How bad is Fakhar Zaman in the One-Day format?

[MenInG]

This is what Hesson said in his presser yesterday

With Fakhar Zaman, we sent him back to first-class cricket after a discussion about his focus on the one-day format. He wanted to work on his technique, so we gave him a break from T20s to get things right. I fully supported that decision,

Is he that bad or is this simply bowing to public pressure to restore Babar in the side?

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Both Babar and Fakhar should have been playing FC cricket.

 

[Major]

Naa, what i think he meant was, since Fakhar himself informed his technique is an issue, the solution they found was for him to play first class.

First class season starta from october ends in december with only 7 games. Its either that or international cricket

 

[Ball Blazer]

Seems like he is not in Hesson's t20 plan but Babar is

 

[GreenKhan]

Fakhar is actually one of the best if not the best ODI batsman we have had produced in the last 10-15 years, and its arguable he is our best odi opener period.

But in t20s he always seems to be the sacrifical lamb- Rather than trying to build the Fakhar/ Farhan opening combo they will now try another one .

 

[charlie007]

Frankly, as an Indian cricket fan I feel safer with Fakhar out than in. He plays spin better than others and can change a match result. I know Babar will score a 40-45 ball 50 and I’m ok with it but Fakhar can just change gears so quickly and take the game away.

 

[mon858]

If he is truly taken a break to work on some technique and weakness then this is absolutely right thing to do

However, why not do the same with Saim?
Or even Babar, why cant he fix some weakness issues in first class that would help us in future in all 3 formats??

They could have just opened with S Farhan and Hasan Nawaz or Haris or Usman or anyone.

 

[Sachin fan]

Frankly, as an Indian cricket fan I feel safer with Fakhar out than in. He plays spin better than others and can change a match result. I know Babar will score a 40-45 ball 50 and I’m ok with it but Fakhar can just change gears so quickly and take the game away.

Not in t20s he doesn't, you are confusing formats.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Fakhar is not bad in ODIs. I don't think anybody thinks he is... He is one of the greatest players to have played the format for Pakistan as an opener. The problem is, we have not seen much improvement from him as far as his technique goes.

He gets out on the same kind of deliveries. He is not that great in T20s, though. People are rating him too high in that format. His best format is ODI and I think he should have played more red ball cricket.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Technique is overrated in white-ball. I don't know that much about the technical specifics so if there's something he as a player identified then more power to him for wanting to improve. Personally I think Fakhar is Pakistan's best ODI batsman of the current era (last 20 years).

 

[hassan918]

His average is over 44 in ODI cricket which is very good and he also has a decent strike rate of 93. These numbers don't suggest that he is bad in this format.

 

[tiger_khan]

Yes he scored 78 runs today

He was dropped three times. All three times the catches were not difficult.

Basically he averaged less than 20 for his each opportunity in this innings.

Would the international openers of other test playing nations score only 78 in batter friendly conditions, if they get to bat four times in an innings?


We have many young openers who are being unfairly asked to bat at number 6 and even 7. They don't perform and are kicked out of the team.

In my opinion, FZ should be given a chance until the tri-series. If he fails to be consistent, might as well start giving younger players what they deserve.

 

[Rana]

Don’t think so.

I love the guy. He looks done to me.

Pakistan first.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Fakhar has been an underperformer for some time now... I think it is not long before he gets rested/dropped for good.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think he is good for ODI. played some great innings over the years.

It is in T20 where he underachieved.

 

[shaz619]

If there was a player in Pakistan who deserves to picked based on their genuine reputation, then Fakhar would be that player & he has an uncanny ability to turn it on in ICC tournaments. He has earned the right to be given a pass until the next ODI WC is over, one of the all time greats in limited overs from the modern era. My support for him at least is justified based on what he actually done for Pakistan cricket unlike the rabid following off another guy.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

He's getting on now! Made his name in 2017. Pakistani cricket doesn't evolve, it just gets stuck in a rut!

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If there was a player in Pakistan who deserves to picked based on their genuine reputation, then Fakhar would be that player & he has an uncanny ability to turn it on in ICC tournaments. He has earned the right to be given a pass until the next ODI WC is over, one of the all time greats in limited overs from the modern era. My support for him at least is justified based on what he actually done for Pakistan cricket unlike the rabid following off another guy.

Couldn't agree more..

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He's getting on now! Made his name in 2017. Pakistani cricket doesn't evolve, it just gets stuck in a rut!

His innings against New Zealand was one of the stunning assaults I've seen a Pak batter launch against a world-class bowling attack. And that too in a tall chase in a high-pressure, doe-or-die match. That was just recently in 2023. Fakhar has made a name for himself delivering such performances. When people have counted him out, he steps up in and delivers a mega performance

 

[The_KING]

Fakhar may be on a decline but he is a genuine match winner. How many other players do we have that are match winners? Not many, if any.

Fakhar needs to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He has earned the right, as far as I am concerned.

 

[tiger_khan]

Don’t think so.

I love the guy. He looks done to me.

Pakistan first.

I appreciate your stance but FZ has been wronged by the PCB

Babar and Rizwan should have never opened for Pakistan in the presence of FZ & Sharjeel Khan

They have made a career out of the Whiteball at the expense of FZ

FZ deserves a chance and might produce results

He is not slim anymore and still trying to play shots when he uses to be fitter. He relies a lot on his hands when it comes to risky shots. However, his heavier body is not letting him to get in the position for those shots as early as it used to when he was slim.

He can't get slimmer in next few days but can definitely stop playing less over the top risky shots when trying to play with the length of spinners.

 

[BouncerGuy]

If there was a player in Pakistan who deserves to picked based on their genuine reputation, then Fakhar would be that player & he has an uncanny ability to turn it on in ICC tournaments. He has earned the right to be given a pass until the next ODI WC is over, one of the all time greats in limited overs from the modern era. My support for him at least is justified based on what he actually done for Pakistan cricket unlike the rabid following off another guy.

LOL...please confirm yourself and let me know if I am missing something...

 

[shaz619]

LOL...please confirm yourself and let me know if I am missing something...

View attachment 159415

Is there something wrong with the fresh gang mentally, you should know which players kept your WC campaigns alive and who actually won ICC trophy single handedly compared to the rest if you actually watched, and banding his T20 batting with the ODI shows the real IQ, it’s not his greatest format but he has batted where the team has asked him to when he should never have been anywhere other then the top two positions. Anyway, I have no issue with these numbers because my higher IQ understand the context behind them and doesn’t just have a meltdown over padded numbers against C string teams.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Greatest ODI Opener of Pakistan alongside Saeed Anwar.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

His innings against New Zealand was one of the stunning assaults I've seen a Pak batter launch against a world-class bowling attack. And that too in a tall chase in a high-pressure, doe-or-die match. That was just recently in 2023. Fakhar has made a name for himself delivering such performances. When people have counted him out, he steps up in and delivers a mega performance

Point is you can't just rely on one attacking player. That match was a free hit

 

[RidiculousMan]

His innings against New Zealand was one of the stunning assaults I've seen a Pak batter launch against a world-class bowling attack. And that too in a tall chase in a high-pressure, doe-or-die match. That was just recently in 2023. Fakhar has made a name for himself delivering such performances. When people have counted him out, he steps up in and delivers a mega performance

He was in such touch in that game that if it hadn't rained down. I was sure he would get a 200+ score and also win the match for Pakistan.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

LOL...please confirm yourself and let me know if I am missing something...

View attachment 159415

It makes zero logical sense to combine ODI and T20 stats.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He was in such touch in that game that if it hadn't rained down. I was sure he would get a 200+ score and also win the match for Pakistan.

Yup, he was batting like a dream. Middling everything and almost every shot was a monster hit. One of the rare occasions in recent times where a Pakistani batsman utilized a good batting wicket to great effect.

 

[GreenKhan]

Fakhar has the kind of innings in his one day career that no Pakistani Batsman has achieved in the last 20 years . His two ICC centuries are atg knocks by a Pak batsman which will remain unmatched by 99.5% of the players who have played for Pak and will play for Pak in the future .