What's new

Is Asad Shafiq the most aesthetically pleasing batsmen we have had since Mohammad Yousuf?

Slog

Slog

Senior Test Player
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Runs
28,984
Post of the Week
1
The Sky commentators can't stop raving about him

And I've noticed non Pakistani ex players and experts aleays praise his style and technique

Haris Sohail is another who can be brilliant when in flow but to really cement a reputation he needs to get on the field first
 
Shafiq, Babar, Haris and Hafeez are the only 4 Pakistani batsmen who are pleasing on the eye when they are in good form.
 
As Mamoon said, Asad, Babar, Haris and Hafeez are the only stylish international batsmen in Pakistan.
 
Not just the most aesthetically pleasing batsman but also the most technically correct batsman in the Pakistan team.
 
Shafiq is the most aesthetically pleasing to watch if you include both attacking and defensive play.
 
Babar isn't too stylish imo. Looks pretty ungainly at times, especially when he tries to over hit the ball.

Shafiq definitely is class. Hopefully Saud can break through into the side pretty soon and we'll have a watchable middle order.
 
Slog's overhyping has started.

He is indeed easy on the eyes, but not aesthetically the most pleasant.

Hafeez is way better, plus Umar Amin is the best of them all.

Saud Shakeel is second, then come Hafeez, Babar/Shafiq.

Asad lacks attacking play, that also goes against him as he doesn't have the range of strokes that Hafeez does, for example.
 
Usually stylists have a good game all around the wicket and can defend and attack. Not sure hafeez can do that. If he plays well in this innings, it will make him a breakthrough player: something that even moyo couldn't do, when the going got tough.
 
Hawkeye said:
Slog's overhyping has started.

He is indeed easy on the eyes, but not aesthetically the most pleasant.

Hafeez is way better, plus Umar Amin is the best of them all.

Saud Shakeel is second, then come Hafeez, Babar/Shafiq.

Asad lacks attacking play, that also goes against him as he doesn't have the range of strokes that Hafeez does, for example.
Click to expand...

Where have you seen Saud bat? In your dreams?
 
Since I have been supporting the team he is certainly up there. Can't wait till he is batting at 3,4, or 5 whichever one he bats.
 
Won't be batting at 6 for much longer. By new zeeland tour he could be at 3 or 5
 
No point being aesthetically pleasing if you can't score runs (Yasir Hameed comes to mind). I don't care if you jump flamingo it or whatever, as long as you can score. Steve smith being an example. In order to do so you need a brain and temperament, which 90% of the Pakistani cricketing players lack.
 
Finisher said:
Yep rubbish players average over 50 in test cricket.
Click to expand...

Failed everywhere when there was spin and bounce i.e. in Ind, SL,SA and Aus and has scored plenty of soft runs.

His numbers are inflated by minnow bashing of Ban(avgs like 250 there) and Zim.His only achievement was an England series where he smacked couple of big knocks.

Shafiq looks a better bat to me.
 
Ab Fan said:
Failed everywhere when there was spin and bounce i.e. in Ind, SL,SA and Aus and has scored plenty of soft runs.

His numbers are inflated by minnow bashing of Ban(avgs like 250 there) and Zim.His only achievement was an England series where he smacked couple of big knocks.

Shafiq looks a better bat to me.
Click to expand...

Looks like you never seen him bat.

If Yousaf was playing in this era he would average over 60.

As much as I rate Shafiq he is not even close to being the batsman yousaf was.

Yousaf failed against the greatest team to have played which is no shame.
 
Just shows how good so called experts Pakistani media and supporters are. Asad Shafiq was best to watch in both innings. There are more players like him who will no get fair chance
 
mr-k said:
Just shows how good so called experts Pakistani media and supporters are. Asad Shafiq was best to watch in both innings. There are more players like him who will no get fair chance
Click to expand...

Sorry? Are you trying to say there are few Asads in streets of PAK who are not called for poor selection policy or nepotism? How long have you been watching cricket?
 
Ab Fan said:
Failed everywhere when there was spin and bounce i.e. in Ind, SL,SA and Aus and has scored plenty of soft runs.

His numbers are inflated by minnow bashing of Ban(avgs like 250 there) and Zim.His only achievement was an England series where he smacked couple of big knocks.

Shafiq looks a better bat to me.
Click to expand...

:(:(:(:(

MoYo has couple of hundreds in WI, which you probably don't even know - check those score cards. He lost his best 3/4 years when he should have broken every batting PAK record by volume.

By the way, do you know how much Tendulkar averages against us, or what'll be his career average if I take out BD & ZIM from his stats?

Nothing wrong in having some soft figures in your stats, if you can back that with other good performances. This is why Viv Richards & Imran is so much respected - played in an era with hardly any free meal & had a balanced record across most places.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
MMHS said:
:(:(:(:(

MoYo has couple of hundreds in WI, which you probably don't even know - check those score cards. He lost his best 3/4 years when he should have broken every batting PAK record by volume.

By the way, do you know how much Tendulkar averages against us, or what'll be his career average if I take out BD & ZIM from his stats?

Nothing wrong in having some soft figures in your stats, if you can back that with other good performances. This is why Viv Richards & Imran is so much respected - played in an era with hardly any free meal & had a balanced record across most places.
Click to expand...

Ofcourse there are players who have scored plenty of soft runs then there are players who bashed the minnows heavily and boosted their stats and there are also players who failed in bouncy pitches like Aus or SA and there are players who failed in spinning pitches too.But not one player who has all these flaws in one.

I rate Inzi higher.He too failed vs Aus and SA but did well everywhere else and has played several clutch knocks.

Younis might be struggling outside Asia but still has done well in NZ and Eng(first tour) and is yet to tour Aus once more and has been a good pressure player in SC and a master of spin bowling.

Yousuf has too many flaws to be ignored quite a bit in same league like Jayawardene. A Pakistani great is what I can call him. That's all.

I may not biased and his flaws can't be ignored at all.

He was pleasing to eyes and is a good odi bat too.I am not taking that from him for sure.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I am talking of how better a player Yousuf was? He avgs 52 which is remarkable but he is nowhere near as good as his avg in tests. He struggled in spinning pitches of Ind and SL and struggled against and in countries like SA and Aus where he avgs in 20s. A total of four countries out of top 7.I would have Inzi( avgs 49.**) over him very easily.
 
Asad has definitely improved in terms of aesthetics as well. Earlier on; he used to looks a bit ungainly driving through the off side with a closed-bat face sort of a grip.

It's Umar Amin for me. Extremely pleasing off both back foot and front foot.

One of the biggest let-down we have had in last decade. Doesn't have any apparent flaw in his game; just the mental side has been found wanting and that's what you need to have in order to excel at international level.

Too bad he got injured otherwise I am certain he would have been picked in the Test squad based on his domestic performances. Who knows he might have turned the corner and would have announced himself on this tour.

He still has time. Dearly hope he makes it to the side soon and more importantly cements his place.
 
He looks good, but not that good. Doesn't play his shots with the pure confidence true classy players do it with. :amin

Hafeez looks better.

People will disagree because this guy is a most wanted criminal on PP with a huge dead or alive reward, but Maqsood looks very good too, when in form ofc. Lazy confidence :inzi
 
Seen Sheen said:
Asad has definitely improved in terms of aesthetics as well. Earlier on; he used to looks a bit ungainly driving through the off side with a closed-bat face sort of a grip.

It's Umar Amin for me. Extremely pleasing off both back foot and front foot.

One of the biggest let-down we have had in last decade. Doesn't have any apparent flaw in his game; just the mental side has been found wanting and that's what you need to have in order to excel at international level.

Too bad he got injured otherwise I am certain he would have been picked in the Test squad based on his domestic performances. Who knows he might have turned the corner and would have announced himself on this tour.

He still has time. Dearly hope he makes it to the side soon and more importantly cements his place.
Click to expand...

Suleiman said:
He looks good, but not that good. Doesn't play his shots with the pure confidence true classy players do it with. :amin

Hafeez looks better.
Click to expand...

Clearly, boyses. :amin

One CLH to rule them all! :najam

He needs to be picked and given a long rope of 20-30 matches. He'll come good, too much talent in one body.
 
Hawkeye said:
Clearly, boyses. :amin

One CLH to rule them all! :najam

He needs to be picked and given a long rope of 20-30 matches. He'll come good, too much talent in one body.
Click to expand...

As far as aesthetics go CLH was a God amongst men :amin

He had so much overflowing talent, just standing near him would make you a better bat. Too bad, Shan Masood never picked up on it even though they were best mates during their playing days.
 
Ofcourse if you talk generally than CLH Umar Amin is as good as they get and is virtually untouchable category in that regard

But I am talking about cricketers with international success of some level

It's a bit of a disappointment that Umar Amin never got a Test in UAE
 
Who cares? If Pakistan lose the 1st test then Asad Shafiq is a failure no matter how good his batting looks.
 
Very impressed with Asad. Took him 5 years to win me over after Mohali disaster.

He will be our ATG in test cricket. ODI not for him.
 
Technically he is the best batsmen in the side. Some say technique is overrated and their right but still, technique and mental strength, which I think Asad Shafiq has both in buckets means he's pretty good and wasted at six. I'm in favour of pushing Azhar to open and moving Younus and Asad to 3 and 4 respectively on a long term basis.
 
Shafiq had a major problem with a good length in-dipping or -swinging delivery until about a year ago. He used to an LBW magnet. I see he has worked hard on this weakness since, though - after seeing the 2nd inning dismissal - it looks like there is still some work to be done.

It would be interesting to see how he plays Anderson in England.
 
Ironcat said:
Shafiq had a major problem with a good length in-dipping or -swinging delivery until about a year ago. He used to an LBW magnet. I see he has worked hard on this weakness since, though - after seeing the 2nd inning dismissal - it looks like there is still some work to be done.

It would be interesting to see how he plays Anderson in England.
Click to expand...
Second innings dismissal was different length and genuinely a good ball, not related to the inducker issue
 
Some posters trying to disagree with OP for the sake of it only.

Hafeez is nowhere near Asad, to look stylish on slow UAE pitches is one thing, but to look composed and elegant in overseas conditions is a different thing alltogether.
 
I am a little disappointed/frustrated with Asad. He seems to find ways to get himself out. Needs to sort that out and score consistently big for Pakistan.
 
MMHS said:
Sorry? Are you trying to say there are few Asads in streets of PAK who are not called for poor selection policy or nepotism? How long have you been watching cricket?
Click to expand...

Long before u even come to this world.....

ppl to focus on cricket as we used to do. Many ppl drop cricket since they cant combine with study , work and family. Almost every team in europe has most of its players from Pakistan who have moved to europe or other places.

Talent is there but not proper system and uncertain future
 
Class act, and a serious underachiever. Should have been a very dependable ODI batsman too, but never realized his full potential.
 
ahmed16 said:
Technically he is the best batsmen in the side. Some say technique is overrated and their right but still, technique and mental strength, which I think Asad Shafiq has both in buckets means he's pretty good and wasted at six. I'm in favour of pushing Azhar to open and moving Younus and Asad to 3 and 4 respectively on a long term basis.
Click to expand...

Could you expand on what is so "technically" great about him? That particular word is used rather too often by many on this forum and very few know what they are talking about . He's excessively short, has no power, poor reflexes IMHO, does not appear to be particularly mentally tough and seems to be using a bat that's too big for him. I can't see why he's still playing, furthermore, I can't see why he was ever given a cap for the national team in the first place.

He's incapable of playing consistently IMHO not do I see anything to suggest he's capable of winning matches of dominating opposition.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I think so. And he is quite talented as well. But hasn't really taken his game to another level.

A poor man's Yousuf.
 
hussain.r97 said:
Class act, and a serious underachiever. Should have been a very dependable ODI batsman too, but never realized his full potential.
Click to expand...

You could see that especially in the second innings of the last test match.

So frustrating really, a guy who should be our best bat in both tests and ODIs by now is somehow just managing to keep his place in the test team.

Just really confused what went wrong. He still has time to turn around his test career and go from merely good/average to a very good test player, but probably too late for ODIs now.
 
Surprised to see people labelling Harris as pleasing on the eyes. I think his stance is one of the ugliest I've ever seen.

On topic though, I think Babar is the most stylish batsman Pak has currently. Every shot he plays looks so effortless and natural. Hafeez is a close second.
 
ads101 said:
You could see that especially in the second innings of the last test match.

So frustrating really, a guy who should be our best bat in both tests and ODIs by now is somehow just managing to keep his place in the test team.

Just really confused what went wrong. He still has time to turn around his test career and go from merely good/average to a very good test player, but probably too late for ODIs now.
Click to expand...

Asad was never really given a consistent run in ODIs to be fair. Whenever he got picked, he would be dropped in the next game after a single failure for the likes of Younis Khan. He was unfortunately never even given a set position in the batting lineup either, even though he is quite clearly a #3 batsman. You can't really expect a player to succeed if they aren't even given the confidence to play their own game. Shafiq was averaging close to 40 for 2011, he had a good World Cup too, but he only ended up playing 12 out of the 30 odd ODIs played by Pakistan that year. Younis Khan played 27 ODIs that year, even though he is a proven failure in that format.

When it comes to Test Cricket, Asad's record is actually quite good for someone who has batted at #6 for his entire career. The sample size for innings batting at 4/5 is small, but I am quite confident that Asad will boost his numbers batting at those positions for the next few years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MenInG
"The way Babar is going, he will be the number one batter in all formats" : Mohammad Yousuf
Replies
9
Views
2K
MenInG
MenInG
MenInG
[VIDEO] Beyond the Boundary - PSL 8 Preview: “The Senate is Back!”
Replies
16
Views
3K
MenInG
MenInG
A
"Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq should be included in the Pakistan side for World Cup" : Mohammad Yousuf
Replies
53
Views
3K
Majid Khan
M
MenInG
[VIDEOS] "Could've had better results in 2018, had we shown little more consistency": Sarfaraz Ahmed
Replies
26
Views
3K
Mp812
Mp812
MenInG
"My plan in this series would be to take the wicket of Joe Root" : Mohammad Abbas
Replies
79
Views
10K
Oligochaetes
Oligochaetes
Back
Top