are on the fringes and pick the best two to fill out your World Cup side. That is what Pakistan is doing and I am sure we'll find a number six by the time this series is over.

 

[light]

Yet, the BCCI did not try to find a couple of proper middle-order batsmen. What was the point in playing Sharma, Dhawan and Kohli in that series? Play six batsmen who are on the fringes and pick the best two to fill out your World Cup side. That is what Pakistan is doing and I am sure we'll find a number six by the time this series is over.

It's a shame really. BCCI wants to go into the worldcup with old-failed-out of date players instead of actually giving players like Gill/Pant/Co a try. Shooting on our own foot and handicaping our chance of winning the cup. However, I don't understand how some of the ppers are defending this pakistani team's astrocious performance. This is Australia's B or some may even call it C team here. Trying to defend your team's performance by pulling in another team into the conversation. How does that help team pakistan or their cause?

 

[light]

) like against bangladesh?

Actually I remember the last outing of Pak V BD. BD played their "C" team against PAK and won ... LOL!

 

[The_Odd_One]

Malik said it best when he said the point is not to win the series and that more youngsters will be tried out in the next match.

The kiddies who want instant gratification should just watch the IPL for the next few weeks. Haris Sohail and Mohammad Rizwan have put their hands up for the World Cup and that is exactly what we needed from this series.

If we lose all five matches but Junaid, Akmal and Imam join Haris and Rizwan in finding form before we go off to England, we'll be in a much better position than we were coming into this series.

Haris was already the only viable backup for a middle order batsman.
Rizwan is the only backup keeper for specialist captain.
Junaid/Shinwari are the only replacements for golden boy Aamir

Not sure which new backup player other than Hasnain they had to test in this series.

 

[a_tahir]

Actually I remember the last outing of Pak V BD. BD played their "C" team against PAK and won ... LOL!

Never knew a team like bangaldesh had a c team. Lol.

Also as far as i can remember the only player missing was shakib

 

[Chokli]

Never knew a team like bangaldesh had a c team. Lol.

Also as far as i can remember the only player missing was shakib

no tamim iqbal either

 

[Kroll]

Op had the right thinking, makes it a tad easier to deal with the humiliation.

 

[Saj]

Losing 5-0 is no joke.

Some woeful cricket and tactics from Pakistan.

 

[Forum363]

Losing 5-0 is no joke.

Some woeful cricket and tactics from Pakistan.

Well I think, we actually weren’t awful this series. Australia had a couple of players missing but as someone rightfully pointed out, by the last game, we had only 1 or 2 players playing that will be in the starting 11 in England. And we came close to chasing 330.

The fourth game we just choked due to Akmal, Saad and then no lower middle order.

In the first two matches, we got an average score up. 280 regardless of pitches and conditions is decent, we just bowled and fielded poorly but the matches went to the last couple of overs.

The third match was the only one where we were poor.

 

[gazza619]

Losing 5-0 is no joke.

Some woeful cricket and tactics from Pakistan.

What is even more woeful is that there wasnt even an inch of shame on the faces of the players, coach, chief selector and management. Saw many laughing, giggling faces.

It feels like a minnow supporter.

 

[Subhan999]

Team management did a fantastic job resting our players. The boys needed a break after PSL, they've played a lot of cricket some have played all three formats. People complaining over here will be glad in a month or so when we field full strength for the world cup and not having to deal with injuries and fatigue. Full credit to the team from not wavering from their vision I as a fan certainly appreciate it. Technically we are the defending champions.... Don't forget we won the last major tournament. We'll have the same team with a couple of upgrades. Imam/haris in for Azhar. And Shaheen in for Junaid. Imad and Faheem will compete for one spot. Great job by Mickey Inzi and Sarfraz for sticking to their values despite all the negativity.

 

[saeedhk]

Team management did a fantastic job resting our players. The boys needed a break after PSL, they've played a lot of cricket some have played all three formats. People complaining over here will be glad in a month or so when we field full strength for the world cup and not having to deal with injuries and fatigue. Full credit to the team from not wavering from their vision I as a fan certainly appreciate it. Technically we are the defending champions.... Don't forget we won the last major tournament. We'll have the same team with a couple of upgrades. Imam/haris in for Azhar. And Shaheen in for Junaid. Imad and Faheem will compete for one spot. Great job by Mickey Inzi and Sarfraz for sticking to their values despite all the negativity.

I wish I could have your level of delusion. We are the defending champions?

Our CT win was a massive fluke!

 

[Suleiman]

Losing 5-0 is no joke.

Some woeful cricket and tactics from Pakistan.

Yet, unsurprising. When was the last time Pakistan took out Aus, SAF, England, NZ in an ODI series convincingly.

Losing a series 3-2 these days is considered a huge honor for us these days.

 

[Mp812]

It was fun cricket

 

[Ronaldo7]

I wish I could have your level of delusion. We are the defending champions?

Our CT win was a massive fluke!

He's not deluded. He's actually talking sense. At least the management cannot say that the players didn't get enough rest or were carrying injuries.

 

[Mp812]

Not having so called key players in the team is wonderful strategy. If the team wins, it won even without the key players. If lost, its because the team is relatively new and key players are not in the team.

 

[Subhan999]

Almost all world cups and tournaments are won by flukes. Australia beating South Africa in 1999 was a massive fluke as well. Fortune favours the brave.

 

[Subhan999]

I wish I could have your level of delusion. We are the defending champions?

Our CT win was a massive fluke!

I think you are forgetting that we abolutely destroyed England and India in semis and finals. If we were not the better team they would have been champions and they would be not. Accept it we were the better team.