Even the left-handers in New Zealand are the wrong ones

[Junaids]

We should be grateful that the tenure of Misbah-ul-Haq as Chief Selector is coming to a close, because yet again he has shown his unerring ability to pick the right player eight years too late.

Consider the two middle-order left-handers that he has in his Test squad in New Zealand:

Haris Sohail:
Age: 32 next month
Lifetime total Test runs: 819

Last 5 international innings outside Asia:
4 6 8 1 8

Fawad Alam
Age: 35
Lifetime total Test runs: 271

Last 5 international innings outside Asia:
29 1 0 20 0*

Just compare Fawad Alam's current 2020-21 QEA performances with those of Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz, both of them 8-10 years younger.

Fawad Alam
17th highest scorer: 296 runs in 3 matches at 59.20

Saud Shakeel
Number 1 highest scorer: 577 runs in 5 matches at 64.11

Mohammad Nawaz
5th highest scorer: 421 runs in 3 matches at 84.20

It's so disappointing to see that even after the departure of Asad Shafiq, the top six continues to contain geriatric batsmen like Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam and Abid Ali when high-performing players who are young enough to develop are doing well.

 

[Giannis]

In cricket and baseball, batting is kinda like a driving a car or flying a plane - the more miles you get, the better you are. That's why these sports have a lot of batters over 30 cause they don't really need the athleticism that soccer or basketball require.

 

[angrypathan]

Can't believe Mohammad Nawaz of all players is now Junaids' darling of the month

 

[Usman]

Harris Sohail is currently the best batsman in Pakistan after Barbar Azam. I know that the likes of Saud, Haider and Abdullah have potential, but Harris is an exceptional talent who has proven his worth in international cricket.

Anyone who had the pleasure of watching him live at the World Cup last year will tell you that. He was the reason why we got as far as we did. Had he not been dropped for some no hopes, we may well have gone even further.

And before his test record is brought up, let me say this. I am not saying that Harris has the best test record, yet. However I have watched enough cricket to be able to spot a diamond and Harris is that.

I just wish he had toured England and not held back due to Covid. I truly believe it would have done him the world of good. I mean if Rizwan was able to succeed, Harris is significantly better and could have really flourished. A shame, but he will inshallah have a great opportunity on this tour of New Zealand to put in a performance.

 

[Junaids]

Can't believe Mohammad Nawaz of all players is now Junaids' darling of the month

People who can average 35-40 with the bat at number 6 - which is all that Shafiq could ever do - but also bowl a bit are incredibly precious.

I'd like in Tests to bat Mohammad Nawaz at 6 and Shadab Khan at 7, with Rizwan moving into the Top Five, as he is more like Alec Stewart than Adam Gilchrist.

Outside Asia, Nawaz and Shadab are all the spinners you need. In Asia I'd drop the fourth quick at Number 8 and play Sajid Khan instead.

I reckon my preferred Pakistan Test team for the 2021-23 World Test Championship round is:

1. Shan Masood (c)
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Babar Azam
5. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Shadab Khan
8. Amad Butt
9. Hasan Ali (SENA) / Sajid Khan (ASIA)
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Naseem Shah

I'd then hope to get Haider Ali in for Shan Masood after that - I'm not sure who the second opener would be.

 

[Khan12]

Lol mohammed nawaz. I will take Imran farhat with 1 leg over him.

 

[Junaids]

Harris Sohail is currently the best batsman in Pakistan after Barbar Azam. I know that the likes of Saud, Haider and Abdullah have potential, but Harris is an exceptional talent who has proven his worth in international cricket.

Anyone who had the pleasure of watching him live at the World Cup last year will tell you that. He was the reason why we got as far as we did. Had he not been dropped for some no hopes, we may well have gone even further.

And before his test record is brought up, let me say this. I am not saying that Harris has the best test record, yet. However I have watched enough cricket to be able to spot a diamond and Harris is that.

I just wish he had toured England and not held back due to Covid. I truly believe it would have done him the world of good. I mean if Rizwan was able to succeed, Harris is significantly better and could have really flourished. A shame, but he will inshallah have a great opportunity on this tour of New Zealand to put in a performance.

These were Haris Sohail's scores on the tour of Australia last November/December - when even Yasir Shah scored a Test century:

32 v an amateur team
18 & 4 v Australia A
2 v Cricket Australia XI

4 v Australia (T20)
6 v Australia (T20)
8 v Australia (T20)
1 v Australia (Test)
8 v Australia (Test)

Haris Sohail scored 83 runs in 9 innings in Australia.

He had talent a decade ago but he hasn't looked after his body and now he's just an unfit "has-been" (or should I say, "never-was").

 

[Khan12]

People who can average 35-40 with the bat at number 6 - which is all that Shafiq could ever do - but also bowl a bit are incredibly precious.

I'd like in Tests to bat Mohammad Nawaz at 6 and Shadab Khan at 7, with Rizwan moving into the Top Five, as he is more like Alec Stewart than Adam Gilchrist.

Outside Asia, Nawaz and Shadab are all the spinners you need. In Asia I'd drop the fourth quick at Number 8 and play Sajid Khan instead.

I reckon my preferred Pakistan Test team for the 2021-23 World Test Championship round is:

1. Shan Masood (c)
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Babar Azam
5. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Shadab Khan
8. Amad Butt
9. Hasan Ali (SENA) / Sajid Khan (ASIA)
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Naseem Shah

I'd then hope to get Haider Ali in for Shan Masood after that - I'm not sure who the second opener would be.

Nawaz will struggle to average above 20.

 

[Junaids]

Lol mohammed nawaz. I will take Imran farhat with 1 leg over him.

Look at Mohammad Nawaz batting and then look at the 35 year old Fawad Alam, proud owner of 296 lifetime Test runs.

 

[Junaids]

Nawaz will struggle to average above 20.

That's double what Fawad Alam averages in 3 Test innings since his comeback!

 

[angrypathan]

People who can average 35-40 with the bat at number 6 - which is all that Shafiq could ever do - but also bowl a bit are incredibly precious.

I'd like in Tests to bat Mohammad Nawaz at 6 and Shadab Khan at 7, with Rizwan moving into the Top Five, as he is more like Alec Stewart than Adam Gilchrist.

Outside Asia, Nawaz and Shadab are all the spinners you need. In Asia I'd drop the fourth quick at Number 8 and play Sajid Khan instead.

I reckon my preferred Pakistan Test team for the 2021-23 World Test Championship round is:

1. Shan Masood (c)
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Babar Azam
5. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Shadab Khan
8. Amad Butt
9. Hasan Ali (SENA) / Sajid Khan (ASIA)
10. Shaheen Shah Afridi
11. Naseem Shah

I'd then hope to get Haider Ali in for Shan Masood after that - I'm not sure who the second opener would be.

Nawaz could work with Gary Palmer for 4 years, and he still wouldn't average above 30 in test cricket. His bowling is hardly better than Haris Sohail's.

 

[MMHS]

Lol mohammed nawaz. I will take Imran farhat with 1 leg over him.

I guess, Nawaz's latest century in QeA Trophy has got better of Junaids this time.

 

[KoyoAli]

Harris Sohail is currently the best batsman in Pakistan after Barbar Azam. I know that the likes of Saud, Haider and Abdullah have potential, but Harris is an exceptional talent who has proven his worth in international cricket.

Anyone who had the pleasure of watching him live at the World Cup last year will tell you that. He was the reason why we got as far as we did. Had he not been dropped for some no hopes, we may well have gone even further.

And before his test record is brought up, let me say this. I am not saying that Harris has the best test record, yet. However I have watched enough cricket to be able to spot a diamond and Harris is that.

I just wish he had toured England and not held back due to Covid. I truly believe it would have done him the world of good. I mean if Rizwan was able to succeed, Harris is significantly better and could have really flourished. A shame, but he will inshallah have a great opportunity on this tour of New Zealand to put in a performance.

This is a myth. Haris is the most overrated player in PP. His test game especially outside Asia is weak. His fitness is so bad he cant make more than 60-70 runs. He bats with an open face and usually is a big suspect of edging it to slips or gully. Age is not on his side either. Dont let the WC performances deceive you. Haris never played with that freedom before or after the WC. Saud is much better alternative or even Hussain Tallat.

 

[shamaan]

Can't believe Mohammad Nawaz of all players is now Junaids' darling of the month

Thats true nawaz should never be in consideration when comparing top 6 batters

 

[shamaan]

Harris Sohail is currently the best batsman in Pakistan after Barbar Azam. I know that the likes of Saud, Haider and Abdullah have potential, but Harris is an exceptional talent who has proven his worth in international cricket.

Anyone who had the pleasure of watching him live at the World Cup last year will tell you that. He was the reason why we got as far as we did. Had he not been dropped for some no hopes, we may well have gone even further.

And before his test record is brought up, let me say this. I am not saying that Harris has the best test record, yet. However I have watched enough cricket to be able to spot a diamond and Harris is that.

I just wish he had toured England and not held back due to Covid. I truly believe it would have done him the world of good. I mean if Rizwan was able to succeed, Harris is significantly better and could have really flourished. A shame, but he will inshallah have a great opportunity on this tour of New Zealand to put in a performance.

He has to perform against new zealand hes good but his fitness is teriable and his knees are like jelly

 

[shamaan]

Someone needs to delete this thread.