Investing in Asad Shafiq instead of Fawad Alam

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Asad is one of most inconsistent batsman in Pakistan played 61 tests averaging at 39.25 playing position 5 and 6 most of his runs come after failure in 8,9 innings to save his place in team mostly many player's want to play in middle order to boost there average but this guy is never improved after playing nine years one of most poor investment by pcb he become other player's like fawad alam ruined by pcb who averaged 56 in fc and make century on debut game no reason by pcb to drop him and play like this poor player...

In his last 26 Test innings asad has made 50 or more only 5 times.
In his last 9 Test innings he has made one 50.

He averages 45.38 in Tests in UAE, but averages 34.86 in Tests away from UAE.

Asad is failure in odis also but fawad averaged 40+ in odi and tests despite playing less matches.

Fawad Alam FC Stat.
M:155 Runs: 11441 Average: 56.02 Hundred 30 Fifty 58


Asad Shafiq FC Stat.
M:134 Runs: 8348 Average:40.32 Hundred 21 Fifty 40 SR/50.3

 

[aukhan]

Shame really. Shafiq is the biggest choker i have ever seen play for Pakistan.

 

[Mainul]

No faida . Pakistan will keep selecting hack Asad over brilliant Fawad.

 

[arehaan]

This guy is a mental midget. We have wasted Fawad Alams prime to accommodate this guy and results are there to see. He will never win anything as he can’t handle pressure.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Pakistan achieve many records if fawad play with misbah and younis instead crap asad.

 

[BreadPakoda]

He was always a merit selection and had far better technique than Fawad. And now he is even worse than hack Omar Akmal. 2 days ago Pakistan fans were calling #Asli the new #Misyou and now this.

Asad made a 100 two days ago. You guys need so show some patience.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I agree. Pakistan made a big mistake. And though initially it may have seemed like Asad was the future (he was averaging close to 44 during MisYou era), now it is pretty that he is not. Had our selectors invested in Fawad Alam it could have been a completely different story today.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

He was always a merit selection and had far better technique than Fawad. And now he is even worse than hack Omar Akmal. 2 days ago Pakistan fans were calling #Asli the new #Misyou and now this.

Asad made a 100 two days ago. You guys need so show some patience.

Technique doest not matter if you score runs look at smith and chanderpaul,

Don't make foolish excuses on merit.

 

[topspin]

2 biggest mistakes under Misbah/Waqar was to back Shafiq instead of Umar Akmal and Misbah ahead of Fawad. Younis Khan should have been captain after drawing the series against the minnow Zimbabwe side.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Technique doest not matter if you score runs look at smith and chanderpaul,

Don't make foolish excuses on merit.

Hindsight is 20/20. Asad was one of the most prolific batsman at no.6. He has been failing too often these days but he wasn't a bad investment to begin with.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Rabbani sahib,

Asad Shafique averaged 125 in current season vs Fawad’s 69.


Just stroke a Test hundred and you are grabbing him from his neck needlessly.



Fawad Alam got his leg stump uprooted by Mohammad Ilyas in a very embarrassing way. Australians also made him look very silly in Odis by placing fielders in areas he nudges and he couldn’t buy singles.



Fawad will remain in league of Shafique Ahmed Papa, Asif Mujtaba, Graeme Hick, Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher etc.

 

[Barragan]

Biggest mistake in Pakistans cricket history!!

I give to credit to misbah for building a fortress and making us unbeatable in the UAE, but backing this garbage has cost Pak dearly and that is why I would never have someone like misbah anywhere near any role, which would require national selection or picking players.

Had Fawad, Haris, Salahudin and Akmal, who out-performed him, but he was the chosen one.

This is why you never, ever back someone with an average in the 30's in FC.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He was always a merit selection and had far better technique than Fawad. And now he is even worse than hack Omar Akmal. 2 days ago Pakistan fans were calling #Asli the new #Misyou and now this.

Asad made a 100 two days ago. You guys need so show some patience.

Nobody is disputing his talent or technique but let's face it, Asad has not played a single match-winning innings in the last 2+ years. All his hundreds come in losing causes. Often times, when Pakistan has basically lost the match and all the pressure is off. In the first test when he was set at the crease and Pakistan needed him to see them home he got out two balls before lunch. Today, when we again needed him to stay at the crease he got out first ball.

People are bound to lose patience when the non-performance of senior players results in home series losses to teams like Sri Lanka and New Zealand, who have never won here.

 

[the Great Khan]

I like shafiq. I really do. He has great technique and it seemed as if he was a fighter at number 6. But I have been really dissapointed with him since Misbah and Younis retired. The logical step would have been to bring in fawad and keep shafiq at 6. Fawad had the experience and would have made easy runs in places like the uae. But alas people who sit in the ivory towers of the PCB want batsmen who "look good" when hitting a cover drive. It matters little if you hit a cover drive with a nice high elbow or whatever and then get out the next ball..just look at imam? he hits some lovely shots then gets out when the pressure is on..

Fawad may not look like he has a good technique but it works for him..he also unsettles the bowler..His average isn't a joke..

But its too late now..we are now investing in another dud by the name of Haris sohail..who's new claim to fame will be colouring his hair different colours..

 

[Savak]

It's easy to talk. We may have had the same discussion on Fawad Alam today. Fawad Alam has been unable to retain his place in the squad for a reason

 

[ARK Rafay]

It is always been like. PCB ruined good players.

 

[hussain.r97]

Fawad would have been another nobody within two years. There is no way he would last at international level with so many technical flaws, especially outside Asia. I can't see Fawad scoring the centuries Asad hit in England, Australia, and South Africa.

 

[Kroll]

Another lazy selection for the tour to SA by the Revolutionary.

 

[Aviator]

He is got an awesome technique.





That technique is to somehow score a hundred in 10 innings and secure his place for next series.

 

[BreadPakoda]

It's easy to talk. We may have had the same discussion on Fawad Alam today. Fawad Alam has been unable to retain his place in the squad for a reason

Exactly. We may have been having a discussion about the injustice done to Shafiq and why the selectors couldn't see Fawad's flawed technique.

 

[Abdullah719]

I like shafiq. I really do. He has great technique and it seemed as if he was a fighter at number 6. But I have been really dissapointed with him since Misbah and Younis retired. The logical step would have been to bring in fawad and keep shafiq at 6. Fawad had the experience and would have made easy runs in places like the uae. But alas people who sit in the ivory towers of the PCB want batsmen who "look good" when hitting a cover drive. It matters little if you hit a cover drive with a nice high elbow or whatever and then get out the next ball..just look at imam? he hits some lovely shots then gets out when the pressure is on..

Fawad may not look like he has a good technique but it works for him..he also unsettles the bowler..His average isn't a joke..

But its too late now..we are now investing in another dud by the name of Haris sohail..who's new claim to fame will be colouring his hair different colours..

One bad match and Haris Sohail is back to being a dud.

Haris and Babar are our two top-scorers this year in Tests. They aren't droppable at the moment.

Back to the premise of the thread, I don't know about Fawad but investing in Shafiq was a mistake. He had a couple of great seasons to kick off his FC career but since then he has been average or slightly above average.

 

[Zaz]

This series has been the same story of shafiqs career

200 runs in 5 innings at an average of 40, with 1 innings over 50 and a duck included

 

[Zaz]

This series has been the same story of shafiqs career

200 runs in 5 innings at an average of 40, with 1 innings over 50 and a duck included

It was the same story against aus in the series before the standard one score over fifty and a duck

 

[Kroll]

This series has been the same story of shafiqs career

200 runs in 5 innings at an average of 40, with 1 innings over 50 and a duck included

Just to add to that, his innings never have any impact. Got a century and we still lost the match and hence the series. A free loader who was shielded by the likes of Azhar, YK and Misbah before they left.

 

[Chokli]

It's easy to talk. We may have had the same discussion on Fawad Alam today. Fawad Alam has been unable to retain his place in the squad for a reason

We may or may not have.

He only played 3 Test matches and was dropped based on performances in LOI.

 

[mastersaan10]

No use brining fawads name now, he is too old. I was his big fan, he looked like someone who kept the game ticking and a brilliant fielder. If he can score a century in srinkanka against murali, then he would have feasted against lyon and ajaz Patel in uae guaranteed. Odis and tests are 2 different arenas, you can play bowlers out and not attack in tests. Although fawad did decently in Odis, if chadrroaul was born in Pakistan no doubt he would have also played 20 matches for Pakistan. We only care about aesthetics, don't matter about the substance. Shafiq can continue to make pretty 30s , as long as he looks good doing it his place is guaranteed.

 

[waqar goraya]

Asad 's career average of below 40 as a modern day test specialist after 60 plus games shows that he is an epitome of mediocrity.

I believe we need to move on from Fawad also. Whether he should have been given more chances is debatable and probably he deserved more chances but it's over now.

Btw, do we have batsmen in other 6 top test teams who have a middle order batsman in their ranks with a career average below 40 with 60 plus or 50 plus games? Any stat guru here?

 

[Hasan123]

Fawad should have got a chance but he is on the decline now and I don't see him doing well outside of Asia now.

 

[Abid Z]

I like shafiq. I really do. He has great technique and it seemed as if he was a fighter at number 6. But I have been really dissapointed with him since Misbah and Younis retired. The logical step would have been to bring in fawad and keep shafiq at 6. Fawad had the experience and would have made easy runs in places like the uae. But alas people who sit in the ivory towers of the PCB want batsmen who "look good" when hitting a cover drive. It matters little if you hit a cover drive with a nice high elbow or whatever and then get out the next ball..just look at imam? he hits some lovely shots then gets out when the pressure is on..

Fawad may not look like he has a good technique but it works for him..he also unsettles the bowler..His average isn't a joke..

But its too late now..we are now investing in another dud by the name of Haris sohail..who's new claim to fame will be colouring his hair different colours..

You know the thing that annoys me is this. Hayden, langer, Thorpe, pieterson, inzi, martyn, bell,... all fantastic players at some point in their career got dropped and on most occasions came back with a much tighter game elavating themselves from v good to great players...yet we seem so reluctant to drop asad.

Yes he’s just made a 100 and yes he scored a good hundred in Australia..but we really need a no4 and 5 who can walk into any team in the world yet no matter how good Asad’s technique is.. we just know an odd century here and there in a lost cause is all he can muster. We really have to ask if this team can develop with players like this.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Rather than reminisce of what could happen, we should be worried about how we could lose players like Saad Ali and potentially Saud Shakeel. We may have already a mistake of not selecting Abid Ali for Shan Masood.

 

[ayemgilani86]

I for one wasnt getting in to the #asli hype, they always fail under pressure, when have these 2 even gotten us a draw, last day collapses they have always led
How much patience should there be shown? 9 years is clearly not enough

 

[Zaz]

Most of our great bats at one point or another have been dropped gone away worked at their game and made a comeback becoming better players

Why is then mr shafiq can play near 60 odd test in a row at an a average of below 40 and deemed undroppable???

 

[hasanali22]

Nobody is disputing his talent or technique but let's face it, Asad has not played a single match-winning innings in the last 2+ years. All his hundreds come in losing causes. Often times, when Pakistan has basically lost the match and all the pressure is off. In the first test when he was set at the crease and Pakistan needed him to see them home he got out two balls before lunch. Today, when we again needed him to stay at the crease he got out first ball.

People are bound to lose patience when the non-performance of senior players results in home series losses to teams like Sri Lanka and New Zealand, who have never won here.

totally correct. even that innnings at the gabba in 2016, he batted like a champ while we had no chance of winning. soon as we got close to actually chasing 490 he choked.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Asad proved a poor investment by pcb

 

[Mamoon]

Fawad is averaging 37 since his comeback, and Shafiq spent his entire career in the 35-40 range.

People are acting as if Fawad has performed miracles with the bat. He hasn’t. He averaged 10 in England.

Both are just above average and do not have the ability to average 45+ at Test level.

The only real difference is that Shafiq’s batting is at least good to watch.

 

[Duckworth Lewis]

Not much of difference in the number of wins. Both would score in subcontinent and not much outside.

 

[Ahmed216]

Fawad is averaging 37 since his comeback, and Shafiq spent his entire career in the 35-40 range.

People are acting as if Fawad has performed miracles with the bat. He hasn’t. He averaged 10 in England.

Both are just above average and do not have the ability to average 45+ at Test level.

The only real difference is that Shafiq’s batting is at least good to watch.

Its also about 'when' and 'where' u score runs. Fawad's 3 hundreds in just 8 matches have all come when team needed runs and all in tough conditions

 

[Mamoon]

Its also about 'when' and 'where' u score runs. Fawad's 3 hundreds in just 8 matches have all come when team needed runs and all in tough conditions

The team also needed him to score runs in England and he didn’t, and they also needed him to score runs in the first innings in the first Test in NZ and also in the second Test, and he failed.

Fawad so far has only played one meaningful innings, i.e. in this Test, and even then he failed to convert it into a big score and got out in a tame fashion when he had the chance to completely deflate South Africa.

This should have been an innings defeat rather than a stuttering win by 7 wickets.

Fawad’s performance post comeback has been needlessly overrated and romanticized.

He is doing the bare minimum that you would expect from a 160 match FC veteran with 12k runs at 55 under his belt.

 

[Ahmed216]

The team also needed him to score runs in England and he didn’t, and they also needed him to score runs in the first innings in the first Test in NZ and also in the second Test, and he failed.

Fawad so far has only played one meaningful innings, i.e. in this Test, and even then he failed to convert it into a big score and got out in a tame fashion when he had the chance to completely deflate South Africa.

This should have been an innings defeat rather than a stuttering win by 7 wickets.

Fawad’s performance post comeback has been needlessly overrated and romanticized.

He is doing the bare minimum that you would expect from a 160 match FC veteran with 12k runs at 55 under his belt.

I dont there has ever been a player who scored in every game he played

 

[azimiqbal]

In England we lost due to brainless captaincy and bowlers not performing !

I been watching Pakistan cricket for nearly 2 decades , our batting is doing as well know as it has always done , difference is the massive drop off in pace bowling

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistani will abuse Shafiq and praise Fawad for virtually producing the same level of output.

 

[ChTab]

Fawad is averaging 37 since his comeback, and Shafiq spent his entire career in the 35-40 range.

People are acting as if Fawad has performed miracles with the bat. He hasn’t. He averaged 10 in England.

Both are just above average and do not have the ability to average 45+ at Test level.

The only real difference is that Shafiq’s batting is at least good to watch.

Totally agree, Shafiq was good to watch & was a pretty good player at #6. I don't think fawad would have scored same number of hundreds as Asad at #6.

 

[Mamoon]

Totally agree, Shafiq was good to watch & was a pretty good player at #6. I don't think fawad would have scored same number of hundreds as Asad at #6.

Shafiq, like Fawad, was okay. Not every player in the team is going to average 50+. He was playing the Rahane like role for Pakistan.

However, after the retirement of Younis (50 average batsman) and Misbah (47 average batsman), people expected him to suddenly step up and transform into a master batsman just because he has the senior tag now, but that was never going to happen because he was not in that league.

Pakistan needs another batsman who can average around 50. If Fawad is also going to be a high 30s player like Shafiq, then I don’t see how he is a better investment in comparison.

To really justify himself, Fawad needs to take his Test average close to his FC level. Only then would he really add something to the team what they have lacked post Younis and Misbah.

This romanticism over an average of 37 needs to stop.

 

[Square Drive]

Shafiq, like Fawad, was okay. Not every player in the team is going to average 50+. He was playing the Rahane like role for Pakistan.

However, after the retirement of Younis (50 average batsman) and Misbah (47 average batsman), people expected him to suddenly step up and transform into a master batsman just because he has the senior tag now, but that was never going to happen because he was not in that league.

Pakistan needs another batsman who can average around 50. If Fawad is also going to be a high 30s player like Shafiq, then I don’t see how he is a better investment in comparison.

To really justify himself, Fawad needs to take his Test average close to his FC level. Only then would he really add something to the team what they have lacked post Younis and Misbah.

This romanticism over an average of 37 needs to stop.

He's averaging 39 odd after about 8 Tests (5 post return) and has no SENA Tests coming up. That average is only gonna increase.

Cut it out.

 

[Mamoon]

He's averaging 39 odd after about 8 Tests (5 post return) and has no SENA Tests coming up. That average is only gonna increase.

Cut it out.

If it increases then he will be praised. For now, there is no need to romanticize the 6.5 out of 10 type performance he has produced post comeback.

 

[Square Drive]

If it increases then he will be praised. For now, there is no need to romanticize the 6.5 out of 10 type performance he has produced post comeback.

It's not a matter of if, rather when. In all likelihood it will, and anyone who's seen our upcoming schedule can see it coming from a mile away.

He held his own in NZ with a ton. Now starting things off with a ton vs a top 5 team at home.

Over the next 2 years, we play WI/SL/BD/ZIM away and NZ/ENG/AUS only at home. Only a fool would bet against Fawad's average going up, which right now is only low due to a couple failures in 2009 and a lack of performance in his comeback series in ENG, which is probably the toughest tour he's had and possibly will have in his career.

I can see him averaging in the mid 40s quite comfortably moving forward.

 

[burger_uno]

lets compare shafiq's record and see how that stacks up against pakistani batsmen from his time.

in test he has an avg 38 which is marginally higher than that of sarfaraz who has a much better strike rate which is important for lower middle order batsman. and then you add sarfaraz' other responsibilities which clearly impacted his batting and ultimately cost him his place.

but the most ridiculous aspect of asad shafiq's career is that he played 60 odi matches while averaging 24 which is what afridi achieved in his career with a strike rate which is nearly 2x that of asad shafiq's strike rate. in my view, afridi did not do justice to his batting ability. so to see a top order batsman playing 60odis while averaging below 25 is something shocking and truly unworthy of a team with the stature of pakistan. sarfaraz in comparison averaged 33 with a strike rate of 87 which is 20 higher than that of a.s.

i have nothing personal against a.s. he deserves respect like all players who have played the game with honour. but it is incomprehensible that he was given the opportunities that had. it became obvious long time ago that he would not measure up to the role of a senior batsman. he should have been told to go to domestic which might have made him a better batsman and prolonged his career.

it would be really interesting to find out what selectors saw in him which made him untouchable while others were discarded with barely a sniff. these decisions must not be allowed to happen if pak team wants to compete with the best.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Asad Shafiq and people who kept playing him deserve no respect whatsoever...

the biggest shame in recent history

 

[Cricket lover 27]

Not much of difference in the number of wins. Both would score in subcontinent and not much outside.

This is a flawed argument to begin with, none of our players score much outside Asia.

Even ones with the supposedly better techniques.

 

[Mainul]

For some mistakes you want to eat your whole fingers. Playing Asad over Fawad is that mistake.
One thing I want to say to you that don't expect Fawad to perform wonders at age of 35 when a player is at the Twilight of his career. Many players retire at this age. Many players just fade away after this age. Event Tendulkar could not perform well after 35 in comparison to his earlier years. I am trying to say that it is just not fare ( rather injustice) to compare the comeback years after 35 of Fawad to the whole career of Asad shafiq. Asad is a pretty mediocre player no doubt just incomparable to the quality of Fawad. Asad got the prime age ,the cream part fish carrier to perform. If Fawad could continue after his debut against Sri Lanka ,he would have done some wonders. You cannot ask a player to come back at the age of 35 after a long gap of more than 10 years and perform straightway. But just look at Fawad ,he still performed at top level against two tough oppositions. It just tell us how good he is and how Pakistan missed his services over the years. Just a shame for the whole nation.
Someone as usual has come out with a hurry to post comments with all his knives as he doesn't let the opportunity go to bash Fawad and to underestimate even his good performances with some very silly logics. I request everyone not to become confused or diverted by him.

 

[Slim]

Worst decision by PCB. We wasted Fawad's career.

 

[Pakhs]

For some mistakes you want to eat your whole fingers. Playing Asad over Fawad is that mistake.
One thing I want to say to you that don't expect Fawad to perform wonders at age of 35 when a player is at the Twilight of his career. Many players retire at this age. Many players just fade away after this age. Event Tendulkar could not perform well after 35 in comparison to his earlier years. I am trying to say that it is just not fare ( rather injustice) to compare the comeback years after 35 of Fawad to the whole career of Asad shafiq. Asad is a pretty mediocre player no doubt just incomparable to the quality of Fawad. Asad got the prime age ,the cream part fish carrier to perform. If Fawad could continue after his debut against Sri Lanka ,he would have done some wonders. You cannot ask a player to come back at the age of 35 after a long gap of more than 10 years and perform straightway. But just look at Fawad ,he still performed at top level against two tough oppositions. It just tell us how good he is and how Pakistan missed his services over the years. Just a shame for the whole nation.
Someone as usual has come out with a hurry to post comments with all his knives as he doesn't let the opportunity go to bash Fawad and to underestimate even his good performances with some very silly logics. I request everyone not to become confused or diverted by him.

When Fawad was dropped he was not ready to perform in away pitches but was already a good subcontinent player. They chose Shafiq who was a better away player at the time.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Fawad is a fighting character, always active in field where Asad Shafiq is a timid character.
Fawad overall will give you more fighting knocks just based on his grit where Asad will fail when a little pressed hard. In terms of skills both are avg with Shafiq more pleasant to watch

 

[Mainul]

When Fawad was dropped he was not ready to perform in away pitches but was already a good subcontinent player. They chose Shafiq who was a better away player at the time.

Absolutely illogical and self made theory based on nothing. Fawad was just given 1 test in New Zealand and was decided that he was not ready! He played 84 deliveries in that test more than the two openers of Pakistan, scored 29 in first innings and then dropped for good. If based on this one can judge a player, then many legends were dropped for good just after 1 so called away failure. He was just coming back from 166 in his debut test in Sri Lanka series. Further evidence of he can play anywhere is in the same year ODI series in Australia against Australia ,he was the highest run getter for Pakistan. Please don't listen to the so called pp experts ,just check think and then decide. Don't be one eyed.

 

[Pakhs]

Absolutely illogical and self made theory based on nothing. Fawad was just given 1 test in New Zealand and was decided that he was not ready! He played 84 deliveries in that test more than the two openers of Pakistan, scored 29 in first innings and then dropped for good. If based on this one can judge a player, then many legends were dropped for good just after 1 so called away failure. He was just coming back from 166 in his debut test in Sri Lanka series. Further evidence of he can play anywhere is in the same year ODI series in Australia against Australia ,he was the highest run getter for Pakistan. Please don't listen to the so called pp experts ,just check think and then decide. Don't be one eyed.

That what the selectors thought not me... They dropped him based on his technique and poor results in the NZ series. And thought shafiq would be a better fit for over seas matches. He was not dropped based on his subcontinent performances as they were good.

 

[Mainul]

That what the selectors thought not me... They dropped him based on his technique and poor results in the NZ series. And thought shafiq would be a better fit for over seas matches. He was not dropped based on his subcontinent performances as they were good.

The Pakistan selectors don't use their brains, don't look at stat or performances. They are run by mostly nepotism and recommdatioions of outside higher forces. They are the single most responsible factor for Pakistans failure over the years.

 

[Pakhs]

The Pakistan selectors don't use their brains, don't look at stat or performances. They are run by mostly nepotism and recommdatioions of outside higher forces. They are the single most responsible factor for Pakistans failure over the years.

His failure in NZ and unusual technique along with Shafiq early domestic form contributed to him being sidelined. It was unfortunate because he should have been given a chance atleast 5 years earlier.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Asad is one of most inconsistent batsman in Pakistan played 61 tests averaging at 39.25 playing position 5 and 6 most of his runs come after failure in 8,9 innings to save his place in team mostly many player's want to play in middle order to boost there average but this guy is never improved after playing nine years one of most poor investment by pcb he become other player's like fawad alam ruined by pcb who averaged 56 in fc and make century on debut game no reason by pcb to drop him and play like this poor player...

In his last 26 Test innings asad has made 50 or more only 5 times.
In his last 9 Test innings he has made one 50.

He averages 45.38 in Tests in UAE, but averages 34.86 in Tests away from UAE.

Asad is failure in odis also but fawad averaged 40+ in odi and tests despite playing less matches.

Fawad Alam FC Stat.
M:155 Runs: 11441 Average: 56.02 Hundred 30 Fifty 58


Asad Shafiq FC Stat.
M:134 Runs: 8348 Average:40.32 Hundred 21 Fifty 40 SR/50.3

Asad's Average is not bad , but he never played a match winning innings like Fawad just did. Asad Shafiq played 77 Test match but could not handle pressure. If Asad came into bat 27 for 4 it would have turned in 30 for 5. Asad had an Uncanny ability to make a big score just when he was being considered for dropping. Like make a score after the match was already lost. I am not blaming Asad for trying to secure his place in the team. It was Selectors and the Captain (Misbah) that let Pakistan Down.

 

[Zaz]

That what the selectors thought not me... They dropped him based on his technique and poor results in the NZ series. And thought shafiq would be a better fit for over seas matches. He was not dropped based on his subcontinent performances as they were good.

Again illogical because most players are picked based on home form where they play most of their games Overseas performances are a bonus Winning at home is what matters most

The trouble isnt playing him over fawad initially The mistake has been made not dropping him 3 years ago when his form was in a steady state of decline

They thought weve invested in him so much that we cant drop him now and hopefully he ll perform which absolutely the wrong way to make these decisions

It wouldve been better had pakistan cut their losses then rather than continue with a cricketer who was avge at his best and never really showed the ability charisma or fight to be a top clas batsman

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Fawad is averaging 37 since his comeback, and Shafiq spent his entire career in the 35-40 range.

People are acting as if Fawad has performed miracles with the bat. He hasn’t. He averaged 10 in England.

Both are just above average and do not have the ability to average 45+ at Test level.

The only real difference is that Shafiq’s batting is at least good to watch.

Asad Shafiq could not handle Pressure, You can see that in his body language. And he would always fold in pressure situation. In 77 tests Asad only got a Single Man of the match that too for a drawn test. Asad Was quite happy saying that he scored more century than Sobers while playing at #6. Stats wise Asad is okay but how he scored those runs is Important, even Yasir Shah scored a century in Australia But it was inconsequential, most of Asad Shafiq's runs were like that Inconsequential. Fawad is not an All time great no one is calling him that. People are questioning why he never got a chance in a batting line up as weak as Pakistan's. It is not about an individual or Asad only. It is about Merit we have others who were favored like Asif Ali in LOI's or Shan Masood (he too plays a big innings once in a blue moon and he is son of a very influential person).

 

[Mainul]

His failure in NZ and unusual technique along with Shafiq early domestic form contributed to him being sidelined. It was unfortunate because he should have been given a chance atleast 5 years earlier.

He was not a failure in NZ

 

[Mainul]

His failure in NZ and unusual technique along with Shafiq early domestic form contributed to him being sidelined. It was unfortunate because he should have been given a chance atleast 5 years earlier.

He was not a failure in NZ. Please tell me what's the basis of calling him a failure. Please explain. Do u know Saeed Anwar ,Marvan Atapattu started their test carrier with pair of ducks in debut test ? By your logic they were a failed batsmen. Were they actually? Were they supposed to be dropped for good then? A batsman with a mid thirty average like Asad in FC didn't merit a place in Pakistan team at any time. Usman Salauddin was more successful and deserving after Fawad due to his lot better performance than Asad. I can give you more details but it would be wastage of time.

 

[Pakhs]

Again illogical because most players are picked based on home form where they play most of their games Overseas performances are a bonus Winning at home is what matters most

The trouble isnt playing him over fawad initially The mistake has been made not dropping him 3 years ago when his form was in a steady state of decline

They thought weve invested in him so much that we cant drop him now and hopefully he ll perform which absolutely the wrong way to make these decisions

It wouldve been better had pakistan cut their losses then rather than continue with a cricketer who was avge at his best and never really showed the ability charisma or fight to be a top clas batsman

Fair Enough

 

[Pakhs]

He was not a failure in NZ. Please tell me what's the basis of calling him a failure. Please explain. Do u know Saeed Anwar ,Marvan Atapattu started their test carrier with pair of ducks in debut test ? By your logic they were a failed batsmen. Were they actually? Were they supposed to be dropped for good then? A batsman with a mid thirty average like Asad in FC didn't merit a place in Pakistan team at any time. Usman Salauddin was more successful and deserving after Fawad due to his lot better performance than Asad. I can give you more details but it would be wastage of time.

That is what selectors thought, In the eyes of the selectors at the time he had failed and they decided he was not suited for overseas tests.

 

[shah_1]

At least he would have had ATG stats in Asia, he is built for these conditions because of his ability to play spin well. It is not that Asad gave us earth shattering or match winning stats in overseas

 

[MenInG]

Hindsight is 20/20 - if we only knew then what we know now type thing.

 

[Zaz]

Hindsight is 20/20 - if we only knew then what we know now type thing.

Hes been failing for 4 years now Mening Its not about hindsight Theyve given shafiq unprecedented backing not allowed to any others when everyone could see he needs to go

He shouldve been dropped 2-3 years back hes played at least 20 tests too many Theyve played him in 30 test matches since his form started deteriorating in oct 16 where hes avged 30

That cant be justified on any level

 

[sweep_shot]

Fawad is miles better than Asad.

It is criminal that he didn't get more chances.

 

[RickyG]

That what the selectors thought not me... They dropped him based on his technique and poor results in the NZ series. And thought shafiq would be a better fit for over seas matches. He was not dropped based on his subcontinent performances as they were good.

He played 1 test in New Zealand (outside Asia) prior to getting dropped. Do you think 1 test is enough to decide whether someone is good enough or not?

The reason he was kept out was because Mohammad Yousuf despised him for reasons only known to him. The Lahore gang (Butt/Akmal/Wahab) didn't like him and picked their mentor Shoaib Malik over him. Misbah was threatened by him because Misbah's own spot in the team would come under the scanner.

 

[boomboom6]

A monumental blunder for which PCB should get roasted alongside all the selectors and coaches who failed to get him in the team.

Shafiq since 2016 avgs 32 and 34 since 2018 ... Fawad could've easily replaced him in either year but we'll forever remember Misbah/Inzi/Sarfaraz/Arthur failing to pick him on both occasions and it is them I got most beef with.

Salahuddin too could've replaced Azhar since 2018 as Azhar avgs 32 in last 3 years ... After just playing 1 test in England on that 2018 tour he got dropped despite a solid 33 ...

It's ridiculous how Fawad with 37 FC tons and Salahuddin with 27 tons have been deprived criminally for mediocrity of Azhar & Shafiq. Just beyond maddening!

 

[hur rizvi]

A monumental blunder for which PCB should get roasted alongside all the selectors and coaches who failed to get him in the team.

Shafiq since 2016 avgs 32 and 34 since 2018 ... Fawad could've easily replaced him in either year but we'll forever remember Misbah/Inzi/Sarfaraz/Arthur failing to pick him on both occasions and it is them I got most beef with.

Salahuddin too could've replaced Azhar since 2018 as Azhar avgs 32 in last 3 years ... After just playing 1 test in England on that 2018 tour he got dropped despite a solid 33 ...

It's ridiculous how Fawad with 37 FC tons and Salahuddin with 27 tons have been deprived criminally for mediocrity of Azhar & Shafiq. Just beyond maddening!

Stop counting Azhar as mediocre. He is among Pakistan greats and his performance apart from a year or so has been pretty much consistent.

 

[boomboom6]

Stop counting Azhar as mediocre. He is among Pakistan greats and his performance apart from a year or so has been pretty much consistent.

I literally posted the #s but if you want to ignore ok

 

[hur rizvi]

I literally posted the #s but if you want to ignore ok

Pakistan has no one good enough to replace a proven performer like Azhar who has 6000+ runs with 17 hundreds.

In last year Azhar averages, 49.9 with a hundred and 2 50's and a 100, and 4 of these tests have been in SENA. He has not only recovered from his bad patch but also has recovered pretty well.

Every batsman can have a lean patch that doesn't make him mediocre

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

At least he would have had ATG stats in Asia, he is built for these conditions because of his ability to play spin well. It is not that Asad gave us earth shattering or match winning stats in overseas

Under his and azhar ali great record we got whitewashed 2 times in our on backyard

 

[sshakir411]

Not sure if replacing Asad would have solved our problems. We’ve had failures from openers to middle order batsmen. I find it funny that people here think replacing Asad with Fawad would some how miraculously made our test fortunes better. Let’s not forget our openers along with Misbah’s chosen son, Azhar Ali, and the likes of Harris Sohail have failed to deliver when it mattered. Azhar gets praised for soft innings like a double ton in a losing cause. Majority of our test batting line up is rubbish still!

 

[sshakir411]

Stop counting Azhar as mediocre. He is among Pakistan greats and his performance apart from a year or so has been pretty much consistent.

There’s enough threads on Azhar’s past few years. He’s a no show when it matters and none of his innings have ever won us a damn game. He’s as rubbish as Asad. If not more.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Pakistani will abuse Shafiq and praise Fawad for virtually producing the same level of output.

I’m sorry but no

I agree that Fawad would not have come close to replicating his FC performances, however this most recent ton is more than Asad could ever manage.

I cannot think of a single innings where Asad was the protagonist and won the game for us. At best he was a secondary actor to another player like YK at the oval.

Asad’s speciality was making a loss a more respectful.

Fawad has already are done more

 

[Pakhs]

He played 1 test in New Zealand (outside Asia) prior to getting dropped. Do you think 1 test is enough to decide whether someone is good enough or not?

The reason he was kept out was because Mohammad Yousuf despised him for reasons only known to him. The Lahore gang (Butt/Akmal/Wahab) didn't like him and picked their mentor Shoaib Malik over him. Misbah was threatened by him because Misbah's own spot in the team would come under the scanner.

Its not really my place to say I know Fawad personally and met him few time. He has never complained or moaned about anything.

 

[RickyG]

Its not really my place to say I know Fawad personally and met him few time. He has never complained or moaned about anything.

You didn't actually answer the question. You've just made a completely irrelevant statement. Cop out.

 

[Pakhs]

You didn't actually answer the question. You've just made a completely irrelevant statement. Cop out.

your question is not for me to answer, You should knock on the previous selectors doors and ask.