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Imam-ul-Haq vs Sami Aslam - Who is a better opener?

Abdullah Rabbani

Abdullah Rabbani

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Two Left Handed Openers Fighting For their Spot In Pakistan Team Same Age And Rated Highly By Cricket Experts Sami Has Superior Record In Domestic Than Imam But is Doing Decent In International Cricket But Needs To Check Against High Quality Opposition Where He Stands...

Sami Aslam Age22
FC:61 Runs:3522 Avg:35.00 (Hundred10 Fifty 14)
LA:76 Runs:3525 Avg:50.22 SR:86.4 (Hundred 11 Fifty 20)

Imam ul Haq Age22
FC:40 Runs:2184 Avg:36.5 (Hundred4 Fifty13)
LA:46 Runs:1831 Avg:41.3 SR:76.96 (Hundred5 Fifty10)

How do You Rank These Batsmen???
 
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Why did Pakistan chuck out Sami Aslam? He was an ideal test opener who played many stone-walling knocks. He was a little low on the strike rate, but surely keeping him in the side and improving that facet of the game was a much better option than discarding him altogether?

It's a typical Pakistan thing to do, and now he's probably shot on confidence.
 
Varun said:
Why did Pakistan chuck out Sami Aslam? He was an ideal test opener who played many stone-walling knocks. He was a little low on the strike rate, but surely keeping him in the side and improving that facet of the game was a much better option than discarding him altogether?

It's a typical Pakistan thing to do, and now he's probably shot on confidence.
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Because not nephew of inzimam he is scoring tons of run in domestic
 
Sami has more ability but his approach is very negative. And that comes from being too selfish.
 
Sami is very much suitable for ODIs. He is very good in this format, averages 50 ,astonishing with a very good SR.
 
Sami is more talented , but mentally midget .

Imam does not have much strokes but is more determined
 
The stat that stands out big for me in List A is a strike rate difference of almost 10, that's huge especially when you have Fakhar Zaman on the other end.
 
Abdullah Rabbani said:
Just lack of confidence by management
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He's been playing at a pathetic SR for the A team lately too when he knew he'd be played in every game, whilst Shan Masood of all people was smashing it to all parts. He lacks the mental fortitude for the highest level, 2 decent knocks in English conditions followed by a whole lot of nothing does not make him deserving of a permanent place in the side
 
I'm a big fan of Sami Aslam but atm he seems a long way off the team. His current form is woeful.
 
Sami is in awful form atm. His performances for the A team are bad. Shouldn't be close to international cricket unless he scores heaps of runs (at a healthy strike rate) in domestic and side matches.
 
Neither that exciting to be honest, but Imam has one quality (2 actually, having an uncle as CS is indeed one), which should make him a decent Test opener.

Sami scored 93 (?) in his Test return innings, which should have earned him couple of years Test cricket with an uncle at first place, but he wasn’t given enough chances in ODI which should be his strongest suit (otherwise PCB should stop domestic cricket). Mental weakness could be an issue, but I think most young batsmen will be nervous if he is to play every game with a gun pointed on back.
 
MMHS said:
Neither that exciting to be honest, but Imam has one quality (2 actually, having an uncle as CS is indeed one), which should make him a decent Test opener.

Sami scored 93 (?) in his Test return innings, which should have earned him couple of years Test cricket with an uncle at first place, but he wasn’t given enough chances in ODI which should be his strongest suit (otherwise PCB should stop domestic cricket). Mental weakness could be an issue, but I think most young batsmen will be nervous if he is to play every game with a gun pointed on back.
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Very true it's problem
 
Potentially Sami is the better one day player but Inzi as chief selector would never let Sami in the side right now. He even kicked Fakhar out of the test squad despite him scoring so well on his debut against Aussies.

However, to compete in modern era cricket, I think we need Farhan to open with Fakhar. In List A Farhan averages 53.39 at a SR of 89.24. So clearly he is superior to both based on at least stats. Inzi however played Farhan in T20s instead of ODIs because off course Imam is his nephew.
 
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Imam hasn't done much wrong so far for Pakistan whereas Sami is currently out of form.
 
Sami Aslam doesn't seem cut out for international cricket mentally imo. May be proved wrong, but he seems far too timid and defensive, to the point where he makes Azhar look like an aggressive batsman.

Imam has done well and I'd pick him over Sami, no debate even required.
 
Blistering Barnacle said:
Sami Aslam doesn't seem cut out for international cricket mentally imo. May be proved wrong, but he seems far too timid and defensive, to the point where he makes Azhar look like an aggressive batsman.

Imam has done well and I'd pick him over Sami, no debate even required.
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Not well against good teams failed Against India , newzealand and england
 
Can't believe people still worry about Sami Aslam. He is a super timid batsman and take almost 100 balls to score 20-30. He should play division 2 teams. Any world class bowler will not let him settle not even 30 balls and he will not score over 6-8 runs.
 
Sami Aslam, for all his flaws, has played better test innings than Imam.
The more I see of imam, the less there’s any hope. Him, hafeez, malik are collectively going to make the tour to South Africa a miserable one
 
Blistering Barnacle said:
Sami Aslam doesn't seem cut out for international cricket mentally imo. May be proved wrong, but he seems far too timid and defensive, to the point where he makes Azhar look like an aggressive batsman.

Imam has done well and I'd pick him over Sami, no debate even required.
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Imam has done nothing in tests. And in Odis he continues to feast against easier bowling attacks
 
Sami was the better under 19 player and started well but regressed alarmingly to a point where he was awful. Lets see how Imam fares- he is mentally tough but lacks flare.
 
Ilustcricket said:
Potentially Sami is the better one day player but Inzi as chief selector would never let Sami in the side right now. He even kicked Fakhar out of the test squad despite him scoring so well on his debut against Aussies.

However, to compete in modern era cricket, I think we need Farhan to open with Fakhar. In List A Farhan averages 53.39 at a SR of 89.24. So clearly he is superior to both based on at least stats. Inzi however played Farhan in T20s instead of ODIs because off course Imam is his nephew.
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Fakhar is being rested
 
If Pak just opens with Fakhar and Azhar it could solve our opening issues for the next few years. Even though Azhar is not fluent he does play a lot of balls which could make things easier for Haris etc.
 
Abdullah Rabbani said:
SA Tour Give Results Where He Stand If He Failed Move On From Him
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Leaves precious little time to incorporate a new player in time for the World Cup. There are at least three batsmen who will be embarrassing themselves on this tour: hafeez, malik, and imam
 
Shafi said:
Can't believe people still worry about Sami Aslam. He is a super timid batsman and take almost 100 balls to score 20-30. He should play division 2 teams. Any world class bowler will not let him settle not even 30 balls and he will not score over 6-8 runs.
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He was superb on debut in England. Was robbed of a deserved century against Anderson and Broad by an Azhar run out. Not even Anwar knew his off stump as well as Aslam. Regressed thereafter but the capability is clearly there. Imam has just been dreadful.
 
Gotta give credit to Imam he as grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

I don't rate both of them.
 
Minus the fact that he's in the team and Sami isn't, I'll give Imam the edge considering he's been more consistent and more mentally strong at the crease.

Provided that they improve their SRs all together, I can see them at least opening together in tests.
 
I am not sure how Imam is better than Sami in Test - taking out Ireland, his stats are 31/43 in 4 Tests against ENG, AUS & NZ. Sami's career for 13 Tests has a similar stats (32/39), and if I take out 2 Tests against us in his early days, that stats actually goes up to 34/39.

Barring IRL, Imam has one 50 against AUS in UAE (in 7 innings, including IRL 2 in 9), Sami has 7, 50s in 25 innings. To me, it's identical stats, Sami probably better because out of his 13 Tests, he has played 8 away (2 in BD, 2 in ENG, 2 in AUS & 2 in NZL).

Ideally, none should be in Test team, but since Imam has got his chance, he should be backed and given 3 Tests against Kiwis to prove himself or get dropped fair & squire, so that he can't blame anyone in future.

Personally, I'll never back stroke-less wonders - these Azhar Ali clones don't represent PAK cricket.
 
Pete Rose said:
Leaves precious little time to incorporate a new player in time for the World Cup. There are at least three batsmen who will be embarrassing themselves on this tour: hafeez, malik, and imam
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Management failed to do i know hafeez and malik poor in SENA and imam not look who are next batting star , we need to invest in saud , saad and shaan sami...
Shani for only odi
 
both have same date of birth , unify them to make a better player.

I think sami aslam needed a little more support than he did in test matches , could have become a regular.

Imam isnt as tight as defence as sami aslam but is a good stroke player , sami is a very careful player and his ability is pretty limited when we tallk about stroke making.

I would pick imam over sami.
 
Our Biggest Achievement in Last 10 years, Draw series in ENG:

one thing people have to remember, Sami was instrumental in leveling that series, in last two test, he showed to our entire dressing room, how to bat in English conditions. One of the best display of how to play new ball in England by Pakistani I have ever seen in last 30 years...

This helped Pakistan got back into the series. He should have won the third test, we lost because of usual collapse on last day...

It does not matter how many performances you do in UAE, although these blokes are struggling in UAE as well. Its no brainer to take Sami to SA...
 
I'd go with Imam.

Sami Aslam is torturous to watch, plays way too defensive like a night watchman, and his record isn't anything great either.
 
Sami was always better than imam. He was dropped unfairly to accommodate bhatija.
 
Sami Aslam was one of the reason Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka 0-2 last year. Sami is another failure who could'nt chase 120 against Sri Lanka in UAE.

This revolving door involving Inzamam's nephew, Sami Aslam, Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez, whereas ignoring the rest has really destroyed Pakistan's opening slot. Only crticket team that starts at 2 down and rely heavily on middle order and rest to help survive a collapse. The nepotism or favoritism by selectors have made sure Pakistan still has'nt recovered from Sharjeel Khan ban even after 2 years.

Domestic openers who are averaging over 40+ like Fakhar Zaman and Abid Ali are being disregarded which is hurting the national team. Inzamam is more responsible for not selecting any good opener and if there are any who perform [like Fakhar] are chucked out due to fitness or other reason. PCB is needed here to review the selection committee's performance can't blame Mickey or Sarfraz for the squad as well.
 
Both of them suck but Sami Aslam had 0 shots. He literally looked like a tailender just trying to survive, I don't know how he has any supporters here. Imam at least has some good scores next to his name but even then he needs to work on his game alot. For now imam is alot better than Sami and has more potential to be a decent player though he is not a good loi player and also fishes at balls outside off. They both need to work on their game to be permanent openers, I can't believe fakhar is sitting out for Imam.
 
Both are useless in Tests.

Sami however has a very good List A record. But it is a law of PCB to introduce players in a wrong format, set them up for failure, then exile them during peak years.

Shan Masood is an example too. Should be playing ODIs and not tests.

Sahibzada Farhan’s record suggests he should have made a debut in ODIs and not T20s.
 
Sami Aslam is way better than Imam. He played quality knocks against Anderson, Broad, Boult, and Southee. He shoud've been persisted with. By giving him more time to develop he could've expanded his shot making ability.
Imam on the other hand has literally been racking up runs against weak and useless teams.
 
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