Has Azhar Ali finally repaid the faith as an ODI opener when it mattered the most?

[Suleiman]

Everybody wanted him dropped from the moment the squad was announced to the moment he took 15 balls to get going vs Sri Lanka.

Now he walks back to the pavilion having tightened Pakistan's chokehold around England's neck, that too in a semi final.

Yes it wasn't a blitzkrieg innings, but gosh did he look good once he got going.

Could he replicate this in the final and beyond? Is he in the long term plans again?

Fakhar-Azhar has a good ring to it.

 

[Anwar_194]

No, it was good of Fakhar to release the pressure on him or else he would have be gone

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Naa this chase suited his style of play. He is not an ODI player. We need to get rid of him for the sake of the team. Nothing against azhar he is a hard worker but we can't really play to our potential in ODIs till we get rid of him

 

[idrizzy]

Azhar Ali's scores in the Champions Trophy

vs India:
50(65), SR: 77. 4s: 6, 6s: 0

vs South Africa:
9(22), SR: 41. 4s: 1, 6s: 0

vs Sri Lanka:
34(50), SR: 68. 4s: 2, 6s: 1

vs England:
76(100), SR: 76. 4s: 5, 6s: 1

Total runs: 169(237), Average: 42.25, SR: 71. 4s: 14, 6s: 2

Thoughts of his performance in this tournament so far?

 

[pakistanisgreat]

i will take it.

 

[Madplayer]

Should be out of the side if sharjeel is found innocent.

 

[Boi]

Better than the other opener we have on the bench.

 

[shaz619]

In a high pressure scenario he got runs, he's not perfect but he fights till the end and doesn't chicken out like others. Azhar succeeded where the likes of Hales and Bairstow failed, what more can you ask from the guy? ideally a bat with a modern S/R would be nice but in the circumstances which have been presented he has done okay for himself so we should value these clutch runs

 

[Suleiman]

Should be out of the side if sharjeel is found innocent.

Let's assume Sharjeel is gone for the sake of the thread. Else no comparison.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

I am ok with him for the time being .

 

[amvbfm]

7/10. Performed the role assigned to him. The only blemish being the shots he played to get out against SA and SL.

 

[cricfan14]

He is contingent on his partner. If his partner is taking off the pressure then he's ok to tuk tuk along. But rarely can he show any initiative himself. It's a problem.

 

[Vorador]

No. Azhar, Babar, Hafeez, all these are players who will go missing when a 320 chase is needed.

 

[Adil_94]

azhar is perfect for these 90s style pitches n he is a better option than Shehzad currently but we cant accomodate him Hafeez n Malik in the same top 5.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No. Azhar, Babar, Hafeez, all these are players who will go missing when a 320 chase is needed.

Is Azhar's S/R even that bad in ODI's? This isn't T20 cricket remember, you still need a batsman with proper technique over 50 overs. Babar is class IMO. But ditch Hafeez by all means, he's a proven failure at top level.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Let's assume Sharjeel is gone for the sake of the thread. Else no comparison.

Still should be gone

Our bowling cant save us everytime

 

[Mag101]

Credit where it's due, he turned up today, props to him. I think he played a perfect hand, with Fakhar playing his natural game at the other end.

 

[Pete Rose]

no

 

[the Great Khan]

I think he''s showing his class. With fakhar relieving him of some of the pressure it allows him to settle then you see the quality this guy has..also I rate fakhar a better bat than sharjeel at the same point..fakhar looks like he can really develop into a good player..

This is a good partnership up top..

 

[Donal Cozzie]

I think he''s showing his class. With fakhar relieving him of some of the pressure it allows him to settle then you see the quality this guy has..also I rate fakhar a better bat than sharjeel at the same point..fakhar looks like he can really develop into a good player..

This is a good partnership up top..

But he went at a 50 SR for the first 30 balls of a tricky knockout match chase on a track where fast bowlers were getting the ball to talk. Besharam baqwas garbage sifarish player drop him now for not hitting 6 sixes in the first over.

 

[Madplayer]

Let's assume Sharjeel is gone for the sake of the thread. Else no comparison.

He has to go buddy. You cant stick with such a player. He played at his career strike rate today i.e. 76. The knock was very very good make no mistake about it but the harsh truth is , he simply isnt cut out for modern day ODI cricket. He can only play till a replacement in sharjeel's mould isnt available. Sahibzada farhan is doing great as a domestic opener from what i hear.

 

[pakistan cricket fan]

But he went at a 50 SR for the first 30 balls of a tricky knockout match chase on a track where fast bowlers were getting the ball to talk. Besharam baqwas garbage sifarish player drop him now for not hitting 6 sixes in the first over.

Haha you have learnt some urdu words very good

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Just wish he had some ability man because he has everything else. He gets in perfect position to play the shots, just doesn't have the eye.

 

[j_kazmi]

But he went at a 50 SR for the first 30 balls of a tricky knockout match chase on a track where fast bowlers were getting the ball to talk. Besharam baqwas garbage sifarish player drop him now for not hitting 6 sixes in the first over.

I think your spending to much time on pp

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He performed well today.Should still be kicked out after the CT final though.However Hafeez and Shehzad need to be kicked out first.

 

[New Yorker]

Everybody wanted him dropped from the moment the squad was announced to the moment he took 15 balls to get going vs Sri Lanka.

Now he walks back to the pavilion having tightened Pakistan's chokehold around England's neck, that too in a semi final.

Yes it wasn't a blitzkrieg innings, but gosh did he look good once he got going.

Could he replicate this in the final and beyond? Is he in the long term plans again?

Fakhar-Azhar has a good ring to it.

No, begone already.

 

[proud_pakistani]

He's good for a chase of 220 but there will be days Pakistan will need to chase 300 and that time Azhar will be a huge liability. Ideally we need Sharjeel back. Sharjeel and Fakhar opening is a an amazing proposition.

 

[hadi123]

I'll take it for now as we have Fakhar at the other end so no worries about strike rate. But we need to give Sahibzada Farhan a chance or recall Sharjeel if he gets cleared

 

[SandyB]

Pakistani Rahane , with fewer shots. Not a mordern ODI bat (like Rahane) , but good enough to grind out low scoring ODI's. In an Unstable line-up like pakistan , you need ONE Azhar.

Still, miles better than Shezzy boy !

 

[cricketInsight]

Everybody wanted him dropped from the moment the squad was announced to the moment he took 15 balls to get going vs Sri Lanka.

Now he walks back to the pavilion having tightened Pakistan's chokehold around England's neck, that too in a semi final.

Yes it wasn't a blitzkrieg innings, but gosh did he look good once he got going.

Could he replicate this in the final and beyond? Is he in the long term plans again?

Fakhar-Azhar has a good ring to it.

He is done relatively well compared to other openers apart from Sharjeel. However this performance would soon be forgetten. It will be discarded as an easy chase.

 

[Syed1]

He played well today after a sedate start. Hope he performs like this in the final as well. We can worry about future of his career and place in the side after the 18th.

 

[ads101]

He's a test batsman trying to play LOI. He's useful in difficult conditions, he handles them better than most of our batsmen who just can't handle it (especially the new ball). But this approach won't work to get big totals. What's more he's far too reliant on someone else making up the SR for him, even when he plays himself in.

Too many limitations. I initially wanted him in the ODI side thinking he could reinvent himself, because he obviously knows how to stay at the crease in difficult conditions and against good bowling attacks. But think he's too limited, can't strike boundaries and will, can't rotate the strike.

He isn't the future. I wish we'd introduced him in ODIs before giving him captaincy of it and let him focus on reinventing his batting. But think it's too late now and upon seeing him in CT, doesn't look like it'll work anyway.

 

[ShahKhan007]

Azhar Ali does provide much needed calmness in the middle unfortuantely his inability to find the gaps and rotate the strike is detrimental to chasing any targets above 250.

Azhar is one best Test batsman going around there its inexcusable for him not to be able to roate the strike or find the gaps in ODI's. Its much harder for LOI player to become a test player than vice versa if Azhar works on that part of his game he will be a stable force in the lineup.

 

[shaz619]

He played well today after a sedate start. Hope he performs like this in the final as well. We can worry about future of his career and place in the side after the 18th.

Thanks

 

[shaz619]

Pakistani Rahane , with fewer shots. Not a mordern ODI bat (like Rahane) , but good enough to grind out low scoring ODI's. In an Unstable line-up like pakistan , you need ONE Azhar.

Still, miles better than Shezzy boy !

I think Fakhar and Azar compliment each other well, it was our best opening partnership in a very long time; Azhar had an even better partnership with Babar once the platform had been laid at the top, credit to Azam for his intent as well but that's what a solid platform can do, allows you to free up those arms.

Sure we got to find more dynamic openers but for now Azhar is doing ok in the circumstances and hopefully he does better in the final

 

[Haz95]

The problem with Azhar is he cannot maintain a 85/90 strike rate like Sarfraz, Malik and Babar, nor can he smash around balls like Fakhar or a bilateral Hafeez. If he could do so, then he'd compliment Fakhar well but this guy Azhar is only good if the chase is <250. Anything more...

 

[Syed1]

The problem with Azhar is he cannot maintain a 85/90 strike rate like Sarfraz, Malik and Babar, nor can he smash around balls like Fakhar or a bilateral Hafeez. If he could do so, then he'd compliment Fakhar well but this guy Azhar is only good if the chase is <250. Anything more...

What makes you think our next chase would be greater than 250?

 

[Haz95]

What makes you think our next chase would be greater than 250?

What makes you think that I think that Pakistans next chase is greater than 250 ?

 

[member250]

Right now he look perfect because Pakistan has been chasing less then 250 in last 3 games. Especially with Fakhar blasting opposition in early overs. He will be exposed if asked to set target or chase 280+.

 

[itsme]

He is done relatively well compared to other openers apart from Sharjeel. However this performance would soon be forgetten. It will be discarded as an easy chase.

211 isn't a easy target?

 

[imranyounus]

I think he along with babar and haris should make the core. but we will need fakhat sharjeel and fahim in with them. lots of people are blaming or singling out one or 2 players just on the bases of their personsl liking.
but fact is all players cannot be like sharjeel you need a balance.

I personally feel hafeez will b hard to b ignored so it will b hard for haris to come in the side. and we will need to look at immad as well. if he is unable to improve his big hiting it will b hard to keep him in as well. we need another big hitting allrounder.

 

[itsme]

Playing these guys is like playing bowlers who give 0/80 every matches just because the bats are scoring 400 and winning the match for you.

 

[imranyounus]

people also forget that his role was not to go after the bowling. its not his fault if the people who were suppose to go after the bowling like shahzad akmals or maliks failed to do so. why do peoe think that it is his job and rest are here to joyride.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Simply not good enough as odi opener in modern game, its all good batting as a sheet anchor when chasing small totals but in all 3 of our winning run chases its fakhar whose done all damage, one shudders to think what eud happen if we lost fakhar early or had to chase 300+ azhars constant eating of dot balls will come back to bite pakistan in future.

 

[Hasan]

Pak bowlers need a decent score on the board to defend. AA is ideal in this regards. He is a batsmen around whom a innings can be developed. He puts a price on his wicket and given the weakness of our middle order the team needs a stable and reliable batsmen upfront. yes he may cost the side 20 runs but without him a decent score is also highly unlikely.

 

[Sultan Baba]

Azhar Ali As A Opner Is Good Choice

Azhar Ali as a opner is good choice only one thing they improve srike rate and then he will be Our Hashim Amla in ODIs
and now he is on frist postion in Runs making in CT2017 from Pakistan Team

 

[zulfiqar]

I'll repeat what I've been saying about Azhar Ali ever since his first stint as ODI captain in Bangladesh. He's not made for the modern game, but he's a solid option for a Pakistani side that is short on batting talent! Unless he is not among the runs, I wouldn't drop him! That being said, we should be searching for another opening batsman.

The best thing about him is that he fights hard. Though we have all wanted Misbah to leave, Azhar is basically a poor man's Misbah in terms of what he will produce. The key difference is that he bats at the top of the order, where he can contribute as long as his partner on the other end is a stroke player.

 

[zulfiqar]

For example, if you look at Rohit Sharma's innings against Pakistan, I would argue that Azhar can regularly produce innings like that if he's given a run of 20 ODIs! Yes, he will never be explosive, but he will certainly improve because he seems like a person that wants to learn.

Still, I'd rather have two aggressive openers, but Azhar / Fakhar seem pretty solid options to me going forward. If we find someone better before WC '19, then so be it, Azhar can be benched but I would still have him in the squad as a back-up to any player who goes missing or doesn't show fight.

 

[Zabbaz]

Let's assume Sharjeel is gone for the sake of the thread. Else no comparison.

He is not a long term option. We are not going to be chasing or building a score at RR or runrate that is around 4. In todays game Azhar played his role almost perfectly. He deserves credit for this, but he is not a long term prospect. We need a modern player. Shaibzada Farhan (correct spelling?) is one such option. But honestly almost any person is a better option. He is a very good test player and he should focus on that. It will be better for Pakistan cricket in the long run.

 

[JibranAnsari]

No , he is a liability. You will see this once fakhar departs early. He will always be someone who feeds of his partners success , what do you expect from him when he partners hafeez at 30/2 ? A 100 ball 65?

If pakistan want to be real good in odis they need to get rid of azhar.

 

[idrizzy]

For example, if you look at Rohit Sharma's innings against Pakistan, I would argue that Azhar can regularly produce innings like that if he's given a run of 20 ODIs! Yes, he will never be explosive, but he will certainly improve because he seems like a person that wants to learn.

Still, I'd rather have two aggressive openers, but Azhar / Fakhar seem pretty solid options to me going forward. If we find someone better before WC '19, then so be it, Azhar can be benched but I would still have him in the squad as a back-up to any player who goes missing or doesn't show fight.

I agree. Preferably would like Sharjeel and Fakhar, but Azhar is no slouch either. At least with Azhar you get consistency, and he's shown that. If he can improve though that'd be great, but it won't be enough to dislodge an aggressive opener in the mould of Fakhar/Sharjeel.

 

[Zabbaz]

Is Azhar's S/R even that bad in ODI's? This isn't T20 cricket remember, you still need a batsman with proper technique over 50 overs. Babar is class IMO. But ditch Hafeez by all means, he's a proven failure at top level.

Yes it is. His strike rate is simple not acceptable. Keep in mind that Zaman won't always be there to make up for Azhar's slow scoring. Zaman is human and will also have off days. Which means you are left with a very slow scoring batsmen who is eating up balls. Dots after dots. Putting pressure on his partner at the other end and the team.

I am no fan of Hafeez, but he adds more to the team with his economical bowling than Azhar Ali.

 

[Zabbaz]

He has to go buddy. You cant stick with such a player. He played at his career strike rate today i.e. 76. The knock was very very good make no mistake about it but the harsh truth is , he simply isnt cut out for modern day ODI cricket. He can only play till a replacement in sharjeel's mould isnt available. Sahibzada farhan is doing great as a domestic opener from what i hear.

Exactly

 

[daytrader]

Another solid performance from him. We need an opener like him. His role is to anchor the innings and he's been fulfilling his role perfectly. People forget that even if it was a 300+ chase, we made 215 in 37 overs. Another 85 from 13 overs is very doable. Without Azhar Ali this is not possible

 

[Sirris]

Need to look for better alternatives.

There is only certain amount of appreciation hard work can earn you. At the end of the day he isn't the man for the job.

Brownie points for hard work and attitude. But don't want to see him for long in the Odi team after the CT.

 

[Zabbaz]

Azhar Ali does provide much needed calmness in the middle unfortuantely his inability to find the gaps and rotate the strike is detrimental to chasing any targets above 250.

Azhar is one best Test batsman going around there its inexcusable for him not to be able to roate the strike or find the gaps in ODI's. Its much harder for LOI player to become a test player than vice versa if Azhar works on that part of his game he will be a stable force in the lineup.

I use to believe that too, but I think it is a myth in todays era. Look at Eng they tried that for years. They recently moved towards specialization and look at how much they have improved. Sure some high class players can play all formats, but now that ODI's have become high scoring affairs it seems that adaptation for test players have become more difficult

 

[Zabbaz]

people also forget that his role was not to go after the bowling. its not his fault if the people who were suppose to go after the bowling like shahzad akmals or maliks failed to do so. why do peoe think that it is his job and rest are here to joyride.

Why should he be allowed to play slowly? Why should all other players take risks, but he should be given special consideration and allowed to play a slow and safe innings and stay in the side? It makes no sense. Why should he be given special treatment? Sure not every player can be a Sehwag or Gilchrist, but there has to be minimum standard for what kind of strike rate is acceptable even if you are a accumulator

 

[coy0607]

I still don't think Azhar is a long term solution.

Hafeez is total deadwood so I'd rather he go first, but I think unless Azhar can improve drastically, he should be out of the ODI team in 6 months or so

 

[Zabbaz]

For example, if you look at Rohit Sharma's innings against Pakistan, I would argue that Azhar can regularly produce innings like that if he's given a run of 20 ODIs! Yes, he will never be explosive, but he will certainly improve because he seems like a person that wants to learn.

Still, I'd rather have two aggressive openers, but Azhar / Fakhar seem pretty solid options to me going forward. If we find someone better before WC '19, then so be it, Azhar can be benched but I would still have him in the squad as a back-up to any player who goes missing or doesn't show fight.

What happens when Zaman fails and AA is 12 off 30? RR is going up and a new batsman has just come to the crease? Should AA be allowed to keep playing safely? What will that do to the RR? What kind of pressure does that put on the new batsman? Do you see my point?

 

[OmaIR1]

I am okay with him in the team for the final. After that we must further invest in new talent.

Only Shoaib Malik has potential to be retained. But the rest need to go (Shehzad, Hafeez, Azhar, etc.)

 

[Zabbaz]

No , he is a liability. You will see this once fakhar departs early. He will always be someone who feeds of his partners success , what do you expect from him when he partners hafeez at 30/2 ? A 100 ball 65?

If pakistan want to be real good in odis they need to get rid of azhar.

You have explained things perfectly

 

[hailian]

The reason why everyone criticizing Azhar is that he is the only Pakistani Batsman in the Top 10 best performers of this tournament.

 

[dauntless]

He is much better than garbage shehzad who is on the bench.I would always take him over that garbage.still azhar is not good enough cause shehzad is bad doesn't make azhar good.yeah he played decently though.

 

[Savak]

Mickey is trying to man him up and it is clear he is making an effort to operate at a reasonable strike rate. That six against Perera was beastly.

 

[kingusama92]

PAK will rarely chase down a 300+ score with Ali in the team.

Simple as that.

 

[MRSN]

PAK will rarely chase down a 300+ score with Ali in the team.

Simple as that.

This.

We have won all three games due to bowling. The batsmen had to chase at 4 odd runs per over which gives you enough time. But game is changing. Pakistan got lucky this time their bowling worked. but they should be prepared to chase anything 330 range so Azhar has no place in my future ODI team. Also Hafeez.

 

[the Great Khan]

But he went at a 50 SR for the first 30 balls of a tricky knockout match chase on a track where fast bowlers were getting the ball to talk. Besharam baqwas garbage sifarish player drop him now for not hitting 6 sixes in the first over.

lol your finally getting the lingo lol..

but yes your right he should be dropped for being calm,steady and showing quality..time to find a 15 year old who hits big sixes and then gets out..