If it came down to Azhar Ali or Ahmed Shehzad, who would you choose in the playing XI?

[shah_1]

Both are awful but Shehzad is worse. He is a walking wicket, his technique is similar to a tail ender

 

[CricMylifr]

Azhar any day. I would actually even go as far as to take him over players like shoiab malik.. who at one point was a cancer for the team.. he has improved but still don't trust malik. .. I don't trust shahzad either.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Azhar.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Azhar.

Has complete integrity and tries 100%.

 

[Mamoon]

yes as i a better listener or reader in this case. but u r one of the most outspoken ones. After so much detail knowledge you provide on this forum you have come up with shehzad as a choice is a shame.
As since Psl you wanted him to be selected and then "muh ki khaani padi".
As per people including me who has little knowledge about cricket shehzad failed and failed and failed. And he will keep on failing in future unless he retires but ppl like you will keep asking for his selection as you are ego driven.

I was vocal about his weaknesses at a time when he was supposedly the next big thing (circa 2014), and I have also supported his selection with the stipulation that he will have to learn to play for the team and not himself, because I question his mentality more than his ability (or inability) to play shots.However, at no point in his career has he shown the desire to put the team above himself, and I am interested to see if people like Arthur can work on that front.

For me, attitude is more fixable than lack of ability, unless the case is hopeless like Umar Akmal. Shehzad clearly takes his game far more seriously than the clown, but he needs to rewrite his priorities. If it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. We are mediocre anyway, and that is not going to change any time soon.

 

[Hamza_]

I was vocal about his weaknesses at a time when he was supposedly the next big thing (circa 2014), and I have also supported his selection with the stipulation that he will have to learn to play for the team and not himself, because I question his mentality more than his ability (or inability) to play shots.However, at no point in his career has he shown the desire to put the team above himself, and I am interested to see if people like Arthur can work on that front.

For me, attitude is more fixable than lack of ability, unless the case is hopeless like Umar Akmal. Shehzad clearly takes his game far more seriously than the clown, but he needs to rewrite his priorities. If it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. We are mediocre anyway, and that is not going to change any time soon.

So where do you see Ahmed Shehzad going from here now? He has looked extremely bad to be honest, Even in his half century he had dropped catch and that was against West Indies.

It is all over that Fakhar Zaman is going to play instead of Shehzad today who has looked really really limited in stroke play.

 

[Mamoon]

So where do you see Ahmed Shehzad going from here now? He has looked extremely bad to be honest, Even in his half century he had dropped catch and that was against West Indies.

It is all over that Fakhar Zaman is going to play instead of Shehzad today who has looked really really limited in stroke play.

Azhar is not going anywhere after the fifty vs India, so you are right that if Fakhar scores some runs, Shehzad will find himself out of the team again. However, I don't see him getting dropped in Tests and performing in one format has always been a strong leverage in Pakistan cricket, so I expect Shehzad to remain in contention for the LOI squads as long as he can keep his place in the Test team.

The change in intent could happen tomorrow, one year later, five years later, or never. However, it is something that is worth hoping for considering the general lack of options at this point. Nonetheless, we should have seen a shift in mentality by now.

 

[Hamza_]

Azhar is not going anywhere after the fifty vs India, so you are right that if Fakhar scores some runs, Shehzad will find himself out of the team again. However, I don't see him getting dropped in Tests and performing in one format has always been a strong leverage in Pakistan cricket, so I expect Shehzad to remain in contention for the LOI squads as long as he can keep his place in the Test team.

The change in intent could happen tomorrow, one year later, five years later, or never. However, it is something that is worth hoping for considering the general lack of options at this point. Nonetheless, we should have seen a shift in mentality by now.

In PSL, There was no other Pakistani opener apart from KAkmal and Shehzad. QG played Asad Shafiq, However they did not give chances to Umar Amin. It looks like even franchises are shaky about Pakistani Openers, Nauman Anwar has regressed badly although he seemed a fine prospect (Again comes down to bad coaching and mess ups at domestic level), Farhan and Ahsan Ali both look decent in terms of shot play and power, Hopefully they are picked to play soon and not left to diminish by domestic coaches.

Shehzad is going nowhere with such batting, Maybe management is happy with this see off the new ball approach or whatever, But a career strike rate thus far of 72 and Average of 33 shows some misery, By the way I have noticed his play against spin has improved while his game against pace has got weaker. Don't think Shehzad can last this way....

 

[todfod 11]

I was vocal about his weaknesses at a time when he was supposedly the next big thing (circa 2014), and I have also supported his selection with the stipulation that he will have to learn to play for the team and not himself, because I question his mentality more than his ability (or inability) to play shots.However, at no point in his career has he shown the desire to put the team above himself, and I am interested to see if people like Arthur can work on that front.

For me, attitude is more fixable than lack of ability, unless the case is hopeless like Umar Akmal. Shehzad clearly takes his game far more seriously than the clown, but he needs to rewrite his priorities. If it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. We are mediocre anyway, and that is not going to change any time soon.

Ability ?? what ability to get a single off every 3rd or 4th ball you face at third man?? or get a boundary of a rash shot now n then is ability??
you r grown up enough to know that mental ability is much more required then physical in this game. which shehzad clearly lacks? if its only about hitting the ball out of the park then play pehelwans from ur kabbadi team they got more physical ability then this clown..
Shehzad just doesnt have it in him the earlier u understabd the better it is.. stop defending a player who is not good enough.

 

[Mamoon]

Ability ?? what ability to get a single off every 3rd or 4th ball you face at third man?? or get a boundary of a rash shot now n then is ability??
you r grown up enough to know that mental ability is much more required then physical in this game. which shehzad clearly lacks? if its only about hitting the ball out of the park then play pehelwans from ur kabbadi team they got more physical ability then this clown..
Shehzad just doesnt have it in him the earlier u understabd the better it is.. stop defending a player who is not good enough.

Calling Shehzad a selfish player does not sound like "defense" to me. As a 21 year old, I have seen Shehzad pull Milne's 150 kph deliveries to the fence, and I have seen him at the U-19 level, and he looked a better player than he does today. However, certain players do regress with time inexplicably, and I am willing to wait and see if that regression has to do with his selfishness or if he is simply a hopeless case now. It could very well be the latter, but I like to do things at my own pace and I don't mind the criticism headed in my direction.

 

[todfod 11]

Calling Shehzad a selfish player does not sound like "defense" to me. As a 21 year old, I have seen Shehzad pull Milne's 150 kph deliveries to the fence, and I have seen him at the U-19 level, and he looked a better player than he does today. However, certain players do regress with time inexplicably, and I am willing to wait and see if that regression has to do with his selfishness or if he is simply a hopeless case now. It could very well be the latter, but I like to do things at my own pace and I don't mind the criticism headed in my direction.

So you want to experiment on shehzad on tge xpense of pakistan team loosing. After watching cricket for so long isnt its easy for anyone to say who is good enough and who is not. shehzad pulled milne for a six in hamilton where boundaries are like 55mtrs. same night i saw him drunk as hell on the street of hamilton thumping his chest to be the best batsmen in the world.. all the respect went down the drain same night and no wo der he failed in next 10 innings after that. it was 2009-10

 

[sshakir411]

Azhar will have the better SR.

 

[Ikball]

Strike rate in ODIs
Azhar ........75
Shehzad .....72

So without any doubt Azhar, Shehzad eats alot of balls. Also Azhar can act as an anchor but Shehzad does not.

 

[Mamoon]

So you want to experiment on shehzad on tge xpense of pakistan team loosing. After watching cricket for so long isnt its easy for anyone to say who is good enough and who is not. shehzad pulled milne for a six in hamilton where boundaries are like 55mtrs. same night i saw him drunk as hell on the street of hamilton thumping his chest to be the best batsmen in the world.. all the respect went down the drain same night and no wo der he failed in next 10 innings after that. it was 2009-10

We first need to establish that Pakistan will continue to lose whether they play Shehzad or someone else. The gulf between us and the other top teams is far too big for one or two players to make a difference. Secondly, it does not matter if the boundary was 55m or 155m - he should ability against genuine pace but he has not been able to replicate that. Now the question is that has he lost that ability or has he lost that intent? I am still waiting for that answer, and I hope we find out soon.

Finally, I don't care if he drinks or not. That is personal choice. However, getting drunk is not appropriate, so he needs to keep that in moderation. Nonetheless, he takes his fitness seriously and has generally not looked out of shape.

 

[todfod 11]

We first need to establish that Pakistan will continue to lose whether they play Shehzad or someone else. The gulf between us and the other top teams is far too big for one or two players to make a difference. Secondly, it does not matter if the boundary was 55m or 155m - he should ability against genuine pace but he has not been able to replicate that. Now the question is that has he lost that ability or has he lost that intent? I am still waiting for that answer, and I hope we find out soon.

Finally, I don't care if he drinks or not. That is personal choice. However, getting drunk is not appropriate, so he needs to keep that in moderation. Nonetheless, he takes his fitness seriously and has generally not looked out of shape.

Why does boundary size does not matter can you explain please?? secondaly inrent or not he does not have the technique when his stumps are targeted he plays cross batted shots 90% of the time. If the ball moves around he is a sitting duck. if the bowler is bowling off stump line 3 out of 5 times he will nick the ball because only shot he know to play on that ball is a nudge towards third man. Now if the bowler is express pace and bowls short shehzad has no clue and he will try and pull or hook which mostly ends up in mis timing it.
Comes to a spinner if the spinner is low grade shehzad will charge down to hit him for a six hardly be faces a spinner in ODI cant manage to survive 10 overs. Now if aspinner is say ashwin or narine grade shehzad is frozen in his crease. tell me where you see the ability??

 

[Hedz]

Easily Azhar Ali. Since his comeback has had a better SR than Shehzad and has scored runs when team has needed it. Against India was the perfect answer to who should play- Shehzad played dots and eventual got out not contributing a lot to the teams cause. Whereas Azhar made 50, he did play a fair share of dot balls, but he actually looked to attack the opponent where possible. That is admirable in a player who is not naturally aggressive but went out of his way to help the teams cause. Also with Shehzad, he has been around for so long and yet to prove his quality- I think he should be dropped for good. Azhar is more likely to make 30+ for Pakistan which provides slightly more stability than Ahmed Shehzad. I would keep Azhar Ali until we find another opener who can bat with Fakhar Zaman at the top of the innings.

 

[Mamoon]

Why does boundary size does not matter can you explain please?? secondaly inrent or not he does not have the technique when his stumps are targeted he plays cross batted shots 90% of the time. If the ball moves around he is a sitting duck. if the bowler is bowling off stump line 3 out of 5 times he will nick the ball because only shot he know to play on that ball is a nudge towards third man. Now if the bowler is express pace and bowls short shehzad has no clue and he will try and pull or hook which mostly ends up in mis timing it.
Comes to a spinner if the spinner is low grade shehzad will charge down to hit him for a six hardly be faces a spinner in ODI cant manage to survive 10 overs. Now if aspinner is say ashwin or narine grade shehzad is frozen in his crease. tell me where you see the ability??

Size of boundaries are irrelevant with respect to the point that I am making. I remember him from the U-19 days and his strokeplay was better than it is today. Even in domestic cricket, he plays shots that he is not able to in international cricket against weak opposition as well.

I am not interested in his spin play, because he has never been a decent player of spin. However, it's quite disappointing to see his regression against pace.

 

[Ahson8]

Azhar.

Called it.