Fast Bowling - Pakistan's Luxurious Dilemma

[Asifnow]

We love to complain as Pakistanis, some of us are Brit Paks/Indians and so our complaining ability is unparalleled but just looking at Pak's current resources in the fast bowling department, I am damn impressed. Sadly the best available names are not being selected, or looked after properly by the PCB's medical staff....but viewing them live or looking at their stats, there are some top guys out there.

I'd split these into three categories: internationals, domestic work horses and young talents. Just look at some of these names -

Internationals
1. Muhammad Amir averages of 30, 29 and 20 in tests, ODI and t20s
2. Muhammad Abbas, one of the best test bowlers going
3. Wahab Riaz, still quick, still ferocious and maybe still viable in LOIs
4. Hasan Ali, best bowler in the world in 2017, needs to come back well
5. Usman Shinwari, quick and bustling, could be used better

Domestic Work Horses
1. Sohail Khan, good honest pro with limited time in int'nl
2. Imran Khan Jr, solid domestic pro
3. Muhamamd Irfan, once a top ODI bowler, now a solid dom worker
4. Muhammad Irfan Jr, solid dom pro who deserves more chances
5. Umaid Asif, a PSL mainstay and a solid 1st class bowler
6. Rahat Ali, limited int'nl ability but a solid dom pro
7. Rumman Raees, could work harder for an int'nl comeback
8. Junaid Khan, decent int'nl and top level dom bowler
9. Ehsan Adil, could still get a second shot, top quality 1st class player
10. Anwar Ali, never lived up to U19 fame but very solid

Guys like Batti, Hamza and Wali could also be mentioned

Young Talent
1. Shaheen Shah Afridi, best young quick going
2. Muhammad Husnain, so much to like, so much to improve
3. Naseem Shah, teen sensation who needs a lil more time to cook
4. Muhammad Musa, another teen sensation who probs needs more work
5. Zia Ul-Haq, solid young bowler
6. Haris Ruf, great Aussie season and first PSL

A lot of those work horses could make it back into the international side, especially for LO cricket. I think it is such a solid base to pick from and with the world T20 around the corner, the think tank needs to be responsible and fair.

Enjoy!

 

[Mamoon]

Are you really counting names Sohail Khan, Imran Khan Jr, Rahat, Anwar Ali, Umaid etc. etc. as “luxury”?

Do you really think other countries do not have such “workhorses” in domestic cricket?

Then people wonder why Pakistani fans are so incredibly deluded.

We are ranked 7th in Tests and 6th in ODIs while we talk about our “luxurious” bowling reserves.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Agree with Mamoon here, we have two genuine quality quicks in Amir and Shaheen, even then both are capable of spells of poor form.

The other two pace bowlers I like are Naseem and Hasnain, but both are still very raw and unreliabe. Abbas is good for test matches only.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Is this sarcasm?

 

[Titan24]

Agree with Mamoon here, we have two genuine quality quicks in Amir and Shaheen, even then both are capable of spells of poor form.

The other two pace bowlers I like are Naseem and Hasnain, but both are still very raw and unreliabe. Abbas is good for test matches only.

I agree regarding Amir and Shaheen.

There is no comparison between Naseem and Hasnain. Naseem is far ahead in terms of development, he can move the ball both ways and can consistently do that from good length, Hasnain has a lot to learn.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

I do get it what's op is trying to say but then I saw the names and I was like??

 

[hitthestump]

Pakistan have a lot of fast bowlers at a similar level of ability but none are world class except possibly 1.

Essentially you could play any combination of 3 pacers mentioned above and it'd make precious little difference to our test or ODI ranking.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I agree regarding Amir and Shaheen.

There is no comparison between Naseem and Hasnain. Naseem is far ahead in terms of development, he can move the ball both ways and can consistently do that from good length, Hasnain has a lot to learn.

I haven't really seen that much of either, I just put them together as they are both young fast bowlers with a lot to learn. If Naseem is far ahead that is great, I think he is the better prospect anyway.

 

[Asifnow]

Are you really counting names Sohail Khan, Imran Khan Jr, Rahat, Anwar Ali, Umaid etc. etc. as “luxury”?

Do you really think other countries do not have such “workhorses” in domestic cricket?

Then people wonder why Pakistani fans are so incredibly deluded.

We are ranked 7th in Tests and 6th in ODIs while we talk about our “luxurious” bowling reserves.

Have you ever seen a county season? Their quality of fast bowling is not as good as what Pak have, even if names like Sohail or Imran aren't exactly top guys. In fact, the county system has done a pretty bad job of nurturing young fast bowlers, who disappear into a chasm, never to return. Once the great Jimmy and Broady leave, there isn't a whole lot. The same goes for modern day South Africa (their fast bowling tank is looking empty at the moment).

My thread is really here to highlight the depth, Pakistan's international quality bowlers are quite impressive - Amir, Abbas, Husnain, Shah, Hasan Ali, Shinwari, Shaheen and 3 to 4 other guys who could make it into a squad. Add to that some solid spinners, things are pretty good.

I'd be quite impressed if you could name any other country with 3 teenagers as good as Husnain, Shaheen and Shah.

 

[shamaan]

I agree regarding Amir and Shaheen.

There is no comparison between Naseem and Hasnain. Naseem is far ahead in terms of development, he can move the ball both ways and can consistently do that from good length, Hasnain has a lot to learn.

Correct that naseem is well ahead pluss he can bowl with the new ball and old ball weres husnain majority old ball

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan have a lot of fast bowlers at a similar level of ability but none are world class except possibly 1.

Essentially you could play any combination of 3 pacers mentioned above and it'd make precious little difference to our test or ODI ranking.

Who's the 1 ?

 

[Mamoon]

Have you ever seen a county season? Their quality of fast bowling is not as good as what Pak have, even if names like Sohail or Imran aren't exactly top guys. In fact, the county system has done a pretty bad job of nurturing young fast bowlers, who disappear into a chasm, never to return. Once the great Jimmy and Broady leave, there isn't a whole lot. The same goes for modern day South Africa (their fast bowling tank is looking empty at the moment).

My thread is really here to highlight the depth, Pakistan's international quality bowlers are quite impressive - Amir, Abbas, Husnain, Shah, Hasan Ali, Shinwari, Shaheen and 3 to 4 other guys who could make it into a squad. Add to that some solid spinners, things are pretty good.

I'd be quite impressed if you could name any other country with 3 teenagers as good as Husnain, Shaheen and Shah.

Well I am not talking about Shaheen, Naseem and Hasnain; I am talking about the bowlers you listed as ‘domestic workhorses’.

If you are not exaggerating and the likes of England do not have bowlers of the calibre of Anwar Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Jr, Rahat Ali etc. in county cricket, then surely their future in international cricket must be extremely bleak and we can expect them to be ranked 8th or 9th in Test cricket once the likes of Anderson and Broad retire.

If that is indeed true, then I wonder why County teams don’t rope in the likes of Anwar Ali, Rahat, Sohail Khan etc. to play for them and guide the young bowlers?

I am sorry to say but your absurdly overrating Pakistan’s fast bowling resources. We are guaranteed to remain a mediocre mid-table side no matter who many luxurious fast bowlers you seem to think we have.

 

[Kingpin786]

Are you really counting names Sohail Khan, Imran Khan Jr, Rahat, Anwar Ali, Umaid etc. etc. as “luxury”?

Do you really think other countries do not have such “workhorses” in domestic cricket?

Then people wonder why Pakistani fans are so incredibly deluded.

We are ranked 7th in Tests and 6th in ODIs while we talk about our “luxurious” bowling reserves.

correction we are number 7 your team is number 1 in tests atm