"I can only apologize for the shot I played in the 1st Test" : Abid Ali

[MenInG]

Abid Ali speaking to the press

"We went in with a positive mindset, and batting first after winning the toss was a positive move and we wanted to set up a good total on the scoreboard"

"Unfortunately due to rain we kept on losing wickets"

"Batting conditions due to the weather were challenging; For the last 2 days it was very sunny here but the conditions changed today; However the ball was coming on well on the bat and we also had a good partnership but once again we had to come on and off due to weather and that resulted in wickets to be lost"

"Jimmy Anderson is a top class bowler - he is world-class, I considered facing him a challenge and I did what I could for my team"

"Yes, I am disappointed but this is a part of cricket and I was putting in my best effort as per team requirements; I did score 60 but my aim was to see off the new ball; I couldnt get to 100 but that is part of cricket and I will keep on doing my best"

"All our coaching staff including Misbah and Shahid Aslam, are backing us and giving us confidence; I also talked to Younis Khan who has broken records here - he told us to play with a positive mind - result may not be in our hands but we can always try our best"

"This is my first tour here and I will keep on trying to ensure I follow the plan of seeing off the new ball, its a challenge and I am working on it"

[Before Younis Khan's appointment, you had been scoring successive 100s - but since Younis has come, our players seem to have forgotten to make big scores - what is the reason for that?]

"There is no such thing - Younis Bhai is giving us all a lot of time and giving us a lot of confidence; Unfortunately the shot I played in the last match is simply a part of the game; I can only apologize for that; Younis is spending time with not just one but all players; I am getting benefit from what work he is putting with me"

 

[Energy]

Would love to read the interview of Asad Shafiq. Always lovely to hear him talk if you're lucky.

 

[Abdullah]

Lol at the Yk question. Gotta love the Pakistani journos

 

[MenInG]

Lol at the Yk question. Gotta love the Pakistani journos

Looking for any old excuse now.

 

[MenInG]

Mike Atherton on Abid:

"He looks a good professional first-class batsman. He looks solid, compact. He is not that experienced in Test cricket but has played a lot of first-class cricket and knows his game. He is very neat on his hip and fine on the front foot. He knows what he is doing. You look at some batsmen and are worried about the moving ball but not him."

 

[Markhor]

Good man.

Meanwhile not once have we heard apologies or admissions of failure from Azhar and Asad.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Mike Atherton on Abid:

"He looks a good professional first-class batsman. He looks solid, compact. He is not that experienced in Test cricket but has played a lot of first-class cricket and knows his game. He is very neat on his hip and fine on the front foot. He knows what he is doing. You look at some batsmen and are worried about the moving ball but not him."

I absolutely hate watching him bat but this review Arthers is spot on. Well put by him. Abid May be uneasy and ungainly on the eye but he is mighty effective indeed!

 

[TeymurBlake]

WOW!

An apology, whereas Asad and Azhar are muted about there dismissals.

 

[Kroll]

Good man.

Meanwhile not once have we heard apologies or admissions of failure from Azhar and Asad.

Why would you? They just tag along for the free trips, the cricket is just an after thought.

 

[Abdullah]

I absolutely hate watching him bat but this review Arthers is spot on. Well put by him. Abid May be uneasy and ungainly on the eye but he is mighty effective indeed!

Let's not get carried away. Needed him to go big after the drops

 

[Slog]

Man Misbah has been responsible for many of the ills in Pakistan cricket but I never expected this problem where 30 year olds are seen as prospects

Asad and Azhar should be moving on and Fawad is called up at an age where he should be wrapping up his international career. However all three are considered future prospects

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There used to be a time when Pakistani greats would celebrate 100s in a low key manner and focus on getting to 150 or 200.<br><br>These days Pakistani batsmen celebrate risky 50s as if they are 100s or 200s. <br><br>How times have changed.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/3uDDlhorHz">pic.twitter.com/3uDDlhorHz</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1294005624951496710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[shamaan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There used to be a time when Pakistani greats would celebrate 100s in a low key manner and focus on getting to 150 or 200.<br><br>These days Pakistani batsmen celebrate risky 50s as if they are 100s or 200s. <br><br>How times have changed.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/3uDDlhorHz">pic.twitter.com/3uDDlhorHz</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1294005624951496710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Why has he take his helmet off lol what a guy

 

[TigerOfPakistan]

Why has he take his helmet off lol what a guy

Watch the brits grinning while he took off helmet to celebrate the sketchy 50

 

[shamaan]

Watch the brits grinning while he took off helmet to celebrate the sketchy 50

I no hes proberly thinking it's a match winning innings

 

[Shazzam]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There used to be a time when Pakistani greats would celebrate 100s in a low key manner and focus on getting to 150 or 200.<br><br>These days Pakistani batsmen celebrate risky 50s as if they are 100s or 200s. <br><br>How times have changed.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/3uDDlhorHz">pic.twitter.com/3uDDlhorHz</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1294005624951496710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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When I was watching highlights I thought he scored a 100. Lol

 

[TeamPak95]

When it comes to overly celebrating fifties, Sarfaraz takes the cake. 2014-2016 Sarfaraz would run in full sprint, arms wide spread, slides on his knees like he just scored a goal in football, and screaming to the heavens with his helmet off. At the time he was arguably our best bat and the runs he was scoring meant a lot to him but jeez was it a sight to behold lol.

 

[cric_4life]

Why has he take his helmet off lol what a guy

Because technically it was his first 50 &#55357;&#56834;

 

[Yk313]

When it comes to overly celebrating fifties, Sarfaraz takes the cake. 2014-2016 Sarfaraz would run in full sprint, arms wide spread, slides on his knees like he just scored a goal in football, and screaming to the heavens with his helmet off. At the time he was arguably our best bat and the runs he was scoring meant a lot to him but jeez was it a sight to behold lol.

Him having been kept out of the team by Waqar was a big deal I think. He had a lot of frustration to vent tbf... anyway, Pakistan Cricket is just that: Pakistan Cricket.

 

[Gullycricket]

All our coaching staff including Misbah and Shahid Aslam, are backing us and giving us confidence.
Golden words of Pakistan cricket...XXX bhai is giving us confidence

 

[ManFan]

Nothing beats Asad Shafiq’s cake celebration for an innings in which the team lost in AUS.

And he bottled it near 40-50 runs!

 

[angrypathan]

When it comes to overly celebrating fifties, Sarfaraz takes the cake. 2014-2016 Sarfaraz would run in full sprint, arms wide spread, slides on his knees like he just scored a goal in football, and screaming to the heavens with his helmet off. At the time he was arguably our best bat and the runs he was scoring meant a lot to him but jeez was it a sight to behold lol.

Yep. I'll never forget him scoring his first ODI 50 against Australia in the UAE. Celebrated like he'd just scored 200.

 

[Slog]

When it comes to overly celebrating fifties, Sarfaraz takes the cake. 2014-2016 Sarfaraz would run in full sprint, arms wide spread, slides on his knees like he just scored a goal in football, and screaming to the heavens with his helmet off. At the time he was arguably our best bat and the runs he was scoring meant a lot to him but jeez was it a sight to behold lol.

He would do that for centuries mostly. And boy he did score them in tests and at some rate

 

[Mamoon]

The trend of over the top celebrations was actually started by Umar Akmal. He would do a victory lap around the ground and then do 3 sajdahs after scoring a half-century.

 

[Mamoon]

Man Misbah has been responsible for many of the ills in Pakistan cricket but I never expected this problem where 30 year olds are seen as prospects

Asad and Azhar should be moving on and Fawad is called up at an age where he should be wrapping up his international career. However all three are considered future prospects

Misbah has completely destroyed the age perception in Pakistan cricket. 10 years ago, Azhar at 35 would genuinely be thinking about retirement, but now he feels he has another 5-6 years left.

Everyone thinks they can play till the mid 40s like Misbah.

 

[angrypathan]

He would do that for centuries mostly. And boy he did score them in tests and at some rate

Definitely celebrated the 50s with gusto as well. But yeah some of those test centuries during his purple patch were great to watch.

 

[shamaan]

Because technically it was his first 50 ��

Loool

 

[Firebat]

Though he scored 60, I'm still not convinced of him in SENA. He pushes way too hard at the ball, doesn't know how to leave well and can make such terrible decisions (that dismissal in the 1st Test). He even got dropped twice I think in that 60. Needs a lot of work if he should be considered above Imam in these conditions.

 

[Markhor]

Why would you? They just tag along for the free trips, the cricket is just an after thought.

Still waiting for Azhar and Asad's apologies for:

- Collapsing in the 2nd innings at MCG in 2016 on a featherbed when a draw was easily attainable.
- Abu Dhabi Test vs SRL where they couldn't even chase 130.
- Abu Dhabi Tests vs NZL (cowardly Azhar tried to knock off the last 12 runs of the chase in singles in 1st Test)
- Centurion Test vs SAF (having been 100-1 in the 2nd inns, Shafiq played at a ball well outside offstump having just been reprieved by a review)
- Old Trafford Test in both innings

 

[Usman]

Though he scored 60, I'm still not convinced of him in SENA. He pushes way too hard at the ball, doesn't know how to leave well and can make such terrible decisions (that dismissal in the 1st Test). He even got dropped twice I think in that 60. Needs a lot of work if he should be considered above Imam in these conditions.

I agree with this. This 60 is being appreciated greatly by everyone, as it should be. However Abid's habbit of chasing the ball, when it is very wide outside off stump and rising well over the wickets, is a huge technical error. Had it not been for England's hopeless catching in this series, Abid would be sitting in the same sinking boat as Azhar and Asad right now.

In all honesty though, I don't think Abid should be swapped out for Imam. Imam is the future but right now, he is good enough to be selected above Azhar and Shafiq any day of the week.