Influential lobby keen to sideline Mohammad Rizwan

[Titan24]

At 33 years of age there is not a lot to extract out of Sarfaraz if we take into account the next 50 overs world cup. If there is some sort of lobby they are putting their money on the wrong horse as even if they succeed there is at max an year or two which can be extracted out of him and that too in a format or two at most i.e if he performs to start with.

Rizwan has been in good books of Waqar since the time he was the head coach, he played in the same department team as Misbah for quite a few years and Misbah rates him as well further Babar backed Rizwan before becoming captain even on Eng tour as well saying that he is our first choice keeper.

In the end it all comes down to performance, no lobby can successfully push forward a case of player who cant perform or remove someone who has been performing. The only way Rizwan can loose his position if he stops performing and Sarfaraz can only make a mini career in his remaining 2-3 years if he continuously delivers if given oppurtunity.

 

[Muddaser]

Sarfraz has won two ICC tournaments for Pakistan. He should be given some respect. No doubt Rizwan has done good recently but still my first choice would be Sarfraz. Rizwan can still play as batsman.

By your logic India should continue playing Dhoni since he won 3 International tournaments including 2 World cups and play Pant as a batsmen.

Whats with some Karachiites putting Karachi before country.

 

[El Generico]

By your logic India should continue playing Dhoni since he won 3 International tournaments including 2 World cups and play Pant as a batsmen.

Whats with some Karachiites putting Karachi before country.

What’s with some people dragging Karachi into everything?

Despite his countless failures, we still have supporters for mediocre players like Riaz and Akmal. Do you blame Lahoris for that?

Why is city and region only brought up for Karachi players?

 

[Greenstorm]

Exactly, this is the thing that this “Karachi lobby” crowd doesn’t understand. If a Karachi lobby existed, would Fawad Alam, Asim Kamal and Tabish have rotted way in domestic cricket? Would Saad Ali be ignored if this lobby was a thing?

If a lobby is backing Sarfaraz it’s probably because of media support or connections and nothing to do with the region. The media that backs Sarfaraz also back Amir, this has nothing to do with regions.

'Karachi mafia' in reference to cricket is mostly the media. Karachites have an overwhelming presence on social media as well which plays its part. Someone like Danish Aziz wouldn't have played for Pakistan if he was from some small town.

Amir is a poor example. He has many shortcomings but one admirable thing about him is that he never lowered himself by getting in good books of notable media personnel. He kept some journalists at their place. That is why he used to receive severe criticism from media even when he was performing and isn't getting much support now either.

Hafeez and Malik are the best examples when it comes to lobbying, connections, media support. Both were mediocre or average cricketers at best but yet managed to remain in international cricket for nearly two decades.

 

[Bewal Express]

No one with any knowledge or credibility would say that SA is anywhere the level of Riz. I am a fan of Safaraz, the player and would be more than happy for him to play if Riz was injured or lost form but at this point in time, its not even close. Riz needs SA to stay fit and push him because if SA goes Rizs form will also fall away. Its the reason Kamis mediocrity was allowed to continue for years without challenge after his injury in 2006. Both are assets.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

If Hafeez at 40 can play for Pakistan then Sarfaraz is just 33 and still has 2.5 years of cricket left in him to realize that he is finished.

 

[Saj]

You only have to look at Asad Shafiq and the number of matches he somehow managed to play for Pakistan despite his obvious struggles and horrible form.

 

[WengerOut]

What is in it for the influential lobby if Sarfaraz is in the team?

 

[Zaz]

What is in it for the influential lobby if Sarfaraz is in the team?

I guess if its media wale they would get first hand team news before the news is officially confirmed to the media

 

[TheNightWatchman]

If Hafeez at 40 can play for Pakistan then Sarfaraz is just 33 and still has 2.5 years of cricket left in him to realize that he is finished.

He'll make sure he plays till he's 40 too. Tells a lot about the monetary compensation these players receive.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

By your logic India should continue playing Dhoni since he won 3 International tournaments including 2 World cups and play Pant as a batsmen.

Whats with some Karachiites putting Karachi before country.

Sadly this has always been the case.

Alot of talented players in our history have been wasted in favour of mediocre players from there.

 

[leg-side-flick]

He has hardly played since cricket resumed in Aug / September last year, if anything, he should take his lobby to task as they are doing a poor job of forcing team management to play him in the XI

 

[trickyone]

He is a bigger match winner than Babar, just behind Fakkar at the moment.

 

[Hasan123]

The influential lobby deserve the humiliation.

 

[Slim]

That lobby can shove it where the sun doesnt shine. In their case where the sea ends - you know who you are.

 

[MesonK]

Sarfraz has won two ICC tournaments for Pakistan. He should be given some respect. No doubt Rizwan has done good recently but still my first choice would be Sarfraz. Rizwan can still play as batsman.

Sarfaraz has not won anything as a player. He was appointed captain in a team which performed and won because Hassan Ali, Amir, Azhar Ali, Babar, Fakhar performed.

Sarfaraz himself as a player is weaker batsman then Faheem Ashraf.

 

[MesonK]

Poor batsman, not a fit cricketer, close to retirement, Team has already found a replacement....

So the learning should be for lobby, find another person, this one is over...

to me he was already over when he and his supporters started playing the urdu speaking card. To me he will always be someone who was short, unfit, ill mannered on field, yet was given captaincy when it should have gone to more serving players. Its not whole Karachi btw, this group (my own maternal group) which supports Sarfaraz is like 45-50% of karachi but its mafias pretend they own the city.

 

[rhony]

It's good for Rizwan. He won't take his place for granted. He's way more talented and will shine anyway making these lobbies irrelevant. I thought Sarf took the gloves because he's a terrible fielder while Rizwan is good with gloves and without it. In hindsight Rizwan should have fought for it. Sometimes you gotto look out for yourself.

 

[HussainZ]

Influential lobby can't do zilch as long as Rizzy boy keeps performing like this

 

[princeuk]

Rizwan has proved himself in all formats and there should be no doubt any longer with regards to his skills, behind the stumps or in front of it, he has not just met but exceeded expectations.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Shameful stuff from the Karachi mafia and Karachi media. People are afraid to call them out due of the fear of being called racist but they need to be called out.

Lol at racist. They are pathetic people with zero basis to hate one of the nicest and most hard working guys in the set up.

One guy literally asked on twitter if Rizwan would have won the game if Hendricks didn't bowl three full tosses. That's the kind of low life we are dealing with. They would much rather a match fixer play than a honest man with principles.

There is a racial element to their dislike too. It's obvious

 

[MenInG]

Another Talk-Nah moment by Riz in last night's game

 

[El Generico]

That lobby can shove it where the sun doesnt shine. In their case where the sea ends - you know who you are.

Lol it’s not even subtle anymore. It’s clear it was never about Sarfaraz. Anyways I am done ranting lol, just wanted point out the obvious racial elements in some of the posts.

Sarfaraz shouldn’t be in the team rn but it’s clear that some posters here are driven by hate and anger that a guy like him ever led the team.

 

[Sunzi]

If there is any iota of truth to this, only we could try and sideline a player who is performing!

 

[El Generico]

'Karachi mafia' in reference to cricket is mostly the media. Karachites have an overwhelming presence on social media as well which plays its part. Someone like Danish Aziz wouldn't have played for Pakistan if he was from some small town.

Amir is a poor example. He has many shortcomings but one admirable thing about him is that he never lowered himself by getting in good books of notable media personnel. He kept some journalists at their place. That is why he used to receive severe criticism from media even when he was performing and isn't getting much support now either.

Hafeez and Malik are the best examples when it comes to lobbying, connections, media support. Both were mediocre or average cricketers at best but yet managed to remain in international cricket for nearly two decades.

Mohammed Wasim and Abdullah Shafqiue are in the team and they have done way less than Danish Aziz in domestics. What lobby was behind them?

Aziz averages 40 in T20s and averaged nearly 80 in the last National T20. He would likely been in the team regardless of the region.

Anyways I do get your point, being from a big city is also an advantage. However why is it always Karachi that is singled out? Why isn’t a “Lahore lobby” blamed for mediocrity like Riaz and Akmal brothers who have played hundreds of games for Pakistan despite being undeserving for a lot of them.

 

[Cosmic]

Influential lobby can take a chill pill for now...No one is removing rizwan for now.

 

[Cosmic]

Totally agree with you...Sarfaraz is just being lingering for quite time...

SARFARAZ needs to go back domestic work on his basics..and develop some hitting power..other wise let new bunch of keepers to rise in Pakistan team..

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Shaoib Akhtar is one of this "lobby" junk .. in his post match analysis on PTV, he was arguing how Rizwan is not good enough at the top of the order and he shld be playing no5.. and then arguing that we need some1 who can play spin better in middle ... pretending that Rizwan shld be replaced by sarfraz .... such pathatics

Rashid Latif, Tanveer Ahmad, Sikandar Bakht and Basit Ali are clear clear clear racists ... for GOd sake they even argue that Asad Shafiq didn't get proper chances in tests and ODIs.... how more pathetic we can be

 

[ChTab]

Sarfraz has won two ICC tournaments for Pakistan. He should be given some respect. No doubt Rizwan has done good recently but still my first choice would be Sarfraz. Rizwan can still play as batsman.

No one cares about U-19 WC & Pakistan won CT17 because of Hassan Ali & to some extent because of Fakhar's & Amir's performance in the final.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Shaoib Akhtar is one of this "lobby" junk .. in his post match analysis on PTV, he was arguing how Rizwan is not good enough at the top of the order and he shld be playing no5.. and then arguing that we need some1 who can play spin better in middle ... pretending that Rizwan shld be replaced by sarfraz .... such pathatics

Rashid Latif, Tanveer Ahmad, Sikandar Bakht and Basit Ali are clear clear clear racists ... for GOd sake they even argue that Asad Shafiq didn't get proper chances in tests and ODIs.... how more pathetic we can be

Latif is an honest man who is backing Rizwan. The only honest analyst from that city. The rest of them I agree are anti Pashtun and very pro Karachi.

 

[Zaz]

Rashid Latif, Tanveer Ahmad, Sikandar Bakht and Basit Ali are clear clear clear racists ... for GOd sake they even argue that Asad Shafiq didn't get proper chances in tests and ODIs.... how more pathetic we can be

Yes ive heard latif talk as shafiq is the next tendulkar

How you cant justify his exclusion and that he should be one of the first names in the team

How anyone can justify his inclusion is beyond me

 

[Runner Up]

No one cares about U-19 WC & Pakistan won CT17 because of Hassan Ali & to some extent because of Fakhar's & Amir's performance in the final.

In that case Imran Khan is nothing because Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Inzimam have won the 92 world cup. Just saying.

 

[Saj]

Shaoib Akhtar is one of this "lobby" junk .. in his post match analysis on PTV, he was arguing how Rizwan is not good enough at the top of the order and he shld be playing no5.. and then arguing that we need some1 who can play spin better in middle ... pretending that Rizwan shld be replaced by sarfraz .... such pathatics

Rashid Latif, Tanveer Ahmad, Sikandar Bakht and Basit Ali are clear clear clear racists ... for GOd sake they even argue that Asad Shafiq didn't get proper chances in tests and ODIs.... how more pathetic we can be

Indeed if it was up to the likes of these guys Sarfaraz would have played a lot more matches than he has in the last couple of years for Pakistan compared to Rizwan.

Thankfully there are some sensible folk within Pakistan's current set-up that are seeing the bigger picture.

 

[MesonK]

Shaoib Akhtar is one of this "lobby" junk .. in his post match analysis on PTV, he was arguing how Rizwan is not good enough at the top of the order and he shld be playing no5.. and then arguing that we need some1 who can play spin better in middle ... pretending that Rizwan shld be replaced by sarfraz .... such pathatics

Rashid Latif, Tanveer Ahmad, Sikandar Bakht and Basit Ali are clear clear clear racists ... for GOd sake they even argue that Asad Shafiq didn't get proper chances in tests and ODIs.... how more pathetic we can be

Rashid Latif clearly supports Rizwan.

Tanvir Ahmad is an ethnic baloch who is against punjabis and Pashtuns usually in his speeches.

Sikandar bakht and Basit Ali are both Urdu speakings but Sikandar bakht is the one who supports Sarfaraz mostly.

 

[ChTab]

In that case Imran Khan is nothing because Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Inzimam have won the 92 world cup. Just saying.

Imran scored 72 in the final & his partnership with Miandad was crucial plus Imran is a legend not only because he captained Pakistan's team but because of his overall record.

Imran despite being a bowling allrounder has an almost identical record to Sarfraz who is frankly quite an average cricketer & I'm quite happy that he has played so few games for Pakistan.

Sarfraz was lucky that he was captain of the team when Pak won CT17.

 

[mastimasti]

I have it on very good authority from several sources that there is an influential lobby within and close to Pakistan cricket who are very keen to sideline Mohammad Rizwan and get Sarfraz Ahmed back as the first choice pick as wicket-keeper/batsman.

Mohammad Rizwan has done a bit too well since his introduction to international cricket, particularly of late for some and has taken his chance too well for them.

In Pakistan cricket you have to remember that senior players have their own lobby that back them and that's why it's very difficult to get rid of them even towards the end of their careers.

This will be interesting to see how this goes in the coming weeks and months.

I have always struggled with this from an outside perspective....how can someone within Pakistan mount an argument for Sarfraz? And which lobby is it?

In my limited experience I only know Karachi and Lahore.

 

[MachoKhan]

I will add dr Nauman to the list as well, he always has something negative to say about him. Tanvir ahmed actually has spoken well of rizwan.

 

[Muddaser]

Rashid Latif clearly supports Rizwan.

Tanvir Ahmad is an ethnic baloch who is against punjabis and Pashtuns usually in his speeches.

Sikandar bakht and Basit Ali are both Urdu speakings but Sikandar bakht is the one who supports Sarfaraz mostly.

Tanvir Ahmed is Punjabi.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Rashid Latif clearly supports Rizwan.

Tanvir Ahmad is an ethnic baloch who is against punjabis and Pashtuns usually in his speeches.

Sikandar bakht and Basit Ali are both Urdu speakings but Sikandar bakht is the one who supports Sarfaraz mostly.

Tanvir is Punjabi. But bolta hai there is bias for Punjab in national selection

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

I don’t think there is real regional bias. If there was for Lahore then Shehzad would never have been unjustly dropped. And if there was bias for Karachi then Fawad alam would have gotten chance much sooner

 

[Usman Chadda]

I don’t quite understand how can you have any sort of lobby against a player in such a rich vein of form. I know what the OP is saying, having seen this first hand in some of the cringy videos on a popular streaming website. Some are just so beghairat, that they don’t hide their feelings at all.

I myself was against Rizwan’s selection, but that was based on how horrible he looked in his previous stint. He has improved leaps and bounds, and is probably the second most influential cricketer in the Pakistan team right now, after Babar right now.

Although I really want to see Sharjeel and Fakhar opening the batting, with Rizwan coming at either four or five depending on the situation. He is a good enough player to adapt to that role.

 

[MesonK]

Tanvir is Punjabi. But bolta hai there is bias for Punjab in national selection

He is an ethnic Baloch. He was born in Kuwait but was raised among Punjabis. His family is from Quetta.

 

[MesonK]

Tanvir Ahmed is Punjabi.

read my above post

 

[El Generico]

Who would have you given captaincy to the time when Sarfaraz got it? Despite falling out of form, Sarfaraz still has better stats then most other Pakistani keepers so it ott to call him a nothing player.

He is done now but he deserved the captaincy when he got it and isn’t as nearly bad as some have made him out to be. I don’t know about you but look through some of the post honestly and it’s clear what drives the Sarfaraz hate for some.

BTW Shafiq played more cause he seems to be friends with Azhar Ali and Misbah. Kind of like how Asif Ali is now. I doubt region played a part there.

Anyways I don’t care about ethnicities , I find them pointless and reductive so I am done arguing this topic.

 

[El Generico]

Latif is an honest man who is backing Rizwan. The only honest analyst from that city. The rest of them I agree are anti Pashtun and very pro Karachi.

Dude those guys backed Sohail Khan, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi? How are they anti-Pashtun?

I know guys like Bakht are annoying and very biased towards Karachi but I don’t think they care about ethnicities.

 

[MenInG]

Guys dont get personal with each other - address the topic only

 

[MesonK]

Who would have you given captaincy to the time when Sarfaraz got it? Despite falling out of form, Sarfaraz still has better stats then most other Pakistani keepers so it ott to call him a nothing player.

He is done now but he deserved the captaincy when he got it and isn’t as nearly bad as some have made him out to be. I don’t know about you but look through some of the post honestly and it’s clear what drives the Sarfaraz hate for some.

BTW Shafiq played more cause he seems to be friends with Azhar Ali and Misbah. Kind of like how Asif Ali is now. I doubt region played a part there.

Anyways I don’t care about ethnicities , I find them pointless and reductive so I am done arguing this topic.

Compare Sarfaraz stats with Rizwan whose career post 2018 was being wasted in name of unfit, bad mannered and out of form Sarfaraz. Rizwan literally blossomed into a world-class performer with freakish hitting talent that not even Babar Azam has. Rizwan seems to become a proper world class batsman.

Shafiq played because of support from Sarfaraz and his lobby of Pakistan cricket club (PCC).

I support Pakistan!

 

[El Generico]

Compare Sarfaraz stats with Rizwan whose career post 2018 was being wasted in name of unfit, bad mannered and out of form Sarfaraz. Rizwan literally blossomed into a world-class performer with freakish hitting talent that not even Babar Azam has. Rizwan seems to become a proper world class batsman.

Shafiq played because of support from Sarfaraz and his lobby of Pakistan cricket club (PCC).

I support Pakistan!

Asad Shafiq was a regular in the test squad before Sarfaraz, so your point doesn’t even make sense. It’s no secret Azhar Ali and Misbah rate Asad very highly so they likely played a way bigger part then Sarfaraz.


Sarfaraz should have been. dropped earlier but he deserved the captaincy when he got it and had a pretty good career.

 

[Greenstorm]

Mohammed Wasim and Abdullah Shafqiue are in the team and they have done way less than Danish Aziz in domestics. What lobby was behind them?

Aziz averages 40 in T20s and averaged nearly 80 in the last National T20. He would likely been in the team regardless of the region.

Anyways I do get your point, being from a big city is also an advantage. However why is it always Karachi that is singled out? Why isn’t a “Lahore lobby” blamed for mediocrity like Riaz and Akmal brothers who have played hundreds of games for Pakistan despite being undeserving for a lot of them.

Lahore lobby used to be blamed as well. Model town gang and Punjab cricket board are some of the terms that are used.

 

[Slim]

Lol it’s not even subtle anymore. It’s clear it was never about Sarfaraz. Anyways I am done ranting lol, just wanted point out the obvious racial elements in some of the posts.

Sarfaraz shouldn’t be in the team rn but it’s clear that some posters here are driven by hate and anger that a guy like him ever led the team.

You couldnt be any more wrong. I was a Sarfraz supporter since he showed up as an opener around WC 2015. I was against Misbah and Waqar for not selecting him and supported him until WC 2019. In 2019, it was loud and clear that his time is up yet the lobby with a victim complex wants him to play in the pakistani team for their own means. This is what i am truly against.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

He is an ethnic Baloch. He was born in Kuwait but was raised among Punjabis. His family is from Quetta.

No he’s Punjabi. He told me

 

[Tubs]

[MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] is the spearhead of this lobby :

I don't get the reason to hate him. He has been consistent in T20 and Tests, just needs to step up a bit in ODIs.

 

[Muhammad Kaleem]

Latif is an honest man who is backing Rizwan. The only honest analyst from that city. The rest of them I agree are anti Pashtun and very pro Karachi.

I have never seen Basit Ali talking against Pashtuns and other ethnicities of Pakistan. I have watched his videos on his Youtube channel. He appears to be very unbiased person.

 

[Babeikh]

This is utterly ludicrous and ridiculous.

I'd throw Sarfraz out of the team just for this attempted influencing of selectors.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Indeed if it was up to the likes of these guys Sarfaraz would have played a lot more matches than he has in the last couple of years for Pakistan compared to Rizwan.

Thankfully there are some sensible folk within Pakistan's current set-up that are seeing the bigger picture.

Some of these guys are just pathatic and pure racist on TV.. and anchors like Badami give them full air time to spit out venom against all non-Khi cricketers

really some1 needs to give these idiots a big shutup and well actually rizwan is slapping them hard now

 

[El Generico]

I have never seen Basit Ali talking against Pashtuns and other ethnicities of Pakistan. I have watched his videos on his Youtube channel. He appears to be very unbiased person.

If I am not wrong, Basit Ali always supported guys like YK and even Sohail Khan. I get he may be a bit biased towards Karachi players but don’t understand how he is racist to Pashtuns.

A lot of people are mixing up cities with race.

 

[El Generico]

This is utterly ludicrous and ridiculous.

I'd throw Sarfraz out of the team just for this attempted influencing of selectors.

Throw him out based on speculations?

 

[El Generico]

Latif is an honest man who is backing Rizwan. The only honest analyst from that city. The rest of them I agree are anti Pashtun and very pro Karachi.

This is what Basit Ali said when everyone was attacking YK for the Flower incident. He has supported YK on many occasions.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Basit Ali "Pakistan cricket is not that bad that coaches like Grant Flower give suggestions to Younis Khan. It was Younis Khan's greatness that he would even listen to Flower" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> &#55357;&#56876;</p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1279405448060375041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


How is he anti-Pashtun?

 

[Firebat]

Rizwan with a 50 from just 32 balls. After one failure, he's right back to his brilliant form. Yet another half century

 

[Sunzi]

The way Babar spoke about Rizzy post-match, I'd be surprised to see where any dressing room lobby (involving Babar as has been suggested) would be coming from.

I got an impression of Rizwan being inspirational from Babar's interview. Of course, playing to the media is all part of the game but it didn't seem like that TBH.

If he continues to play as he has done in 2021 doesn't matter who wants him out - they'll struggle to usurp him unless they're playing better than him and even then, I'd argue that Rizwan is good enough to command a place in our rather average (and aging in some cases) batting line up and any prospective replacement could find a place in the team alongside him.

 

[Slim]

Sarfraz should just retire FGS.

 

[world cup captain]

Rizwan is good enough to play for Pakistan as a batsman alone, let alone compete with Sarfraz for a spot. There isn't a keeper-batsman in Pakistan who can compete with Rizwan at the moment.

 

[OmarKhan99]

A few rubbish posts here.

Some of the PCT fans are quite fickle. Sarfraz was a good player during his time and was the best choice as captain and wicket-keeper. Rizwan is definitely the 1st choice. Although I wouldn't discount Sarfraz yet, he looks determined to make a comeback.

I understand why some may have a bit of a bias against Rizwan, and I don't think it has much to do with the innocent lad himself. It's more to do with how Sarfraz was relieved of captaincy, dropped from the XI and dropped from the entire squad all in one go back in October 2019. Rizwan just happens to be the player who replaced him. However, regardless of how Sarfraz was treated, Rizwan shouldn't be the one caught up between a mini lingering cross-fire.

Sarfraz doesn't really seem like a person with a lobby. If he did have one, I doubt he would be dropped the way he was. I know a few like to make villains out of players that have been dropped to somehow rationalize why they should not make a comeback. But the idea of Sarfraz being some boss character who pulls a few strings to manipulate M. Wasim, Misbah and Co., while Babar being the lone great saviour against this all-powerful lobby, is just ridiculous. Some have watched a few dramas too many.

Also, it's really immature to generalize across a region. I am not sure why Karachi is being mentioned with such malice in some posts, but it's disappointing to read. A few, however vocal, do not speak on behalf of the entire populace. Anyone with a semblance of nuance/sense would know that.

 

[MRSN]

Rizwan has already played more valuable knocks in his 1 year purple patch than Sarfraz in his entire career. He is still living on that knock against Ireland. Pathetic!!

 

[leg-side-flick]

He has hardly played since cricket resumed in Aug / September last year, if anything, he should take his lobby to task as they are doing a poor job of forcing team management to play him in the XI

In Pak vs SA series,

Rizwan 1
Lobby 0 ( should search for new guy)

 

[El Generico]

A few rubbish posts here.

Some of the PCT fans are quite fickle. Sarfraz was a good player during his time and was the best choice as captain and wicket-keeper. Rizwan is definitely the 1st choice. Although I wouldn't discount Sarfraz yet, he looks determined to make a comeback.

I understand why some may have a bit of a bias against Rizwan, and I don't think it has much to do with the innocent lad himself. It's more to do with how Sarfraz was relieved of captaincy, dropped from the XI and dropped from the entire squad all in one go back in October 2019. Rizwan just happens to be the player who replaced him. However, regardless of how Sarfraz was treated, Rizwan shouldn't be the one caught up between a mini lingering cross-fire.

Sarfraz doesn't really seem like a person with a lobby. If he did have one, I doubt he would be dropped the way he was. I know a few like to make villains out of players that have been dropped to somehow rationalize why they should not make a comeback. But the idea of Sarfraz being some boss character who pulls a few strings to manipulate M. Wasim, Misbah and Co., while Babar being the lone great saviour against this all-powerful lobby, is just ridiculous. Some have watched a few dramas too many.

Also, it's really immature to generalize across a region. I am not sure why Karachi is being mentioned with such malice in some posts, but it's disappointing to read. A few, however vocal, do not speak on behalf of the entire populace. Anyone with a semblance of nuance/sense would know that.

Brilliant post, really sums up this entire situation. Sarfaraz wouldn’t have been discarded the way he was if he had a lobby. His time is done but he is not some evil mafia boss some are making him out to be.

 

[Saj]

Not a good day for the lobby.

I'm sure they were getting excited after Rizwan's duck the other day.

But I'm sure they'll find some faults in Rizwan's innings today

 

[MRSN]

Not a good day for the lobby.

I'm sure they were getting excited after Rizwan's duck the other day.

But I'm sure they'll find some faults in Rizwan's innin.s today

Sikandar Bakht must have broken something tonight..

 

[gazza619]

Look if we will be picking 35 players for every damn series in this post Covid era than no harm in keeping Sarfaraz with the team. Give someone like Rohail Nazir & Azam Khan two more years to mature in domestic cricket and Sarafraz can do the back up duties for now. He used to be a very very good player and still has some gas left in him.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Rizwan is first choice. I think he needs to think about perhaps opening in white-ball cricket as well. Plays spin and pace both quite well, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a left-hand and right-hand combination at the top.

Overall a much better cricketer than any wicketkeeper in Pakistan at the moment, though he needs to start churning out the runs in ODI cricket soon.

 

[Civil]

Nothing against sarfraz, he had vital contributions and was a good patch fix for the situation our cricket was in from 2015 to 2019.

But Rizwan could be a real influential player for years too come just based on his attitude.
I hope he isn't sidelines for this stupid lobby **. Hoping the best for Pak cricket in the future.

 

[Saj]

Sikandar Bakht must have broken something tonight..

Yes, he is amongst this lot. There are other tv presenters and some former players, as well as some journalists.

 

[GudduBadmash]

Yes, he is amongst this lot. There are other tv presenters and some former players, as well as some journalists.

Name them all so I can abuse them on twitter evrytime Rizwan performs.

 

[MRSN]

Name them all so I can abuse them on twitter evrytime Rizwan performs.

3 Karachi based journalists who said this - These guys are not only biased but also thoroughly incompetent journlalists as they lack any cricketing intelligence. They are like gossiping aunties. It is incredible how such people make to big tv channels. It must be because lies and propaganda sells more?

 

[shamaan]

Sarfraz was a good wicket keeper Bateman and his captaincy was good.

However rizwan is a world class batesman and is first choice wicket keeper batesman.

Sarfraz should retire as rizwan is on another level .

 

[ManFan]

Sarfraz should have some shame and drop himself.

He knows, deep down inside, that he is not fit to carry Rizwan’s jockstrap at the moment.

 

[Varun]

Comparing Sarfraz to Rizwan is like comparing Parthiv Patel to Dhoni.

And Parthiv Patel never abused a teammate.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Sarfraz is not just a passenger. He's actually harmful for the team for being in it. He's forcing Rizwan to play as a fielder. Taking up a valuable spot in the team . Threatening Babar's authority by directing orders in the field. It's time to leave

 

[silentkiller187]

At this point they are right. All player cannot open. So rizwan have extra ability to bat in middle order. It will make team combination perfect.
Fakhar, sharjeel, baber , rizwan

I think this combination should try

What has sharjeel done to justify him being around the squad, he is a fixer, he is overweight, poor fielder, cant play spin?, only plays swipes , at least fakhar has moved to 3 and still shown he can do a job for the team. So I’m not sure how it would perfect the combo if anything it will ruin the only stability Pakistan has right now.

 

[Titan24]

At this point they are right. All player cannot open. So rizwan have extra ability to bat in middle order. It will make team combination perfect.
Fakhar, sharjeel, baber , rizwan

I think this combination should try

Yes, all players cannot open but Rizwan has successfully shown that he can do that. Rizwan is probably the greatest T20I opener in Pakistan's T20 history at this point based upon his performances and from as I dont remember a single opener previously winning match after match for his team over the last 3-4 series while grabbing MOM and MOS awards left and right.

If we apply logic of natural openers which some of these "experts" say, than what about Rohit Sharma? Was he a natural opener? Not at all, he was a middle order batsman but he had the game for the slot and he is now one of the greatest wit ball openers world has ever seen.

If someone can do the required job for you in a certain role than it proves he has the technique and temperament for that role.

That being said, considering the struggles of Pak middle order yes Zim series could have been used for experimentation to see if Babar and Rizwan can support the middle order while the opening Messiahs can run havoc at the top. As said before it would have been an effort to fix something that is broke by changing something which isnt broke to see if it works for the team and can eliminate those middle order issues.

However, now there are not much opportunities to try such things so Rizwan will probably be one of the guys opening the innings in the World T20 unless something extreme happens in the remaining 12 T20Is before the World t20.