Imam-ul-Haq vs Ahmed Shehzad - Who is the better opener?

[mak36]

Early days yet but Imam is the clear winner for me. That said, it appears there are a couple of posters in denial so let's put this to the test.

Who is the better opener?
[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] please add a poll (don't forget to vote!)

 

[MenInG]

Unfair comparison as too early. Just hope Imam doesnt become another Shan Masood

 

[Enigma_]

Easiest win ever for Imam. Shehzad is pathetic and no doubt only in the side due to his family/own connections within the PCB ranks.

 

[another drop catch]

Ahmed shehzad as of now

 

[Finisher]

Danny morrison mentioned on commentary that Imam Reminds him of Tom Latham

 

[Rayyman]

Unfair comparison as too early. Just hope Imam doesnt become another Shan Masood

Shan Masood is awful. He doesn't have any attacking shots, has a horrible defensive technique, and no rotation of strike rate. A lot of runs come from a mid-wicket slog.

He works more on his fitness than his batting.

Imam is much better.

 

[coy0607]

is this a real question?

one is a real opener who showed real intent and is on track for a century on debut (iA)

the other thinks like a 14-year old girl obsessed with selfie's and himself

 

[The_Odd_One]

Another myth busted that we have no alternatives.

Every new player Pakistan has tried recently has done better than these talented TTFs.

 

[Ab Fan]

Imam-ul- haq

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Anyone is better than Shahzad. Cant see anyone worse than him who played more than 50+ odis for us.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Anyone's better than Shehzad

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Another myth busted that we have no alternatives.

Every new player Pakistan has tried recently has done better than these talented TTFs.

100% agreed. Afridi said that for decades to prolong his career.

 

[nads_rocks]

Too early to compare after 1 game. Remember when Shahzad came on to the scene he was an aggressive opener scoring lots of runs and look what happened then.

Give Imam few more games see what happens then we can decide if he is the real deal and can open with Fakhar

 

[msb314]

Easiest win ever for Imam. Shehzad is pathetic and no doubt only in the side due to his family/own connections within the PCB ranks.

Shehzad has no connections - he is from an average middle class family.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Too early to compare after 1 game. Remember when Shahzad came on to the scene he was an aggressive opener scoring lots of runs and look what happened then.

Give Imam few more games see what happens then we can decide if he is the real deal and can open with Fakhar

Shehzad had a strike-rate in the early 60s when he first played. This aggressive macho Shehzad has seldom been seen in international cricket.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Unfair comparison as too early. Just hope Imam doesnt become another Shan Masood

Another shan masood, You mean a player selected due to family ties and non cricketing merit?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Might be only 1 game but imam knows how to rotate the strike and play spin, something shezhad still cant do.

 

[Raja Sab]

I feel some people are being too harsh on Shehzad. I get he's been under performing but let's not forget he has helped Pakistan and played some very good innings for us. The best one I remember was against South Africa in 2013 where we won our first OD series against SA and are still the only team from Asia

Bad times come for every player, sadly he needs to go back and work on his game

 

[New Yorker]

Early days yet but Imam is the clear winner for me. That said, it appears there are a couple of posters in denial so let's put this to the test.

Who is the better opener?

[MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] please add a poll (don't forget to vote!)

Pretty much anyone is better than Shezzy, really. Even if Imam turns out to be a disappointment in the long run, he has saved us from the agony of Selfie coming out to bat yet again.

 

[pkwdpassion]

With enough confidence i can say any young kid in our domestic cricket can do better than Shehzad (in form). He has cost Pakistani team a lot. Hope he behave likes a senior and try to make place for someone more deserving instead of using connections to latch onto the national side. His innings post 2015 have been an embarassment. He was released by Quetta's platinum category, and no team picked him still thru his connections got himself selected for National T20side.

 

[mak36]

Unfair comparison as too early. Just hope Imam doesnt become another Shan Masood

Why bring Masood into it?

 

[Hasan123]

Let Imam play a few more games before we can make an accurate judgment.

 

[FreePalestine]

the real question is azhar ali vs imam. I assume Imam will bench when Azhar returns? Unless Zaman's ability begins to tail away dramatically..

 

[waleed88]

Point is maybe Shehzad can learn a thing or two from these new youngsters and probably work on his game a little bit. He's not a bad batsman, he is fit, he is a good fielder.

Maybe he needs to put his head down and work on some of his deficiencies.

 

[hadi123]

the real question is azhar ali vs imam. I assume Imam will bench when Azhar returns? Unless Zaman's ability begins to tail away dramatically..

I think Azhar Ali will replace Shehzad in the squad and then 2 out of Azhar, Imam and Zaman will play - maybe rotation throughout series

 

[reversehook]

As soon as shehzad stops using the selfie mode and starts using the standard view camera, things will come back... he does have the talent, just trying to be a sooper-ishtar a bit too early a bit too beyond any of his performances.

Imam doesnt look like a long term fix either... hopefully i am wrong in my assession.

 

[todfod 11]

I m better then ahmed shehzad leave alone Imam ul haq..

 

[hafizexpress]

Why is everyone so quick to make comparisons. Just one game and already comparing him to shezzy boi. He could be better and atm for sure but don't go comparing players after one match just because at the current moment and time the result of the comparison is very obvious.

I am afraid the Imam hype train has begun

 

[mak36]

Why is everyone so quick to make comparisons. Just one game and already comparing him to shezzy boi. He could be better and atm for sure but don't go comparing players after one match just because at the current moment and time the result of the comparison is very obvious.

I am afraid the Imam hype train has begun

If you could read, you would realise it's not a hype train. To be honest, i'm not sure how comparing any player with Ahmed Shehzad could ever be considered as hyping. )

It's a valid comparison to make as they are both rivals for the same position in the same team. This thread will grow the more games Imam/Shehzad play. You've got to start somewhere.

 

[Abdul]

How is this even a comparison?

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

The first 100 that Shehzad scored was more eye catching than that of Imam’s. Wait for five more years and we’ll get the answer!

 

[Yaasir]

Way to early to compare the 2. Ahmed started off his career well too, and looked good to most of us. But now Ahmed looks like a tailender when batting. Lets wait and see if Imam can continue the way he has started off.

 

[giri26]

I think it is too early to compare Shehzad and Imam. Imam needs to play little longer to be compared as we are not sure how he will perform in the long run.

 

[hafizexpress]

If you could read, you would realise it's not a hype train. To be honest, i'm not sure how comparing any player with Ahmed Shehzad could ever be considered as hyping. )

It's a valid comparison to make as they are both rivals for the same position in the same team. This thread will grow the more games Imam/Shehzad play. You've got to start somewhere.

The hype train was more of a prediction I think Imam will be hyped up a lot. I may be wrong though.
And imo this isn't the ideal time to start considering Imam only has played one game and has already beaten Shehzad for the spot for the rest of the series so the rivalry has ceased for the time being. Maybe later when there is real competition between these two then this comparison could be realistic.

 

[Pete Rose]

If imam continues to pay at the same strike rate then neither him or shehzad belong in this team

 

[kingusama92]

If imam continues to pay at the same strike rate then neither him or shehzad belong in this team

What if his average stays the same?

 

[Pete Rose]

What if his average stays the same?

Sure I suppose he could score a 125 ball hundred every game while we chase 400 against Australia/English.
How many Barbars do we need in the team?

 

[kingusama92]

Sure I suppose he could score a 125 ball hundred every game while we chase 400 against Australia/English.
How many Barbars do we need in the team?

The team has greater problems if it's giving up 400+.

 

[MenInG]

I think it is too early to compare Shehzad and Imam. Imam needs to play little longer to be compared as we are not sure how he will perform in the long run.

Yes agreed.

We need to see him do well in 2 other games now. Then we can think of him for more assignments.

 

[bleed blue]

Well atm imam is even better dn bradman..he averages 100 now

 

[Pete Rose]

The team has greater problems if it's giving up 400+.

Higher scores are the norm...

 

[maxamax]

If we crop out both's early/fine games, then Shehzad was more complete than Iman. But he hasn't improved and has become lazy with stroke making (expects the ball to come in his zone every single time).

Imam on the other hand had better intent, was more positive with play (reaching out to ball). Be he seemed stuck for deadliest part of his defense (both outside the out and leg stump). If I was bowling to him, I'd probably take him out by bowling few decently accurate cutter. He seemed stuck with slightly moving balls at those spots.

But in Imam's defense, it was his first two games (I don't know for how long we'll keep saying that) and he got time to improve where Shahzad hasn't throughout his career.

I think couple of games in NZ will expose Imam unless he improves his corridor game, but again, if anyone can change his fate, its Imam himself. He got time (and selector) on his side.

 

[kingusama92]

Higher scores are the norm...

350+ has only been chased down seven times in ODI history. Three of those games were in India where PAK never plays.

PAK is in a lot of trouble if such scores become a norm.

 

[MeanAndGreen]

Higher scores are the norm...

We're quick to criticise here on PP but who are we replacing Imam with? Besides, we already have an 'aggressor' in Zaman opening. Sounds good on paper to have 2 dashers opening the batting but more often than not we'll be 2-10, especially against quality opposition.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

It is too early to say and unfair to compare. Shehzad showed lot of promise like imam now, but regressed. Now he is not even half of what he used to be. Attitude towards the game over time will give the results for both. I feel imam will be another shehzad or will be a tests only player but I can be wrong too. Let’s see.