Important two matches coming up for Abdullah Shafique

[AliMurtaza]

Like most of you, I believe Abdullah is better suited for ODIs and tests. And with a test side that has only one test batsmen under the age of 27, we desperately need batsmen like Haider and Abdullah to be drafted into the test side as their success can reward you with batsmen who can have long test careers for Pakistan.

That’s why the decision to play Abdullah and Haider in the Zimbabwe limited overs series didn’t make any sense. Haider had nothing to prove and Abdullah clearly didn’t belong to the T20 format. Both should have played Quaid trophy and then the first 4-day match for Shaheens that was eventually cancelled to further improve their game for the longer format.

My fear for Abdullah is that unlike Haider who can and should play all 3 formats for Pakistan, his natural game is not suited for T20s. Also unlike Haider who is rated highly by all, Abdullah is yet to convince everyone. If he fails in the remaining two T20s, he will be dropped from the side and will have to wait till 2021 quaid trophy to raise his claim for a test spot. So his whole season will be wasted. And Misbah will be the chief culprit for that as he didn’t let him play first class cricket for a meaningless limited overs series against Zimbabwe.

So I hope that he succeeds in last two T20s which allows him to remain with the international side for next few months and eventually get a spot for ODI and test sides, two formats where I see him succeeding.

 

[Arsal_AK]

But he should wait for the 2021 season to play test cricket.

Right now we have Babar at 4. Haris and Azhar are either side of him and Saud is next in line. There is no place for Abdulah and nor should there be one after only one FC match. He need to play the next season in the first XI, play all the A games and then by 2021, if he does well, replace Azhar at 3.

 

[AliMurtaza]

But he should wait for the 2021 season to play test cricket.

Right now we have Babar at 4. Haris and Azhar are either side of him and Saud is next in line. There is no place for Abdulah and nor should there be one after only one FC match. He need to play the next season in the first XI, play all the A games and then by 2021, if he does well, replace Azhar at 3.

That’s sort of my point. I think Haider is the one who should be next in line for a test debut followed by likes of Talat Hussain and Saud Shakeel. Not convinced about Imran Butt. But Abdullah, like Haider, is under 25 and can have a long test career. If he were allowed to play the full domestic season this year, he would have have been in line for a spot in test side along with the three mentioned above. Now you have wasted his entire season for a format where he doesn’t belong.

I am of the point of view that if you can find a young test batsman at age of 21/22, you get a test player for at least next 12-14 years. And right now, only Haider and Abdullah fit that bill for me. There are some promising young batsmen like Omair Yousuf and Mubasir Khan but they still need 1-2 domestic seasons. I believe both Haider and Abdullah are ready along with Saud Shakeel. Maybe Talat Hussain too. And when you have Abid Ali (33), Azhar Ali (35), and Fawad Alam (35) in the same test side, you are looking at an ageing test batting lineup which if not supplemented promptly by finding 1-2 young replacements will create a huge issue within next 2 years.