Imam-ul-Haq vs other Pakistani openers in the last decade and a half

[Titan24]

So basically he has scored more centuries than Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Taufeeq Umar, Sharjeel Khan inside 10 games. While only 2 less than Shehzad and 4 less than butt (was one of our best openers). Many of them have played games against lower ranked teams but no one was capitalize.

You guys can also check the SR of each of the openers played in past decade and a half, other than Sharjeel nothing substantial there as well.

He is young so definitely can improve pacing his innings, other openers playing before him in recent times had more experience than him (Shehzad, Azhar) were also pacing the innings like a new comer.

Atleast he is technically solid enough to carry on with his innings, also his hunger for runs can be seen by the fact that he has scored 4 centuries inside 10 matches.

I guess some people dont understand our history of struggles with openers post Anwer. This guy is scoring runs atleast, unlike some others who were failing to score runs and their SR wasnt up either.

Also what other options all the haters suggest? Is there anyone other than Sahibzada Farhan? Mickey has seem him in nets and 1 T20, I think he is a bit nervous with the increase of quality of cricket as one can see in the PSL as well. Surely he is talented and dynamic but he must not be ready to translate his original self to International cricket and Mickey is good with knowing it. Same was the case with Hussain Talat, looked restricted in recent few innings and that is why Asif Ali was the only one graduating to ODIs.

 

[InziRules]

He's slow, but I'd rather him than the options touted so far. I don't want Sharjeel back ever after that fixing thing.

If we have a quicker opener with a good average in domestic, give him a go

 

[MMHS]

So basically he has scored more centuries than Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Taufeeq Umar, Sharjeel Khan inside 10 games. While only 2 less than Shehzad and 4 less than butt (was one of our best openers). Many of them have played games against lower ranked teams but no one was capitalize.

You guys can also check the SR of each of the openers played in past decade and a half, other than Sharjeel nothing substantial there as well.

He is young so definitely can improve pacing his innings, other openers playing before him in recent times had more experience than him (Shehzad, Azhar) were also pacing the innings like a new comer.

Atleast he is technically solid enough to carry on with his innings, also his hunger for runs can be seen by the fact that he has scored 4 centuries inside 10 matches.

I guess some people dont understand our history of struggles with openers post Anwer. This guy is scoring runs atleast, unlike some others who were failing to score runs and their SR wasnt up either.

Also what other options all the haters suggest? Is there anyone other than Sahibzada Farhan? Mickey has seem him in nets and 1 T20, I think he is a bit nervous with the increase of quality of cricket as one can see in the PSL as well. Surely he is talented and dynamic but he must not be ready to translate his original self to International cricket and Mickey is good with knowing it. Same was the case with Hussain Talat, looked restricted in recent few innings and that is why Asif Ali was the only one graduating to ODIs.

Why 15 years only (which keeps Saeed out) - an ODI stats of 74/87 makes him best ever of PAK, in fact best ever in ODI history.

I used to tell that Bradman is unique because he was 1.75 times better than contemporary 2nd man - this kid with that stat is 1.7 times better than not only his contemporary, rather any one in history. Take a random pick (don’t catch me on minor numbers - it may only change the ratio from 1.7 to may be 1.5)

SRT 44/86
GG (WIN) 45/63
GG (Pom) 39/65
Desi Haynes 43/67
Saeed 40/87
Mark 38/85
Glen Turner 48/65
Mazid 43/75
Hayden 42/85
Smith 39/85
Gibbs 40/85
Gayle 38/90
Sanath 35/90
Ganguly 40/80
......

Add to that the conversation rate - 4 tons in 10 innings, imagine his age and 15 years career of around 400 ODI, it equets at around 160 hundreds .... And there was not enough target, otherwise his conversion rate would have 5/5 - that’s 5 time passed 50, 5 centuries, still 4/1 is almost unreal. Again, Bradman looks genuine mediocre here - in 80 innings guy had 29 tons & 12 fifties - that’s a ratio around 2.5, this kid has 4.0 (could have been infinity if HK put higher target).

This is unreal - must have to praise PCB’s CS to visualize such prodigy despite his List A stats, just from his family name : Ul Haq.

 

[Pete Rose]

It was only a matter of time before this thread came. And yes the figures werE always going to be flattering. Cricket is a game that needs new statistics. In particular strike rates as the innings progresses.

 

[Greenstorm]

Imam is an impact less player and we have too many of those in our team. He might be useful in UAE where 300+ totals are not a norm but we should use this time to prepare ourselves for WC 2019 which will be in UK and not in UAE.

He has to make way for another aggressive opener and Sahibzada Farhan is the best available option.

 

[the_outsider]

Pakistan hasn't had a good opener since Anwar. Even if Imam does better than the openers of last 15 years, it won't be enough for the team.

He needs to match Fakhar in terms of ability and impact (not talking about SR) if he wants to make a difference.

 

[Hawkeye]

Yes, he has potential and that's why I have faith and willing to give him a proper chance.

Criticism like low strike rate is not completely invalid either. But he can improve it.

Even as it is, he's still better than alternatives like Shehzad.