Ideal batting positions for Haris Sohail and Fakhar Zaman

[King Khan]

I believe Haris has done enough this series to book his place, but the question is how do we maximised his form and also help Fakhar ease back into form.

Let them swap positions!

Imam
Haris
Babar
Sarfaraz
Fakhar
Hafeez
Imad
Fahim / Amir
Hasan
Shadab
Afridi

Malik, Shan and Shinwari on the bench.

Fahkar can be the lower order hitter we need, plus he's got a mature attitude and mental strength required for a chaser.

We could rotate Malik and Fakhar depending on which opposition rely on spin more or pace bowling during death overs.

 

[JibranAnsari]

No , we need at least one enforcer in top 4. Keeping 4 accumulators in top 4 wont work.

Babar azam should open with fakhar. Haris and hafeez should should follow , remember its difficult to bowl to left right combination. Sarfraz @ 5 and asif ali @ 6.

 

[ritzy_123]

No , we need at least one enforcer in top 4. Keeping 4 accumulators in top 4 wont work.

Babar azam should open with fakhar. Haris and hafeez should should follow , remember its difficult to bowl to left right combination. Sarfraz @ 5 and asif ali @ 6.

Exactly I also think this is the right combination

 

[King Khan]

I disagree, there are not all accumulator, the top 3 are all boundary makers. The only difference is that they are all best equipped to deal with better bowling attacks, and we should always play are top batsmen in the top 3.

You could debate to lower Sarfaraz's batting position, but he has best performed in the no. 4 spot and always performed well in the middle overs.

Plus Asif Ali as no place in the squad. He's been given so many chances and delivered nothing in any of those matches.

 

[ads101]

I agree with putting him down the order, those problems he has would be hidden down the order. I'd drop him down to 4 though at first, not outside the top 4, which also lets him bat with Babar. Sarfraz has done well at 5 as well, it's his highest average there he averages over 50 there at SR 90, and that includes his knocks in England which were probably his best in ODIs to date. It's just 6th and below where he's been awful.

Don't really like the opening of Haris and Imam though, feel it would just stall the entire innings. Not sure I even like both of them being in the same team, they're too similar players, though Haris has better technique. Especially if Haris opens, question the need for Imam.

 

[JibranAnsari]

I disagree, there are not all accumulator, the top 3 are all boundary makers. The only difference is that they are all best equipped to deal with better bowling attacks, and we should always play are top batsmen in the top 3.

You could debate to lower Sarfaraz's batting position, but he has best performed in the no. 4 spot and always performed well in the middle overs.

Plus Asif Ali as no place in the squad. He's been given so many chances and delivered nothing in any of those matches.

Asif ali has played total of 8 odi innings , his average though on lower side but has a strike rate of 130 plus. He doesnt deserve to be dropped just yet. Pakistan dont have any power hitters.

 

[King Khan]

I agree with putting him down the order, those problems he has would be hidden down the order. I'd drop him down to 4 though at first, not outside the top 4, which also lets him bat with Babar. Sarfraz has done well at 5 as well, it's his highest average there he averages over 50 there at SR 90, and that includes his knocks in England which were probably his best in ODIs to date. It's just 6th and below where he's been awful.

Don't really like the opening of Haris and Imam though, feel it would just stall the entire innings. Not sure I even like both of them being in the same team, they're too similar players, though Haris has better technique. Especially if Haris opens, question the need for Imam.

We could swap Imam with Shan, if the question is Imam and Haris are too similar.

Shan is more balanced in his boundary play and single/double run taking. I would prefer Imam, as he consistently gets more boundaries then Shan although sometimes at the expense of dot balls.

 

[Titan24]

Fakhar is accustomed to play with only 2 fielders outside in the powerplay as an opener. I dont think he will be successful with 4 and 5 fielders outside. Also he is a stroke maker who likes new ball coming onto bat where he can hit it through gaps or over the inner circle so i dont think he can be that dominating against pacers with older ball and more fielders outside.

Could have been experimentied earlier if we had any other aggressive opener but unfortunately we dont have anybody else and with Imam, Haris and Babar innings would be too one dimensional at the start.

 

[King Khan]

Asif Ali is not any better than the other lower middle order of Hafeez, Malik, Imad or Faheem. At least these guys can contribute to the team in other areas. What can Asif Ali do?

Also if you take away his innings against Zimbabwe out, then his ave drops to 17 and strike rate to 95.

Look I don't deny he has potential based on his PSL performances, but hes not quite there yet and WC is not a place to all of a sudden bring out the best, when hes nothing more than a hack at the moment.

 

[Titan24]

I disagree, there are not all accumulator, the top 3 are all boundary makers. The only difference is that they are all best equipped to deal with better bowling attacks, and we should always play are top batsmen in the top 3.

You could debate to lower Sarfaraz's batting position, but he has best performed in the no. 4 spot and always performed well in the middle overs.

Plus Asif Ali as no place in the squad. He
's been given so many chances and delivered nothing in any of those matches.

It takes time for players to develop, i am not comparing Asif Ali but Miller, Buttler etc we see now at international level had quite a lot of failures early in their careers as well.

We expect that once a player is selected, he should start to win matches from his very first match is too much to ask for. It takes players time to adjust to international cricket which has different requirements nd pressure.

 

[Titan24]

Asif Ali is not any better than the other lower middle order of Hafeez, Malik, Imad or Faheem. At least these guys can contribute to the team in other areas. What can Asif Ali do?

Also if you take away his innings against Zimbabwe out, then his ave drops to 17 and strike rate to 95.

Look I don't deny he has potential based on his PSL performances, but hes not quite there yet and WC is not a place to all of a sudden bring out the best, when hes nothing more than a hack at the moment.

If you need 25 of 10 balls, would you rather have Malik batting for you or Asif Ali? Asif might not win match everytime in that situation but still he possesses the ability to do it. With more experience at international level he will become more consistent too.

 

[Markhor]

We're not blessed with many big hitting openers (not including hacks like Zia and Mukhtar) so Fakhar must remain in opening slot.

Haris's technique and comfort against pace means he's a must in the top 4. Hafeez and Malik have too many deficiencies against quality pace to bat there.

Sarfraz at 5 is best placed to rotate and milk the spinners.

In the absence of proven finishers, I'd play Hafeez at 6. He's still a clean striker of the ball and can finish off a chase as we saw in Port Elizabeth.

 

[King Khan]

If you need 25 of 10 balls, would you rather have Malik batting for you or Asif Ali? Asif might not win match everytime in that situation but still he possesses the ability to do it. With more experience at international level he will become more consistent too.

I would rather pick neither, but if I had to then I would pick an in form Malik, who we know can hit sixes and fours, as well as know how and what is required.

 

[Seamer]

I would like to see this as the batting order in the world cup :

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam
4. Haris Sohail
5. Hafeez
6. Sarfaraz
7. Imad Wasim
8. Shadab/Faheem

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

We're not blessed with many big hitting openers (not including hacks like Zia and Mukhtar) so Fakhar must remain in opening slot.

Haris's technique and comfort against pace means he's a must in the top 4. Hafeez and Malik have too many deficiencies against quality pace to bat there.

Sarfraz at 5 is best placed to rotate and milk the spinners.

In the absence of proven finishers, I'd play Hafeez at 6. He's still a clean striker of the ball and can finish off a chase as we saw in Port Elizabeth.

Personally I am coming to the conclusion Fakhar is a hack as well, but I expect he will make the world cup team, and I also expect he will be a let down.

Haris has shown he is a proper batsman, he should definitely be batting at 3 or 4.

 

[Bilal7]

If you need 25 of 10 balls, would you rather have Malik batting for you or Asif Ali? Asif might not win match everytime in that situation but still he possesses the ability to do it. With more experience at international level he will become more consistent too.

I'd rather have Malik, to be honest. Asif Ali is a tail-ender on most days. However, Hafeez would be a superior option to both.

 

[Titan24]

I'd rather have Malik, to be honest. Asif Ali is a tail-ender on most days. However, Hafeez would be a superior option to both.

I am all up for Hafeez playing that role but I am not sure management has been considering him a finisher. So he will only be that situation if he is plays theough and remain not out till that situation.

 

[Titan24]

I would rather pick neither, but if I had to then I would pick an in form Malik, who we know can hit sixes and fours, as well as know how and what is required.

Malik is 37 and has played more than 282 ODIs and even after that you have to say neither of them and are still doubtful about Malik by putting conditions such as he is in form than I guess it proves that Malik isnt the most suitable for that role. He never was a big hitter even in his early days, yes he can hit spinners and on occasions pacers as well but not the striker who can make you 25-30 of 10-12 balls agianst good attacks.

I am up for Malik if you need run a bowl or even 7 or 8 runs per over however I believe he cant go anything above that in the last few overs against good attacks.

I am not saying Asif Ali will be revolutionary but I wont judge him by 8 ODI innings.

 

[King Khan]

Malik is 37 and has played more than 282 ODIs and even after that you have to say neither of them and are still doubtful about Malik by putting conditions such as he is in form than I guess it proves that Malik isnt the most suitable for that role. He never was a big hitter even in his early days, yes he can hit spinners and on occasions pacers as well but not the striker who can make you 25-30 of 10-12 balls agianst good attacks.

I am up for Malik if you need run a bowl or even 7 or 8 runs per over however I believe he cant go anything above that in the last few overs against good attacks.

Of course Malik isn't the most suitable for this role, hence the predicament we are in as there is no Dhoni / Maxwell / Buttler player in our midst, we only have a guy with a bit of potential.

Therefore, we should make do with what we have, ie Hafeez, Malik, or Imad . At least these are people who are capable to do the job, and be better than Asif Ali as they have shown it before.

I am not saying Asif Ali will be revolutionary but I wont judge him by 8 ODI innings.

So, if you are saying he won't be revolutionary than you probably don't think that much of his potential as you've definitely not looking on his end product so far in his last 8 innings.

So why would you risk picking him then for the WC?

 

[Titan24]

Of course Malik isn't the most suitable for this role, hence the predicament we are in as there is no Dhoni / Maxwell / Buttler player in our midst, we only have a guy with a bit of potential.

Therefore, we should make do with what we have, ie Hafeez, Malik, or Imad . At least these are people who are capable to do the job, and be better than Asif Ali as they have shown it before.

Imad and Hafeez (If fit) are both gonna play. However Hafeez will play probably at no 4 as management havent used him as a finisher except when they were forced in CT 17 final as top order batted throughout almost. Imad alone cant do much down the order.



So, if you are saying he won't be revolutionary than you probably don't think that much of his potential as you've definitely not looking on his end product so far in his last 8 innings.

So why would you risk picking him then for the WC?

Revolutionary is a big word. If for example Shadab, Fakhar or Amir etc wont be revolutionary in their roles, does it mean we shouldnt select them? Just like having pacers, opening batsmen and spinners in LOIs are must, its vital to have someone in the lower middle order who cant hit when needed.

If I am not saying doesnt mean he cant be revolutionary, I am reserving my opinion till he plays some more matches as 8 ODI innings is too small a sample size to judge especially for difficult role like being finisher and consistent hitter in lower middle order.

Just to give you an example Buttler debuted in 2012 and his first international century came in 2014 almost 2 years after his debut. Would any body have thought in 2012 that Buttler will be the player he is now? Again I am not comparing both but just saying that players take time to develop let alone in a difficult role like being the finisher. Asif Ali by no means is a finished product but its our own fault we havent been able to groom him or anybody for that matter in the last 4 years for that particular role and now before the WC we are in a dilemma.

In team you need someone for the role of lower order hitter in LOI outfit. No matter how good or bad players you have for that spot are, you have to select the best out of the lot. Unless we play Hafeez as finisher, lower middle order role we need to select atleast 1 out of Asif Ali or Iftikhar Ahmed.

In this Australia series Maxwell was the main difference in my opinion and if we had someone doing even half of what Maxwell was doing we might have been in a different position. Malik has rarely played any such knock and I doubt that he can in the future as well considering his average in Eng.

 

[adzzy786]

No , we need at least one enforcer in top 4. Keeping 4 accumulators in top 4 wont work.

Babar azam should open with fakhar. Haris and hafeez should should follow , remember its difficult to bowl to left right combination. Sarfraz @ 5 and asif ali @ 6.

The tail will start at 5 then. We don’t have a strong enough batting line up with this.

 

[Chokli]

If you need 25 of 10 balls, would you rather have Malik batting for you or Asif Ali? Asif might not win match everytime in that situation but still he possesses the ability to do it. With more experience at international level he will become more consistent too.

Good point, but that match is already lost no matter who is batting

 

[Mueez]

Our ideal top 4 is:

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz/Rizwan

 

[Justcrazy]

If Pakistan want to go with Batting heavy team

Fakhar
Abid Ali
Babaar
Harris
Sarfaraz
Amir Yaminne
Imad Wasim
Faheem Ashraf
Shadab
Hassan
Afridi

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

1 and 3

or

2 and 4

 

[Titan24]

If Pakistan want to go with Batting heavy team

Fakhar
Abid Ali
Babaar
Harris
Sarfaraz
Amir Yaminne
Imad Wasim
Faheem Ashraf
Shadab
Hassan
Afridi

Pretty interesting. Also if we consider the fact the Aamir Yamin does move the new ball and if there is some sort of assistance he can be handy. However I dont think team management is thinking in that direction otherwise Australia series was pretty good opportunity to test Aamir Yamin.

 

[JibranAnsari]

The tail will start at 5 then. We don’t have a strong enough batting line up with this.

Sarfraz can do well at number 5 and imad is a little underrated by us , he can bat. The thing is that the no-power accumulators in top 4 dont work anymore and no team employs it anymore. Every team has at least one player in top 4 who can hit the bowlers hard.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

fakhar opener, and Harris at #4.

Ideally their would be another Fakhar type player at #6

 

[giri26]

Only position Fakhar can play is as an opener. There is no evidence that he will do well lower down the order. Also he is your only chance to get a good start in the power play. Rest of the players in the Pakistan line up bat the same way. They are accumulators who need time to get going. Imam, Babar, Shoaib are play the same way. You need that aggression at the top.

 

[Bilal7]

I am all up for Hafeez playing that role but I am not sure management has been considering him a finisher. So he will only be that situation if he is plays theough and remain not out till that situation.

If fit, he might bat at #5 (he has to, but you never know with Arthur), which will mean that he'll be there at the death on most occasions. I personally want both Hafeez and Malik at #5 and #6 now, since Umar Akmal is out of the picture. They're both experienced hands and should be a decent job finishing off the innings along with Sarfaraz and Shadab/Imad.

Haris, Hafeez and Malik can bowl ten-twelve economical overs between them too and allow the specialist bowlers to be more attacking.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Dropping him at no. 4 or below is a gamble. If that has to be tried then it should be vs England series. And if he dosen't perform in that position then his form will be poor opening the innings at WC.

It will more likely be a disaster. I wouldn't mess up with player's form and position just to get him lower and an another accumulator at top.

 

[Bigbb]

Ideal position for Haris is no.4 position.
And on current form, Fakhar should be batting at no.12.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

My batting order is entirely different.

Principles
Play those batsmen up front that opposition fear.
No accumulators up top
Play wicket taking bowlers because wickets slow down run rate
Don't call people allrounders when they can't make it to the team on their bowling alone AND their batting alone.

Openers
Babar
Fakhar

Middle Order
Abid (wild card)
Haris
Hafeez
Imad (AR)
Sarfaraz

Bowlers
Shadab
Hasan
Hasnain
Shaheen Shah

Reserves

Faheem (not an AR)
Junaid

Sorry no Malik, Imam or Amir.

 

[Ilustcricket]

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfaraz
Hafeez
Malik
Imad Wasim
Hassan Ali
Shadab Khan
Amir
Shaheen

What we desperately need is to somehow fit Asif Ali in there but we cannot. Therefore Hafeez, Malik, Imad and Hassan must provide the quick runs at the end.

You could also toy with the idea of having Faheem Ashraf in there in place of Amir if he doesn’t perform. However in England, i think Amir will make a strong comeback in-shaa-Allah.

Lastly if its a seamer friendly pitch, we can play Faheem instead of Shadab. Faheem is a hack that can only provide 15-20 runs at the end but we’ll take those runs provided they come in 8-10 balls.