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"I have been the best bowler in Pakistan for some time" : Tabish Khan

Azhar Ali on Tabish not being selected for Pakistan:

"Credit to Tabish Khan for continuing to perform for many years, but there are things that the selectors look for in players which include the age factor - but I think credit to him as he is still knocking at the door of selection; I do hope when the selectors discuss selection they will look at his performances, so lets see what happens next"

Age factor !
 
Azhar Ali on Tabish not being selected for Pakistan:

"Credit to Tabish Khan for continuing to perform for many years, but there are things that the selectors look for in players which include the age factor - but I think credit to him as he is still knocking at the door of selection; I do hope when the selectors discuss selection they will look at his performances, so lets see what happens next"

Well azhar, he is only 1 year older then youngster asad shafiq
 
From Day 1 of Round 3 of Qea20:

Sindh gathered three bonus points for bowling on the opening day of their round three first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixture against Northern at the UBL Sports Complex as pacers Sohail Khan and Tabish Khan shared six wickets between them equally.

Northern found themselves in a precarious 90 for five as the two Khans hunted in pairs after Northern captain Nauman Ali elected to bat. Tabish’s three wickets cost 41 runs, while Sohail took his for 43 runs.
 
I was in Karachi recently and got talking to a club cricketer.

He told me Tabish has something like 38 5-fers in Domestic, has tremendous control on seam and swing and could be someone like Abbas or Asif given a chance, yet hasn't played for Pakistan. After his last 5 wicket haul, Tabish cried.

Yet he works hard on the game everyday because he loves it so much.

No idea why he didn't get a chance, is he another domestic trundler? He has a first class average of 24 with 600 wickets - so there must be something. Either way, he is now close to 36 so his time has passed.

Or with Misbah, he may be just a youngster starting out. Who knows.
 
Brilliant delivery by Tabish today.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/2s4sru" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
Brilliant delivery by Tabish today.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/2s4sru" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

absolutely fantastic.
 
Absolute work horse this man - 15 overs and still running in
 
Brilliant delivery by Tabish today.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/2s4sru" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

Unplayable delivery would have got most Batesman out
 
The pick of the bowlers for Sindh was Tabish Khan who added two more wickets to his tally to finish the innings with four for 83 on Day 3
 
Should have been in squad in place of Sohail Musa...another deserving player PCB is wasting
 
With our limited fast bowlers in test cricket atm I think he should at least be in the squad. Could cover for Mohammad Abbas.
 
who is this guy and why was he never picked ? His FC record is super impressive.

Not really, lots of trundlers in Pakistan average low 20's and even late teens in FC.

His List A record is also pretty unspectacular.

At the official age of 36 i don't think there's anything more to discuss here personally. Let's aim to get Hasnain/Rauf/Akif/Dilbar etc. bowling these gems instead.
 
He’s been doing this for the best part of 7-8 years at this point. We’re only seeing it now due to better coverage that’s it.

It really is baffling how we’ve played randos like Musa but haven’t even selected him once let alone give an actual chance. Sharamful

Very shameful
 
Not really, lots of trundlers in Pakistan average low 20's and even late teens in FC.

His List A record is also pretty unspectacular.

At the official age of 36 i don't think there's anything more to discuss here personally. Let's aim to get Hasnain/Rauf/Akif/Dilbar etc. bowling these gems instead.

The names you mentioned baring akif are proberly more suited to odis and t20s maybe in 2 years they can play tests but not right now
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ALHAMDULILLAH by taking 30 wickets this season i m still in the top charts of QET 2020Once again a top wkt taker of my team sindh.And my hopes are very high for the home series against <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialCSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialCSA</a> hope i get a chance to serve my country and make my family proud<a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCBMedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCBMedia</a> <a href="https://t.co/01zdaQ5FKl">pic.twitter.com/01zdaQ5FKl</a></p>— IamTabishKhan (@tabbkhan84) <a href="https://twitter.com/tabbkhan84/status/1347057018922790912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
He will be the next Sohail Khan. wasted peak years but will get called up in a few more years.

I think they excluded him from the pakistan cup squads also i hear.
 
Stats aren’t very flattering for him this year. I think he’s way past his prime but will occasionally deliver jaffas. With the Kookaburra, he seems especially susceptible to being treated like a casual net bowler.

If there was a time and place to call him up, it was the England series where I have no doubt he would have bowled fantastically with the Dukes. He, unfortunately, has no place in our future plans now, even though I think he should have played Test cricket for Pakistan.
 
Stats aren’t very flattering for him this year. I think he’s way past his prime but will occasionally deliver jaffas. With the Kookaburra, he seems especially susceptible to being treated like a casual net bowler.

If there was a time and place to call him up, it was the England series where I have no doubt he would have bowled fantastically with the Dukes. He, unfortunately, has no place in our future plans now, even though I think he should have played Test cricket for Pakistan.

Any bowlers who you think do have a futurr in Pakistan plans for test cricket
 
Almost 600 first class wickets with 38 Five-fers.

Loves cricket, works hard day in and day out. Never say die attitude. Hugely skilled.

A grave injustice to not have played him after a few years in first class cricket.

But now he is 36 (officially.) What is there to gain?

We will just file this away as another one of those sacrificed so kids with glamor could have a day out.
 
Finally - gets into the squad based on this:

“The horses for courses policy means performers like left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, off-spinner Sajid Shah, and fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Tabish Khan will be available for selection, depending on the team composition for the first Test against South Africa in Pakistan in 14 years.

“Tabish Khan has been preferred over Sohail Khan as he is more effective and useful in Pakistan conditions. Like Mohammad Abbas, Tabish is a workhorse, who can bowl long spells with controlled line and length. His 598 career first-class wickets, including 30 wickets this season, is a testament that he is a like-to-like replacement for Mohammad Abbas in the given conditions.

18701f64-8908-4e3b-a989-db222f6b45b2.jpg
 
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Stats aren’t very flattering for him this year. I think he’s way past his prime but will occasionally deliver jaffas. With the Kookaburra, he seems especially susceptible to being treated like a casual net bowler.

If there was a time and place to call him up, it was the England series where I have no doubt he would have bowled fantastically with the Dukes. He, unfortunately, has no place in our future plans now, even though I think he should have played Test cricket for Pakistan.

Still stand by this. He can be useful and perhaps even a match winner in Pindi, but definitely shouldn’t play in Karachi. I will still call it a good selection because morally speaking this guy deserves the callup more than anyone else. Also sends a good message to others in domestics.
 
He is 36 years old - is he really needed that badly?

I am guessing Pakistan is desperate to win a series.
 
He is 36 years old - is he really needed that badly?

I am guessing Pakistan is desperate to win a series.

Depends if he's still bowling at the same standard as he was a year ago. Don't remember him in any of the PSL teams, if he was any good, surely he should have figured in those?
 
While I am also not a fan of debuting players post 33 (At most) but, atleast its a good sign Pak cricket has accepted that test cricket is not a place to develop players.

For national team winning should be the first priority while youngsters should be developed at domestic level and NCA.

If Tabish can star delivering straight away, gives a good season or so and helps Pak win some matches, I dont mind it. However, at this age he cant be given a lot of opportunities so as said, he needs to start delivering straight away and continue it as long as he can.
 
very good decision to include him in the 20 man squad he could be very useful in pindi and a like for like replacement for abbas.good message to domestic performers .
 
Depends if he's still bowling at the same standard as he was a year ago. Don't remember him in any of the PSL teams, if he was any good, surely he should have figured in those?

hes a test match bowler he rarely plays in t20s or even odis domestically
 
At 36 I don't think it made sense to call up Tabish for me when Ehsan Adil would probably been a better option. Also not sure if Tabish would play, he's replaced Sohail Khan who himself hasn't played for Pakistan recently, just making the bench.
 
He is 36 year old officially so add two years to that, it just doesn't make sense. He has an average of 35 in last two seasons.
 
Depends if he's still bowling at the same standard as he was a year ago. Don't remember him in any of the PSL teams, if he was any good, surely he should have figured in those?

He is more of a FC bowler, his limited overs record is pretty average.

This selection is way too late and he likely won’t play but still good to see him get a bit of recognition for his great first class record.
 
Imagine the guy finally was picked after 85 months of the OP!!!! With that much experience, he is bound to be reasonably effective, but guy is officially 36+, and last couple of years stats are poor, which indicates a terminal decline -!this was a eye wash selection, otherwise both Wasim & WY retired by Tabish’s official age.
 
He will be the next Sohail Khan. wasted peak years but will get called up in a few more years.

I think they excluded him from the pakistan cup squads also i hear.

Sohail Khan was selected in 2009 when people were comparing him to Waqar younis in domestic cricket both in terms of speed and movement. When he came in, he had no movement, his pace was early 130s and top pace a terrifying 138kmh.

He was rightly dropped
 
Rule number 1 of any chief selector:

Always pick a player from Karachi to keep their local media happy :)

Asad Shafiq, Sohail Khan, Tabish Khan, Tanvir Ahmed etc etc.
 
Rule number 1 of any chief selector:

Always pick a player from Karachi to keep their local media happy :)

Asad Shafiq, Sohail Khan, Tabish Khan, Tanvir Ahmed etc etc.

Well that would be the only explanation. I know lots of people are saying this is reward for consistent domestic performances but at 36, he's reached retirement age before his debut. For a bowler in particular, even the best decline significantly by that age. And as others have pointed out, his recent domestic stats reflect that.

On merit, Waqas Maqsood should have been in this squad. He's slightly younger and has performed better. As much as I like Mohammed Wasim, I'm struggling to see why Tabish has been picked over Waqas.

Same with picking Nawaz over Zafar. I mean these are some pretty inexplicable decisions.

Overall though I'm most worried about our fast bowling reserves. In the whole of Pakistan, we have just one proven test match fast bowler in Shaheen. We all hope Hasan Ali will do well too but he's our automatic no.2 bowler despite not playing for Pakistan for some considerable time. Behind these two, we're struggling big time. We're picking oldies who weren't considered good enough in their prime. We're picking the likes of Harris Rauf who is yet to play any meaningful first class cricket. We had our hopes pinned on the youngsters - Naseem, Husnain and Musa and they've all shown they aren't up to the required level.

It reminds me of the era when we had the ever breaking down Akther with nobody else. Rana Naveed chipped in now and again but otherwise we were stuck with Mohammed Sami. The situation isn't a whole lot better right now.
 
Well that would be the only explanation. I know lots of people are saying this is reward for consistent domestic performances but at 36, he's reached retirement age before his debut. For a bowler in particular, even the best decline significantly by that age. And as others have pointed out, his recent domestic stats reflect that.

On merit, Waqas Maqsood should have been in this squad. He's slightly younger and has performed better. As much as I like Mohammed Wasim, I'm struggling to see why Tabish has been picked over Waqas.

Same with picking Nawaz over Zafar. I mean these are some pretty inexplicable decisions.

Overall though I'm most worried about our fast bowling reserves. In the whole of Pakistan, we have just one proven test match fast bowler in Shaheen. We all hope Hasan Ali will do well too but he's our automatic no.2 bowler despite not playing for Pakistan for some considerable time. Behind these two, we're struggling big time. We're picking oldies who weren't considered good enough in their prime. We're picking the likes of Harris Rauf who is yet to play any meaningful first class cricket. We had our hopes pinned on the youngsters - Naseem, Husnain and Musa and they've all shown they aren't up to the required level.

It reminds me of the era when we had the ever breaking down Akther with nobody else. Rana Naveed chipped in now and again but otherwise we were stuck with Mohammed Sami. The situation isn't a whole lot better right now.

Gohar was in compeition with sajid Nauman and yasir realistically would he have started over them 3 proberly no.would he have started as a all rounder over nawaz defonitely no.but also i would feel disappointed after being dropped after 1 game
 
Karachi: First-class performer Tabish Khan said he is not too far away from making his Test debut, the biggest dream of his life.

Speaking to reporters in a virtual conference, Khan said it was his half dream fulfilled after being named in 20 probables for South Africa Test.

“There is a lot to come to me. It is just half dream fulfilled as still, I have to make it into the 16 members for South Africa series,” he said.

“I want to make it clear, I will not leave playing cricket even If I don’t get a chance here. Cricket is my biggest passion and my dream is to represent Pakistan in Tests,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, the 36-years-old pacer, who has 598 First-Class wickets, described that moment when he was named in the preliminary squad for the Test series against South Africa.

“I got a congratulatory call from my friend. He told me that I got selected for the 20-members squad and I couldn’t believe him. I thought he was making fun but he asked me to tune into the news channel and watch,” he recalled.

“At that time my family was going out somewhere. I went to my mother and asked her to wait for a while as my name was announced for the Test squad as per my friend. At my request, my mother stayed with me, and when my name appeared in the last, I can’t tell you about my feelings. My mother and brother went into prostration and thanked Allah for this. Now, I hope to get a chance in the 16-members squad,” he said.

https://arysports.tv/half-dream-fulfilled-khan-confident-test-debut/
 
Shaheen and Hassan both looked pretty toothless and tired in Karachi.

Going into the Rawalpindi Test, surely Tabish Khan will replace one of these guys in the lineup?
 
Pakistan should give chance to Tabish instead of Hasan. Hasan was not lethal at all.
 
Can't drop Hasan so soon. He's just been the highest wicket taker in QeA and his batting is very important. We need to appreciate that all our pacers are rubbish so the ones that can bat are more useful.
 
Am afraid it wont happen - Babar Azam looks all set to continue with Hasan

Well, it's not a good feel.

Nauman has done well- domestic big deal. Fawad Alam, can't say enough about this guy. He also had the domestic numbers.

Lesson is that you play the local/ domestic performers cricket. And Tabish is also a local big deal.

I've been right about this tour so far (including predicting Pakistan team composition and results, look at my posts) and I am getting a strong feeling that Tabish will make the difference. Hasan was clueless. He may be a long term prospect, but right now he isn't getting it done.
 
Well, it's not a good feel.

Nauman has done well- domestic big deal. Fawad Alam, can't say enough about this guy. He also had the domestic numbers.

Lesson is that you play the local/ domestic performers cricket. And Tabish is also a local big deal.

I've been right about this tour so far (including predicting Pakistan team composition and results, look at my posts) and I am getting a strong feeling that Tabish will make the difference. Hasan was clueless. He may be a long term prospect, but right now he isn't getting it done.

Hasan's domestic numbers were off the charts this season while Tabish was odinary
I don't think it's as simple as that rn

Perhaps a fatigue issue for HA? Resting him for a match is better than dropping rn
 
Maybe he can swap with Shaheen in the next match at let’s go with 3 bowlers who average 82mph

Hassan
Faheem
Tabish
 
Throwing out anyone on the back of 1 test is foolishness (unless its a player replace a full timer for an injury) . .

Also, as much as I have sympathy for Tabish khan for not getting selected earlier when we were going through all kinds of bowlers . . his time is done! There is no way a fast bowler aged potentially 35 should debut . . its almost like he is getting a consolation prize! He wasn't even the best fast bowler in the recently concluded QeA. I dont even like Nauman's inclusion, but at least there is an argument that can be made for him cuz he is a spinner .

Even fast bowling legends see their bowling subside dramatically after 33 ish .. James Anderson is an exception but he also has mad skills (and experience at the highest level of 18 years which can't be replicated) . .

Hassan should be given at least 7 to 8 tests before we pass judgements on if he can be a viable test bowler . .
 
Hasan's domestic numbers were off the charts this season while Tabish was odinary
I don't think it's as simple as that rn

Perhaps a fatigue issue for HA? Resting him for a match is better than dropping rn

Ok, I didn't know that.

But all the same he was way ordinary despite his chart topping numbers.

Tabish should be given a go basis what happened in the first Test.
 
Tabish averaged 35 in last two seasons, he hasn't performed that well unlike Nauman.
 
think they should continue with both hassan and shaheen unless they are looking to rest one of the two
 
Ok, I didn't know that.

But all the same he was way ordinary despite his chart topping numbers.

Tabish should be given a go basis what happened in the first Test.

You cant drop them based upon 1 test i would play both unless they want to rest one of them
 
Down the years we have had bowlers like shahid nazir and fazal-e-akbar who played loads domestic cricket with limited international cricket. I guess tabish will be another, guess hes worth a try maybe in pindi and see what he can do.
 
Will Tabish can finally make a debut for Pakistan?
 
Will Tabish can finally make a debut for Pakistan?

What point would it serve playing a 800 year old bloke ? :yk2 The only argument would be that Shaheen or Hassan Ali get some nice sleep for a few days
 
What point would it serve playing a 800 year old bloke ? :yk2 The only argument would be that Shaheen or Hassan Ali get some nice sleep for a few days

Then why was he selected and taken all the way to Zimbabwe?
 
Then why was he selected and taken all the way to Zimbabwe?

Just to appease the general public.

He will be carried for another series and then dropped if one of the younger pacers does well.
 
I think due to COVID-19 the board was extra cautious.It would have been difficult to send replacements in case there were injuries.

So were there no other bowlers in Pakistan? Why is Tabish in the squad in the first place?
 
For gods sake if your not gonna try Tabish Khan now in this dead rubber vs Zimbabwe then he might as well retire. At 36 he’s gonna be touring around then eventually be dropped without Misbah picking him. Yes he’s 36 but he’s been performing consistently for 15 years and has close to 600 wickets with a great average and strike rate better than Pakistani legends at FC level. He’s Pakistan’s Fawad alam with the ball except he never debuted which is shocking. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off in domestic and then perform for as long as possible. Even 1-2 years will be enough so atleast he will get some justice and in that time Pakistan can groom other bowlers for tests who can gain first class experience cause at the moment they are heavily reliant on hasan and Shaheen and you can’t win tests with 2 pacers in most conditions. Tabish deserves atleast some international game time. So many other undeserving players played ahead of him. Maybe it’s a regional thing.
 
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Finally - gets into the squad based on this:

“The horses for courses policy means performers like left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, off-spinner Sajid Shah, and fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Tabish Khan will be available for selection, depending on the team composition for the first Test against South Africa in Pakistan in 14 years.

“Tabish Khan has been preferred over Sohail Khan as he is more effective and useful in Pakistan conditions. Like Mohammad Abbas, Tabish is a workhorse, who can bowl long spells with controlled line and length. His 598 career first-class wickets, including 30 wickets this season, is a testament that he is a like-to-like replacement for Mohammad Abbas in the given conditions.

View attachment 106177

For those wondering why he was selected for South Africa series at home and then again for next series vs Zimbabwe
 
Looks like we've got another tanvir ahmed on our hands .

Don't even understand thd point of selecting someone who is 35+ what sort of future plan is that. I'd rather they tried out Dhani , hasnain or even try out that rauf guy
 
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Why did they select this trundler at 40 years of age?

He is not a trundler. He is a very skillful bowler. He has 38 fiver fers and many 10 fers. He can do things with the ball.

Yes, he has been ignored when he shouldn't have been and now he is way too old for any long term unity. But if it gives the other bowlers a rest, then he is top of the pecking order in Zimbabwe. In fact, if he does well, he will be a good foil for the young cricketers to spend atleast a year or two earning their stripes in the domestic cauldron.

I find it disrespectful to dismiss players with words that are substitutes for real research.
 
He is not a trundler. He is a very skillful bowler. He has 38 fiver fers and many 10 fers. He can do things with the ball.

Yes, he has been ignored when he shouldn't have been and now he is way too old for any long term unity. But if it gives the other bowlers a rest, then he is top of the pecking order in Zimbabwe. In fact, if he does well, he will be a good foil for the young cricketers to spend atleast a year or two earning their stripes in the domestic cauldron.

I find it disrespectful to dismiss players with words that are substitutes for real research.

Thank you! It’s not just disrespectful, it’s also pretty dumb.
There seems to be an unhealthy obsession with pace in Pakistan fans. Test Cricket is also about control and sills, which is where guys like Tabish can be so effective. Asif and Anderson are “trundlers” too lol
Any bowler with 570 wickets, 38 5s has to be really really skillful and walks into this team ahead of rookies like Shaheen and Hasan
 
This guy is 36. What future has he got. Mist fast bowlers have retired by then. Even our own.
 
He should be given a few games for farewell then he can retire respectfully
 
So were there no other bowlers in Pakistan? Why is Tabish in the squad in the first place?

Maybe to keep Misbah ul Haq warm on tour ? and share stories of yesteryear, something not possible with the youngsters
 
He is not a trundler. He is a very skillful bowler. He has 38 fiver fers and many 10 fers. He can do things with the ball.

Yes, he has been ignored when he shouldn't have been and now he is way too old for any long term unity. But if it gives the other bowlers a rest, then he is top of the pecking order in Zimbabwe. In fact, if he does well, he will be a good foil for the young cricketers to spend atleast a year or two earning their stripes in the domestic cauldron.

I find it disrespectful to dismiss players with words that are substitutes for real research.

What future this trundler has got now at 40 years of age?He is obviously trundler who has picked up wickets on those green mambas.If he were good I m sure he would have been given chance before.
 
Thank you! It’s not just disrespectful, it’s also pretty dumb.
There seems to be an unhealthy obsession with pace in Pakistan fans. Test Cricket is also about control and sills, which is where guys like Tabish can be so effective. Asif and Anderson are “trundlers” too lol
Any bowler with 570 wickets, 38 5s has to be really really skillful and walks into this team ahead of rookies like Shaheen and Hasan

LOL comparing this unknown trundler to James Anderson and Mohammad Asif.Keep your cricket knowledge to yourself.
 
LOL comparing this unknown trundler to James Anderson and Mohammad Asif.Keep your cricket knowledge to yourself.

This.
Also check his average last 2 years.
I guess another phaast bowler who made use of the pathetic pitches some years ago.
 
I don't get why he was selected to be honest. He's 36 years old and averaged over 30 in the QEA Trophy this year. Even if he was one of the best bowlers in the country a few years ago, are we really just going to select him on that basis?
 
Unfortunately ship has sailed for him. Better to invest in the youngsters like Dahani who are the future
 
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