"If Fakhar's technique improves, he will become a dangerous player like Sharjeel" : Mohammad Yousuf

[Abdullah719]

"If Fakhar's technique improves, he will become a dangerous player like Sharjeel" : Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf speaking on TV after NZ series:

"Pakistan played really well in the last 2 T20Is and especially the batting which was giving us a lot of trouble, performed really well"

"I always say that bowling is very difficult in today's game but when the batsmen put up such good scores then it puts the other team under stress"

"Amir continues to give away less runs and he is still our special bowler"

"If any of our players, such as Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, have some issues with their techniques, then they need to go to the nets or the NCA and try and fix those issues"

"Fakhar played really well during the tour"

"Fakhar is courageous and does not fear the ball and that's why he scores runs

"If his technique is also improved then he will become a dangerous player just like Sharjeel Khan"

"And Babar Azam will also need to work a lot on his technique; he can play well on slow wickets but he will be in trouble where the ball 'challayga' [moves?]"

"I would advise Sarfaraz to not bat above 5 position and allow youngsters to play on those positions"

 

[DeadBall]

"I would advise Sarfaraz to not bat above 5 position and allow youngsters to play on those positions"

Good to see he still thinks of Hafeez and Malik as youngsters,

 

[Abdul]

Fakhar is already better. The fixer could never have played like Fakhar in the final.

 

[ManFan]

Guy is paid to munch Super biscuits with his chai and stroke his beard. No constructive criticism whatsoever.

 

[Syed1]

Mohammad Yousuf speaking on TV after NZ series:

"I would advise Sarfaraz to not bat above 5 position and allow youngsters to play on those positions"

Wait a minute didn't he a couple of days ago say that the seniors are hiding behind the youngsters in the batting order?

 

[babajee]

Fakhar is already a Pakistani ATG.

His CT performances were no fluke

 

[Madplayer]

Wait a minute didn't he a couple of days ago say that the seniors are hiding behind the youngsters in the batting order?

I came here to write this.

He has short term memory loss it seems. Either that or an agenda.

 

[MenInG]

Wait a minute didn't he a couple of days ago say that the seniors are hiding behind the youngsters in the batting order?

'oopar' as in 5, 4, 3 etc position and come in early.

 

[Madplayer]

Fakhar is already a Pakistani ATG.

His CT performances were no fluke

He clearly is not now is he. Lets be realistic. He played an ATG knock in the finals and it will stay memorable forever but he is not an ATG yet. If he performs well for next 5 years then he will be a Pakistani ATG.. he is mentally very strong.

Fakhar, Shadab, Hasan, Faheem, Sarfaraz, Amir. Mentally very strong unlike a lot of Pakistani players in last 8 years.

 

[DeadBall]

Fakhar is already a Pakistani ATG.

His CT performances were no fluke

Fakhar has been an excellent find for Pak and the only modern LOI bat in the top order. However it is too soon to be granting him ATG status. We did that for Shehzad, Umar etc and see what happened. Thankfully he seems to have a better head on his shoulders but you never know what fame might do.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Fakhar Zaman is already better than Sharjeel Khan.

Sharjeel was a legside player where as Zaman plays equally well on both sides of the ground.

 

[DeadBall]

He clearly is not now is he. Lets be realistic. He played an ATG knock in the finals and it will stay memorable forever but he is not an ATG yet. If he performs well for next 5 years then he will be a Pakistani ATG.. he is mentally very strong.

Fakhar, Shadab, Hasan, Faheem, Sarfaraz, Amir. Mentally very strong unlike a lot of Pakistani players in last 8 years.

This is our problem. We are the first to elevate someone to an ATG status, (not only in cricket but in all walks of life) and then bring them crashing down at the first failure.

 

[Fahdi]

Fakhar isn't as destructive as Sharjeel was nor can he go all guns blazing from ball one like Sharjeel. Pakistan shouldn't force him into the same role by pairing him up with these so called "Solid Players" like Azhar Ali. Fakhar is our version of Martin Guptil to an extent; plays at a good rate, can play very quickly but most importantly can also go bat long. Sharjeel though was more along the lines of Sanath Jayasuria or Colin Munro from modern day.

 

[Fahdi]

Fakhar is already a Pakistani ATG.

His CT performances were no fluke

I thought we had better standards. One knock no matter how good and memorable doesn't make you a Pakistani ATG

 

[indipper]

Fakhar is already better. The fixer could never have played like Fakhar in the final.

Sharjeel could have ripped India apart there.

 

[babajee]

I thought we had better standards. One knock no matter how good and memorable doesn't make you a Pakistani ATG

If he keeps on maintaing his good performances he will be... he’s already played a massive hand in winning us an ICC tournament. Not just the India game but he played vital knocks vs SA, SL, England etc.

 

[Abdul]

Sharjeel could have ripped India apart there.

No. He wouldn't have.

 

[RickyG]

ODIs and T20s aren't about techniques anymore. It's about picking the right balls to hit. That's how you become Guptill or Munro. They don't have exceptional techniques but they can play exceptional innings. Not everyone can be a Williamson, Root or Kohli.

 

[Rayyman]

Fakhar is already better. The fat fixer could never have played like Fakhar in the final.

He is twice as good. Better off-side game, better against spin, better temperament, better attitude, better fitness, better fielder.

Seriously Sharjeel is being hyped to be some former ATG ever since his ban.

 

[Fahdi]

If he keeps on maintaing his good performances he will be... he’s already played a massive hand in winning us an ICC tournament. Not just the India game but he played vital knocks vs SA, SL, England etc.

There is a world of difference between "he will be if.." and "he already is".

 

[AAli98]

He is twice as good. Better off-side game, better against spin, better temperament, better attitude, better fitness, better fielder.

Seriously Sharjeel is being hyped to be some former ATG ever since his ban.

Sharjeel would have been useless as umar akmal on uae pitches... but a beast in SA Aus pitches, played a brilliant innings against Eng at old trafford.

 

[Syed1]

Sharjeel is so over-hyped on this forum. Fakhar is ten times the batsman that Sharjeel could ever be. In case people are forgetting Sharjeel was dot dot six dot dot type of batsman. While Fakhar is probably one of the better strike rotators in our side.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Fakhar is underrated. He's already better than Sharjeel who has just one Ireland bashing to show so far.

 

[Slog]

Fakhar is underrated. He's already better than Sharjeel who has just one Ireland bashing to show so far.

Tbh he was good in Oz tour

he was starting to get in his own

he wasnt a leg side hack. Proper shots

 

[Bewal Express]

Even if Fakhar doesnt a score a run from here onwards, he has achieved more than the likes of Shazad, Hafeez etc wiĺl ever achieve. He single handedly gave PK its cricketing self respect back against Ind!

 

[Hasan123]

Sharjeel played proper cricket shots and was just starting to show his true potential before he got caught. Fakhar relies on his reflexes a lot more and also has a strong mental game.

 

[Smudger]

Technique is overrated. Look at steve smith.
There is no thing as technique. If a batter has a different stance then he automatically has a bad technique
Technique doesnt matter. Runs do

 

[GrandMaster]

Technique is overrated. Look at steve smith.
There is no thing as technique. If a batter has a different stance then he automatically has a bad technique
Technique doesnt matter. Runs do

Steve Smith is just an orthodox batsman, I don’t see any flaw in his batting techniques.

 

[Abdullah]

No commento on moyos comments on amir so far

 

[GrandMaster]

Sorry to say but from what I have seen Sharjeel was a leg side hack.

 

[CricFan2012]

Fakhar is already better. The fixer could never have played like Fakhar in the final.

Scratchy early on and even edged one...

Sharjeel is much better than Fakhar

 

[CricFan2012]

Sorry to say but from what I have seen Sharjeel was a leg side hack.

Leg side hack that took apart Starc and Hazlewood on the Australia tour where most of the team was struggling

 

[HuzaifaE]

Fakhar is underrated. He's already better than Sharjeel who has just one Ireland bashing to show so far.

Sharjeel had one of the best tours downunder I've seen from a Pakistani opener what on earth are you on about?

 

[PakSarZameen]

Fakhar is better than Sharjeel. However, Sharjeel was improving against spin and it was not long until he would have become a deadly opener for us.

 

[CadPakFan]

I think this debate will be solved once Fakhar plays in Australia but saying that it is very debatable if Sharjeel could've played an innings like that in the CT final vs India especially since he failed in England.

 

[backfootpunch]

Against pace, tall bowlers and faster wickets Sharjeel is better and can destroy any pace attack in first powerplay when he's set.

Fakhar is better against spin and can play a longer innings but much slower and susceptible against steep bounce, 140+ bowling and on Aus and SA style wickets.

 

[King-Misbah]

I think this debate will be solved once Fakhar plays in Australia but saying that it is very debatable if Sharjeel could've played an innings like that in the CT final vs India especially since he failed in England.

I remember Sarjeel playing a great knock in a T20 at Old Trafford.

 

[giri26]

Fakhar is a good player but again Pakistan needs to allow him to develop and not burden him with expectations already. If he continues to play as he has done till now, he will do well in the long run.

 

[CadPakFan]

I remember Sarjeel playing a great knock in a T20 at Old Trafford.

I'm talking about ODIs.

 

[GrandMaster]

Leg side hack that took apart Starc and Hazlewood on the Australia tour where most of the team was struggling

Let him face the same bowlers on a green/juicy pitch.

 

[hafizexpress]

Just imagine both Sharjeel and Fakhar opening the batting together oh my

 

[MMHS]

Technique is overrated. Look at steve smith.
There is no thing as technique. If a batter has a different stance then he automatically has a bad technique
Technique doesnt matter. Runs do

Smith's style is unorthodox, but fundamentals of his batting are perfect - gets into line quickly, positions body on length perfectly, body balance & transfer of weight is fantastic, outstanding hand-eye & reflex, batting intelligence in more than most, he has very good judgement of where off (actually every) stick is, he times immaculately, places better than most in history, his foot work against spin is extremely effective, he plays almost everything in middle sweet spot of his bat .... above all, he scores lots of runs under pressure, because he is never under pressure for the array of shots available to his armory.

Not a good example for this case. But, you can bring the opposite one here - looking at his batting technique, you won't believe that MoHa is basically a tail-ender against anything slightly moving.

 

[charlie007]

Steve Smith is a great bat now, but when he becomes older and his hand-eye coordination is not as good as it is now, his technique of shuffling will come and bite him.

 

[Madplayer]

Amir was the second coming of Waseem when he was banned.

Similarly,Sharjeel is the second coming of Brian Lara now that he is banned.

Truth is Fakhar, with his unorthodox technique has done enough to tell us that he isnt any less that Sharjeel. He is scoring 50s and 40s in t20s at 200 strike rate in alien conditions. No one can say Sharjeel could better that.

Infact Fakhar has some things which Sharjeel didnt have. Discipline, mental strength, fitness AND integrity.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Just opened sharjeel's profile, his avg is 32 after 25 games. A single hundred that too against ire. Is this the bar pak set for their young players. Fakhar is much better than this hack. He has proved it in this n tour too. Saying fakhar will get near sharjeel if he improves his technique is stupid.
Ppers criticise players like dhawan, and fantasize stupid hacks like sharjeel.
Real definition of a hack. Shikher is 10 times the batsman sharjeel ever was even fakhar is better

 

[charlie007]

If Dravid developed aggression in batting and range of strokeplay he would become Tendulkar.

 

[Hasan123]

Smith's style is unorthodox, but fundamentals of his batting are perfect - gets into line quickly, positions body on length perfectly, body balance & transfer of weight is fantastic, outstanding hand-eye & reflex, batting intelligence in more than most, he has very good judgement of where off (actually every) stick is, he times immaculately, places better than most in history, his foot work against spin is extremely effective, he plays almost everything in middle sweet spot of his bat .... above all, he scores lots of runs under pressure, because he is never under pressure for the array of shots available to his armory.

Not a good example for this case. But, you can bring the opposite one here - looking at his batting technique, you won't believe that MoHa is basically a tail-ender against anything slightly moving.

Well said . Don't get why Fakhar technique is compared to Smith.

 

[Sher Khan]

Fakhar doesn't seem like a natural big hitting batsman to me. Most of his shots are forced and mistimed. Sharjeel on the other hand was an exceptional timer of the ball and usually needed little effort to play his shots around the ground. Fakhar tries to emulate Sharjeel as he knows that is the only way to keep his place in the limited overs side- being the only batsman that plays with intent.

 

[pakistani pride]

Fakhar doesn't seem like a natural big hitting batsman to me. Most of his shots are forced and mistimed. Sharjeel on the other hand was an exceptional timer of the ball and usually needed little effort to play his shots around the ground. Fakhar tries to emulate Sharjeel as he knows that is the only way to keep his place in the limited overs side- being the only batsman that plays with intent.

LOL @ mistimed...
Just ask the Indian bowlers.

 

[Fahdi]

The problem is the selectors will keep pushing these "Solid" players to partner Fakhar at the top thinking that Fakhar is the dasher like Sharjeel was. The truth is Fakhar bats at the normal pace for the ODIs of today. Fakhar needs to be partnered with a dasher to take the pressure of him! Just look at the last 2 T20s, especially the 2nd T20. Shehzad took the initiative to score early on, Fakhar scored a few shots but mostly bid his time at the other end. In the end he was able to go big(by T20 standards) because he didn't have to slog early on. Even in the CT final his partner took the initiative early on not Fakhar. The selectors and management needs to understand: Fakhar doesn't need to be partnered with an anchor, he is the Anchor!

 

[Syed1]

The problem is the selectors will keep pushing these "Solid" players to partner Fakhar at the top thinking that Fakhar is the dasher like Sharjeel was. The truth is Fakhar bats at the normal pace for the ODIs of today. Fakhar needs to be partnered with a dasher to take the pressure of him! Just look at the last 2 T20s, especially the 2nd T20. Shehzad took the initiative to score early on, Fakhar scored a few shots but mostly bid his time at the other end. In the end he was able to go big(by T20 standards) because he didn't have to slog early on. Even in the CT final his partner took the initiative early on not Fakhar. The selectors and management needs to understand: Fakhar doesn't need to be partnered with an anchor, he is the Anchor!

Fakhar is an anchor, Babar is an anchor, Haris is an anchor, Sarfaraz is an anchor, Hafeez and Malik are anchors.... heck the first non-anchor comes in at 7, Shadab Khan.


Our ODI team would be too slow for 1990s

 

[Hamstead_joy]

Yousuf sahebis trying to apply for the batting consultant job, there is no chance in hell any 28 year old cricketer can be improved, his technique can be adapted to suit certain conditions which is the right way to polish some players. It can only come with playing abroad. Our domestic setup is not equipped to do it.

Najam Sethi also should not make Sharjeel his prestige issue and try to bring him back for the sake of PAkistan cricket, we can't replace Sharjeel with anyone. Sharjeel was adifferent player who played his natural game no matter what the pitch was.

 

[srh]

Sharjeel's loss is the biggest loss Pakistan team has ever suffer in its history

 

[Madplayer]

Sharjeel's loss is the biggest loss Pakistan team has ever suffer in its history

wah wah isi baat pe ek glass rooh afza hojaye.

On what basis is he the biggest loss? Amir was also the biggest loss before he came back, asif is still the biggest loss etc etc.

The best thing that can happen to a Pakistani cricket is getting banned because it makes him a legend.

 

[Fahdi]

Fakhar is an anchor, Babar is an anchor, Haris is an anchor, Sarfaraz is an anchor, Hafeez and Malik are anchors.... heck the first non-anchor comes in at 7, Shadab Khan.


Our ODI team would be too slow for 1990s

Fakhar is the anchor in a modern day opening combo. Of the two openers he should be the opener that concentrates on batting long; that doesn't mean he should change his batting style, he should carry on as is with his style SR won't be an issue. To bring the best out of Fakhar he needs an explosive partner at the other end or at the very least someone who bats equally fast early on.

Ideally Fakhar should be partnered with an explosive opener; Sahibzada Farhan, Mukhtar... whoever works out. If that doesn't work partner him with Haris who I feel is quite capable of scoring at a good rate early on against fast bowlers but won't give you starts like a 30*(20) in ODIs.

 

[srh]

wah wah isi baat pe ek glass rooh afza hojaye.

On what basis is he the biggest loss? Amir was also the biggest loss before he came back, asif is still the biggest loss etc etc.

The best thing that can happen to a Pakistani cricket is getting banned because it makes him a legend.

Sharjeel was on track to become the baddest butcher batsman Pakistan ever produced.

 

[King-Misbah]

I'm talking about ODIs.

He was performing in ODIs too! I remember him playing some good knocks in Australia. Don't know why this thread has become Fakhar v Sarjeel. Both players are different and performed in different situations. Ofcourse Fakhar scoring in the CT final makes him a Pakistani ATG. However, I remember an interview in which Fakhar stated that he was always in awe of Sarjeels batting and wanted to bat like him.

 

[CadPakFan]

He was performing in ODIs too! I remember him playing some good knocks in Australia. Don't know why this thread has become Fakhar v Sarjeel. Both players are different and performed in different situations. Ofcourse Fakhar scoring in the CT final makes him a Pakistani ATG. However, I remember an interview in which Fakhar stated that he was always in awe of Sarjeels batting and wanted to bat like him.

I know Fakhar performed in Australia! I'm specifically talking about England, Kohli scores runs for fun in Australia and failed in England. And Fakhar is not an ATG just because of one good knock though he will be remembered like how everyone remembers Saeed Anwar for his 194 vs India.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Tbh he was good in Oz tour

he was starting to get in his own

he wasnt a leg side hack. Proper shots

Still just one century against Ireland. Nothing that he has done in Australia comes close to what Fakhar did in the CT.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Sharjeel had one of the best tours downunder I've seen from a Pakistani opener what on earth are you on about?

As an opener, how many hundreds did he score? How many matches did Pakistan win due to Sharjeel's batting? Thank you.

 

[Zaz]

Todays odi batting doesnt need technique Its see ball hit ball Yousuf this isnt the 90s anymore

Someone like fakhar is going to get ruined if hes "coached"

 

[King-Misbah]

I know Fakhar performed in Australia! I'm specifically talking about England, Kohli scores runs for fun in Australia and failed in England. And Fakhar is not an ATG just because of one good knock though he will be remembered like how everyone remembers Saeed Anwar for his 194 vs India.

I think we are getting the names twisted I always thought that Sharjeel was a gun player. Wasnt he averaging in his mid 40s after his return before he got banned? Anyways, in my humble opinion that CT performance has made Fakhar a Pakistani ATG. I know its a big claim especially as he has played minimal matches but that was a massive final! Anwars 196 was not in such a big game.

 

[Titan24]

Against pace, tall bowlers and faster wickets Sharjeel is better and can destroy any pace attack in first powerplay when he's set.

Fakhar is better against spin and can play a longer innings but much slower and susceptible against steep bounce, 140+ bowling and on Aus and SA style wickets.

And you came to conclusion that he struggles against steep bounce from? Last time I checked he was to scorer in difficult conditions like NZ where there was bounce on some tracks as well as seam and swing.

 

[Titan24]

As an opener, how many hundreds did he score? How many matches did Pakistan win due to Sharjeel's batting? Thank you.

This! He was a great talent like many before him, you guys remember Umar Akmal in Aus he was hitting straight sixes to Tait and company but to become a match winner talent is not enough, it also requires that someone takes the responsibility according to the match situation.

Sharjeel was a talent thats for sure but not yet a match winner but could have become. Fakhar Zaman in much less matches have more MOMs than Sharjeel (I think he didnt got any other than against Ireland).

 

[CadPakFan]

I think we are getting the names twisted I always thought that Sharjeel was a gun player. Wasnt he averaging in his mid 40s after his return before he got banned? Anyways, in my humble opinion that CT performance has made Fakhar a Pakistani ATG. I know its a big claim especially as he has played minimal matches but that was a massive final! Anwars 196 was not in such a big game.

I meant to say Sharjeel, I got the name mixed up. But Anwar's 194 was the highest individual score at the time and he murdered Anil Kumble, I'm sure that is a day he will never forget.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Just opened sharjeel's profile, his avg is 32 after 25 games. A single hundred that too against ire. Is this the bar pak set for their young players. Fakhar is much better than this hack. He has proved it in this n tour too. Saying fakhar will get near sharjeel if he improves his technique is stupid.
Ppers criticise players like dhawan, and fantasize stupid hacks like sharjeel.
Real definition of a hack. Shikher is 10 times the batsman sharjeel ever was even fakhar is better

Sharjeel was vital to Pakistan getting off to lightning quick starts throughout his short career. He had one season of international cricket, which is not a large enough sample size to judge any player. An average of 32 in 25 matches is good if the strike-rate is high. Sharjeel and Fakhar opening would have been insane for Pakistan fans. Sadly we won't ever be able to see this opening combo, at least not in the near future.

 

[Lynx]

Getting carried away with the Sharjeel comparisons are we? Fakhar is one of our most valuable assets currently in the shorter formats...there's no doubt about that. But the way Sharjeel was batting ever since his comeback was stupendous. The ease with which he was playing high quality pace bowling and smacking the ball around for fun with such consistency was and is unparalleled by Pakistani standards. Scored three back to back 50s against Australia down under. And he dismissed the 'legside hack' label during this very series as well. His offside play was flourishing but his greed and stupidity put an end to all that.

 

[backfootpunch]

And you came to conclusion that he struggles against steep bounce from? Last time I checked he was to scorer in difficult conditions like NZ where there was bounce on some tracks as well as seam and swing.

If you compare him to the likes of Malik and Hafeez ofc he looks like a king in those conditions but someone like Sharjeel could bat at a SR of 120+ at an average of 40+. Fakhar Zaman scored plenty of runs but only at a strike rate of 81 which isn't good enough for top international teams on 300+ wickets.

 

[DeadBall]

Sharjeel was vital to Pakistan getting off to lightning quick starts throughout his short career. He had one season of international cricket, which is not a large enough sample size to judge any player. An average of 32 in 25 matches is good if the strike-rate is high. Sharjeel and Fakhar opening would have been insane for Pakistan fans. Sadly we won't ever be able to see this opening combo, at least not in the near future.

Ironically, if Sharjeel was still playing then he would have been opening with Azhar, and Shehzad as the back up. Fakhar would have been no where in the picture.

 

[Titan24]

If you compare him to the likes of Malik and Hafeez ofc he looks like a king in those conditions but someone like Sharjeel could bat at a SR of 120+ at an average of 40+. Fakhar Zaman scored plenty of runs but only at a strike rate of 81 which isn't good enough for top international teams on 300+ wickets.

When wickets keep on falling at the other end you still play with a SR of 81 thats a great effort. You expect a guy who knows the game to play at a SR of 120 even when the wickets are falling?

 

[backfootpunch]

And you came to conclusion that he struggles against steep bounce from? Last time I checked he was to scorer in difficult conditions like NZ where there was bounce on some tracks as well as seam and swing.

His SR was 81 - compare this to Sharjeel's average and SR in Aus and you'll see what I mean.

He got found out by Morkel in the World XI series who also dismissed him in the CT. If you see the dismissials this would become more apparent. When he plays Australia in ODIs against the likes of Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc he's going to struggle until he improves his technique as Moyo has rightly said.

 

[OmaIR1]

Since when did Sharjeel have a good technique?

 

[sshakir411]

Fakhar does not have that extra half second that Sharjeel has nor does he have the back foot finesse of Sharjeel. But temperamentally Fakhar is ahead...he's delivered more important innings with less talent (lack of a better word), proving that talent/flair alone isn't sufficient.

Still miss Sharjeel though...those 4 pull shots that raced to the boundary against Mark Wood bowling at 95+ in an over was something no current Pakistani batsman can do with ease. I'll go as far as saying that after Saeed Anwar, Sharjeel had the best back-foot game of a Pakistani I've seen.

 

[Titan24]

His SR was 81 - compare this to Sharjeel's average and SR in Aus and you'll see what I mean.

He got found out by Morkel in the World XI series who also dismissed him in the CT. If you see the dismissials this would become more apparent. When he plays Australia in ODIs against the likes of Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc he's going to struggle until he improves his technique as Moyo has rightly said.

Many batsmen in the world struggle against Morkel, Fakhar too struggl d against him doesn’t necessarily mean Fakhar cant perform in Australia.

Look at Kohli and how he struggled against Holder’s bounce in WI ODI series but he performed really well in Australia when India last toured.

 

[Titan24]

His SR was 81 - compare this to Sharjeel's average and SR in Aus and you'll see what I mean.

He got found out by Morkel in the World XI series who also dismissed him in the CT. If you see the dismissials this would become more apparent. When he plays Australia in ODIs against the likes of Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc he's going to struggle until he improves his technique as Moyo has rightly said.

No doubt Sharjeel was pretty talented but I dont remember a single match he won us even on his legendary Australia tour. To win matches you need to play the match the way it is required and considering the game situation which unfortunately wasnt a strength of Sharjeel and thats one of the many things Fakhar has got.

 

[Titan24]

His SR was 81 - compare this to Sharjeel's average and SR in Aus and you'll see what I mean.

He got found out by Morkel in the World XI series who also dismissed him in the CT. If you see the dismissials this would become more apparent. When he plays Australia in ODIs against the likes of Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc he's going to struggle until he improves his technique as Moyo has rightly said.

To me averages and SR are usless if you cant win your team matches. As I posted earlier in this thread Fakhar has more MOMs against better teams in lesser matches than Sharjeel. I guess Sharjeel only won MOM against Ireland.

 

[backfootpunch]

When wickets keep on falling at the other end you still play with a SR of 81 thats a great effort. You expect a guy who knows the game to play at a SR of 120 even when the wickets are falling?

What I will say is if he had Sharjeel at the other end his SR would be up by at least 10-20 because his partner at the other end would transfer the pressure on to the bowling side, so he could cash in and exploit this.

 

[backfootpunch]

Many batsmen in the world struggle against Morkel, Fakhar too struggl d against him doesn’t necessarily mean Fakhar cant perform in Australia.

Look at Kohli and how he struggled against Holder’s bounce in WI ODI series but he performed really well in Australia when India last toured.

Steep bounce and/or faster wickets can trouble any batsman when a tall/quick bowler gets it right but he has to improve technically. The problem is with Pakistan the wickets are nowadays slow and substandard (barring perhaps Rawalpindi and few over grounds), they weren't that bad 10-15 years ago when the Pakistani home ODIs were the easiest to score on around the world. This also explains why the sheer abundance of trundlers in domestic cricket.

Also playing in UAE isn't going to help him adapt against pace - whereas Kohli not only has always had a solid technique against pace but he's also played on good wickets in India in a diverse range of conditons - some are actually pacy like Mumbai and Dharmasla.

 

[Snak3eye5]

Any timeline on when Sharjeel comes back ? Or is it up in the air ?

 

[backfootpunch]

No doubt Sharjeel was pretty talented but I dont remember a single match he won us even on his legendary Australia tour. To win matches you need to play the match the way it is required and considering the game situation which unfortunately wasnt a strength of Sharjeel and thats one of the many things Fakhar has got.

His innings if you were to look in isolation were match winning knocks however he was batting with duds like Azhar Ali, Hafeez and Malik which is why his performances are special because he was not effected by the incompetancy of those players around him.

As for your second point you have to remember his role wasn't to bat through the innings it was to give Pakistan an explosive start as an impact player (like Sehwag) so he could put bowlers on the back foot and allow the likes of Babar Azam and co to see Pakistan over the finishing line.

Having said that with his development he was on his way to scoring centuries. His fitness had improved as well as his temperement and front foot stroke play.