Is Azhar Ali the right choice to continue as Test captain for Pakistan?

[MenInG]

Tough series against Australia and some below part oppositions such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka but have Pakistan made the right choice to continue with him as captain in Tests?

 

[Hasan123]

No because he should have retired by now.

If Babar Azam isn't going to be test captain, we should go with a test match specialist who is secure in the team.

 

[Godhelpma]

Yes , at the moment he is a reasonable choice. It would be unfair to Babar Azam to make him captain in all three formats simultaneously. It would create unnecessary pressure on him and can affect his batting performance.

 

[Godhelpma]

No because he should have retired by now.

If Babar Azam isn't going to be test captain, we should go with a test match specialist who is secure in the team.

And exactly who is that barring Babar?

 

[sweep_shot]

Azhar's biggest (and possibly final) test is probably the England tour. If he fails, time for a new captain.

 

[Nasty Naz]

He certainly doesn't deserve it and probably shouldn't even be on the team based on his woeful batting.

But there is no obvious next choice either. PCB's fault for making such heavy investment in Azhar and Shafiq.

 

[Kroll]

The fact that a past it and aged Azhar has been made captain shows the lack of planning and development that has gone on over the years.

This current appointment shows the lack of foresight by the current regime. Pakistan cricket is in a mess and the seniority culture holds it back.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

The fact that a past it and aged Azhar has been made captain shows the lack of planning and development that has gone on over the years.

This current appointment shows the lack of foresight by the current regime. Pakistan cricket is in a mess and the seniority culture holds it back.

Why didn't the Mickey Arthur regime appoint a vice captain for tests and groom a captain ? It is their fault. Misbah had no choice but to pick Azhar.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

The fact that a past it and aged Azhar has been made captain shows the lack of planning and development that has gone on over the years.

This current appointment shows the lack of foresight by the current regime. Pakistan cricket is in a mess and the seniority culture holds it back.

You mean lack of foresight by Inzamam and Mickey..... right?

 

[NishanKonar]

He is officially 35 this year. Most likely 38-39 in real. Thats an age to retire not become captain

Unless its stop gap arrangement to ease Babar into full time captaincy next year

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Why didn't the Mickey Arthur regime appoint a vice captain for tests and groom a captain ? It is their fault. Misbah had no choice but to pick Azhar.

Azhar was in the form of his lifetime scoring hundreds all around the world... Got a triple in UAE, double in Aus etc but the captaincy was given to sarfraz who was failing with his form at that time..

Sarfraz shouldnt have been made the captain in tests... Azhar was the deserving one back then...

Now they are doing the same mistake again, giving the captaincy to a player who is struggling with his form....

 

[ask_analyse_act]

He is officially 35 this year. Most likely 38-39 in real. Thats an age to retire not become captain

Unless its stop gap arrangement to ease Babar into full time captaincy next year

If babar becomes test captain then i hope they give the t20 captaincy to Shadab.... For any player to be captain of three formats is a daunting task.. From time and again with the track record we can clearly it will end up a failure... They can good in one format or may be two but not three...

I do fear his form will come down if given the test captaincy... If shaan continues do well, then should give the test captaincy to shaan masood..

 

[shamaan]

Azhar was in the form of his lifetime scoring hundreds all around the world... Got a triple in UAE, double in Aus etc but the captaincy was given to sarfraz who was failing with his form at that time..

Sarfraz shouldnt have been made the captain in tests... Azhar was the deserving one back then...

Now they are doing the same mistake again, giving the captaincy to a player who is struggling with his form....

He was in the form of his line but the point is that they didnt have a vice captain and now they have no choice to continue with him until atleast the end of the england series

 

[shamaan]

If babar becomes test captain then i hope they give the t20 captaincy to Shadab.... For any player to be captain of three formats is a daunting task.. From time and again with the track record we can clearly it will end up a failure... They can good in one format or may be two but not three...

I do fear his form will come down if given the test captaincy... If shaan continues do well, then should give the test captaincy to shaan masood..

They not going to drop him from captaincy within a year of being t20 captain shan should be test captain he seems matured and sensible option

 

[shamaan]

And exactly who is that barring Babar?

Shan masood potentional captain

 

[Shoaibbtt]

The appointment of being a captain should be treated as a privilege, one which should've been given to Babar Azam. I'm sorry but 20+ plus innings with no 50 is pretty poor and then people singing you praises for one good innings is not on. Azhar Ali needs to be dropped and replaced with someone from domestic like Saad Ali or better yet Haider Ali

 

[Markhor]

Does Azhar merit a place in the starting XI ?

No, so that's the answer. Should've been dropped after the South Africa tour.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Does Azhar merit a place in the starting XI ?

No, so that's the answer. Should've been dropped after the South Africa tour.

Agreed, not as a player.

But tbh a case can be made for him as a specialist captain purely because of how horribly managed our grooming process has been.

Ideally should have given captaincy to Shaan.

 

[Kroll]

You mean lack of foresight by Inzamam and Mickey..... right?

Nope, Azhar is a bad choice, reasons of which are well documented. It's either a lazy decision by Misbah or he just wanted to hand over the reigns to his buddy and puppet.

I like Azhar and don't want to see him get humiliated this summer. Unfortunately the way things stand, humiliation is coming and fully deserved for us fans. Only bright spot will be Babar.

 

[shamaan]

The appointment of being a captain should be treated as a privilege, one which should've been given to Babar Azam. I'm sorry but 20+ plus innings with no 50 is pretty poor and then people singing you praises for one good innings is not on. Azhar Ali needs to be dropped and replaced with someone from domestic like Saad Ali or better yet Haider Ali

Who's going to be captain?

 

[shamaan]

Nope, Azhar is a bad choice, reasons of which are well documented. It's either a lazy decision by Misbah or he just wanted to hand over the reigns to his buddy and puppet.

I like Azhar and don't want to see him get humiliated this summer. Unfortunately the way things stand, humiliation is coming and fully deserved for us fans. Only bright spot will be Babar.

Fumilation of azhar flopping or pakiatan flopping

 

[shamaan]

Does Azhar merit a place in the starting XI ?

No, so that's the answer. Should've been dropped after the South Africa tour.

He doesnt but thiers no captain so he has to continue shan should be vice captain

 

[Kroll]

Fumilation of azhar flopping or pakiatan flopping

Pakistan flopping, Azhar failing is expected. As I said, Babar is our main hope and he could do a lot to save our blushes but its no good pinning all your hopes on one man only.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan flopping, Azhar failing is expected. As I said, Babar is our main hope and he could do a lot to save our blushes but its no good pinning all your hopes on one man only.

Many will disagree but england are not the strongest team going around they have fragile batting line up in terms of bowling england are slightly better due to experience.azhar will get 1 big score all the rest he will fail.

 

[Kroll]

Many will disagree but england are not the strongest team going around they have fragile batting line up in terms of bowling england are slightly better due to experience.azhar will get 1 big score all the rest he will fail.

Disagree with Azhar failing? His average outside Asia last 2 years are atrocious, what's it like, 12 or something, that's shameful.

 

[Junaids]

He is 35 years old.

His away average since his 33rd birthday is 12.12.

Shadab Khan has played four of those away Tests as a bowler and scored three times as many runs at an average three times better than Azhar Ali.

How is he even in the team?

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Ìf Haris Sohail has shown some good performance and fitness , he could have easily put his hat for the captaincy tussle.. But Haris Sohail with all the talent he has , with shambolic fitness + doesnt have the hunger to acheive great heights, such an underachiever... Azhar comparatively less-skilled has achieved more than Haris Sohail...

 

[ask_analyse_act]

He is 35 years old.

His away average since his 33rd birthday is 12.12.

Shadab Khan has played four of those away Tests as a bowler and scored three times as many runs at an average three times better than Azhar Ali.

How is he even in the team?

Shadab Khan is the future captain, I see him take responsibility as a captain in PSL started to walk in at 4 every game and finished the tournament really well.. Im sure him should be right up there in the playing 11... Dont mind playing two leggies but shadab should play red-ball cricket regularly to improve his batting skills.....


Remember in the last tour Shadab and Faheem put up a good lower-order fight against the English attack....

 

[shamaan]

Disagree with Azhar failing? His average outside Asia last 2 years are atrocious, what's it like, 12 or something, that's shameful.

No I said I disagree pakiatan will flop they will draw the series or loose 2-1 that's not a flop.i said azhar will get 1 big score rest will be low scores. I didn't say I disagree with you or agree with you

 

[shamaan]

Shadab Khan is the future captain, I see him take responsibility as a captain in PSL started to walk in at 4 every game and finished the tournament really well.. Im sure him should be right up there in the playing 11... Dont mind playing two leggies but shadab should play red-ball cricket regularly to improve his batting skills.....


Remember in the last tour Shadab and Faheem put up a good lower-order fight against the English attack....

Shadab khan needs to work on his bowling first cement his name in test team then he has a chance to be captain but not yet only shan or babar can take over

 

[shamaan]

Ìf Haris Sohail has shown some good performance and fitness , he could have easily put his hat for the captaincy tussle.. But Haris Sohail with all the talent he has , with shambolic fitness + doesnt have the hunger to acheive great heights, such an underachiever... Azhar comparatively less-skilled has achieved more than Haris Sohail...

Harris sohail in terms of talent is second to babar thats how high people rate him but talent doesnt always bring success

 

[Cric1234]

In the last 2 years he’s played 15 tests with an average under 30 he’s no longer warrants a place in the team forget captaincy.
He’s basically a tailender overseas now whenever conditions are a bit challenging he should save face and retire as soon as possible or else he could end up with an average below 40.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Shadab khan needs to work on his bowling first cement his name in test team then he has a chance to be captain but not yet only shan or babar can take over

Do u think yasir did better than Shadab in the last 18 months or so, why Shadab and Faheem was dropped , yasir and Imran Khan jr given the chance ahead of them, just because Misbah wants to take his buddies..

Misbah has a small world with a group of players he knows very well, compared to Inzi, Misbahs selections were shambolic as of date... I will wait for him to announce the 25 players squad for England tour to see how many of his friends will be in the squad...

Remember Inzi, formed a good young line up with Hasan ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar, Imam ul haq, Babar Azam, SSA, Sharjeel, in his 3 years ... Lets see waht Misbah does so far he has brought back his buddies
Imran Khan jr, Ifthikar, shehzad, umar akmal, and named Azhar ali as the test captain..

 

[shamaan]

Do u think yasir did better than Shadab in the last 18 months or so, why Shadab and Faheem was dropped , yasir and Imran Khan jr given the chance ahead of them, just because Misbah wants to take his buddies..

Misbah has a small world with a group of players he knows very well, compared to Inzi, Misbahs selections were shambolic as of date... I will wait for him to announce the 25 players squad for England tour to see how many of his friends will be in the squad...

Remember Inzi, formed a good young line up with Hasan ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar, Imam ul haq, Babar Azam, SSA, Sharjeel, in his 3 years ... Lets see waht Misbah does so far he has brought back his buddies
Imran Khan jr, Ifthikar, shehzad, umar akmal, and named Azhar ali as the test captain..

Well they both play in different formats so cant compare but if you say overall then yeah shadab did do better yet being only shorter format.

becouae misbah wants to wear the bowlers out in sena I have always wanted shadab and fahim so dont agree with misbah dropping both.

All his friends will be thier imran Khan snr abbas Malik hafeez iftikhar.

Sharjeel ?

Tbh iftikhar is decent in t20s

As for fakhar imaam sharjeel they all t20s test match was pretty much the same since inzie and misbah have taken over

 

[Kroll]

No I said I disagree pakiatan will flop they will draw the series or loose 2-1 that's not a flop.i said azhar will get 1 big score rest will be low scores. I didn't say I disagree with you or agree with you

Depends on the margins of defeat. With a spine consisting of Azhar, Shafiq and Yasir, can you blame me for not exactly brimming with confidence? Where exactly is the attacking intent coming from?

Azhar is going to be a walking wicket, Shafiq will just drift along doing just enough to book his spot for the next series. Yasir will bowl lollipops and then smile when he's getting smacked around.

Basically, Pakistan are handing the English free bonuses even before a ball is bowled.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Who's going to be captain?

Make Babar captain. No problem if you fail now, you'll pick it up. Might i remind you how terrible of a captain Azhar Ali was post WC 2015. Honestly, it's not justified that you retain a person just on the basis of seniority. He should've been dropped months ago, it's a great shame as well because i saw him as the only other player in Pakistan to reach 10,000 test runs.

 

[TeamPak95]

Yes primarily because Azhar Ali, more than anything, is a stop-gap captain for the next groomed captain (Babar most likely).

 

[shamaan]

Depends on the margins of defeat. With a spine consisting of Azhar, Shafiq and Yasir, can you blame me for not exactly brimming with confidence? Where exactly is the attacking intent coming from?

Azhar is going to be a walking wicket, Shafiq will just drift along doing just enough to book his spot for the next series. Yasir will bowl lollipops and then smile when he's getting smacked around.

Basically, Pakistan are handing the English free bonuses even before a ball is bowled.

It does I reakon it be close series only root and stokes are good batesman all the rest ain't tested. I dont blame you I blame the Pcb .attacking intend it's a test match.

I belive he will get 1 century and get missed early in the rest.shafiq has always been average tbh.tbh yasir I wouldnt pick him in my team rather have gohar or shadab.

Let them flop so they can get removed from the team but I stil reakon it will be a draw

 

[shamaan]

Make Babar captain. No problem if you fail now, you'll pick it up. Might i remind you how terrible of a captain Azhar Ali was post WC 2015. Honestly, it's not justified that you retain a person just on the basis of seniority. He should've been dropped months ago, it's a great shame as well because i saw him as the only other player in Pakistan to reach 10,000 test runs.

I wouldnt make babar captain to much responsibility I would make shan masood hes level headed and I think he will be playing for pakistan for ages

 

[ManFan]

I want one decent argument as to why he should be.

Just one.

 

[shamaan]

I want one decent argument as to why he should be.

Just one.

Experience and no replacement

 

[Kroll]

It does I reakon it be close series only root and stokes are good batesman all the rest ain't tested. I dont blame you I blame the Pcb .attacking intend it's a test match.

I belive he will get 1 century and get missed early in the rest.shafiq has always been average tbh.tbh yasir I wouldnt pick him in my team rather have gohar or shadab.

Let them flop so they can get removed from the team but I stil reakon it will be a draw

There are times when you do need to attack to bring home the advantage or go for the win. Other times you may need to counter attack to escape from a precarious position. This is the type of stuff that makes Test cricket enjoyable.

Need a balanced team, not a one-dimensional bore defensive one like Pak's.

 

[Kroll]

Experience and no replacement

"Experience" - lol, you're sounding like the leechars who can only justify their selection through experience only but no performance.

 

[shamaan]

"Experience" - lol, you're sounding like the leechars who can only justify their selection through experience only but no performance.

Thatd the only reason I could think and I was being sarcastic lol

 

[shamaan]

There are times when you do need to attack to bring home the advantage or go for the win. Other times you may need to counter attack to escape from a precarious position. This is the type of stuff that makes Test cricket enjoyable.

Need a balanced team, not a one-dimensional bore defensive one like Pak's.

Thiers only india and austrlia who can play according to the situation no other country can do it consistanly so dunno how you expect pakistan to

 

[Kroll]

Thiers only india and austrlia who can play according to the situation no other country can do it consistanly so dunno how you expect pakistan to

That's not true. Every major Test playing nation can play according to the situation although end goals may not be achieved. India and Australia don't always achieve their end goals especially if playing away from home.

 

[shamaan]

That's not true. Every major Test playing nation can play according to the situation although end goals may not be achieved. India and Australia don't always achieve their end goals especially if playing away from home.

So if pakistan played boring cricket but ended up winning would you take that.

Or would you prefer if we went for a win but ended up losing bearing inside Pakistan are the kings of clapses

 

[Kroll]

So if pakistan played boring cricket but ended up winning would you take that.

Or would you prefer if we went for a win but ended up losing bearing inside Pakistan are the kings of clapses

Of course I'd take it, this was the formula used in the UAE but it won't work elsewhere and you still need to attack with bowlers.

Yasir in this regard is not the same bowler he was 4 years ago and neither is Azhar the same batsman he was 4 years ago.

 

[Junaids]

This is Azhar Ali’s Away record since his 33rd birthday.

2018
4 Tests
109 runs
0 centuries
1 fifty
6 innings out of 8 under 20
Average 13.63

2019
4 Tests
85 runs
0 centuries
0 fifties
7 innings out of 8 under 20
Average 10.63

So why is this has-been still in the team.

Outside Asia, he has scored less than 20 runs in 13 of his last 16 innings.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

This is Azhar Ali’s Away record since his 33rd birthday.

2018
4 Tests
109 runs
0 centuries
1 fifty
6 innings out of 8 under 20
Average 13.63

2019
4 Tests
85 runs
0 centuries
0 fifties
7 innings out of 8 under 20
Average 10.63

So why is this has-been still in the team.

Outside Asia, he has scored less than 20 runs in 13 of his last 16 innings.

Azhar may have failed outside Asia in recent times but he provides leadership in a test team where there is clear leadership vacuum. Tests are where captains get exposed the most and it would be terrible planning in giving Babar the test captaincy when he's clearly not ready. Shan Masood too is an inexperienced captain (but Azhars successor, in my opinion). Who else can be captain? Nope, I don't have any other alternatives either.

The management clearly see Azhar as a transitional captain. If he performs, he stays. If not, he will retire by his own accord. He did the same in ODIs of his own accord, is a respected voice in the dressing room and can't just be discarded like a piece of rubbish, no matter your flawed opinion.

As an aside, you have this habit of getting entrenched in your opinions without looking at greater factors at play. E.gs include

1. If you're a short bowler you might as well retire, never play tests - (Nope, everyone forms their own path in sports. If Barthez can succeed as a goal keeper and Mugsy Bogues in NBA, short fast bowlers can also succeed in tests)

2. Shadab should be used as the team's spinner - (Nope, he can't play a holding role, given that he can't bowl a consistent test length, can't build pressure on placid tracks etc.)

3. Faheem Ashraf is the all-rounder Pakistan needs - (Nope, his batting has regressed whilst his bowling is functional at best)

You back you opinions on skewed, context-less stats that don't take in qualitative judgements.

 

[Junaids]

Azhar may have failed outside Asia in recent times but he provides leadership in a test team where there is clear leadership vacuum. Tests are where captains get exposed the most and it would be terrible planning in giving Babar the test captaincy when he's clearly not ready. Shan Masood too is an inexperienced captain (but Azhars successor, in my opinion). Who else can be captain? Nope, I don't have any other alternatives either.

The management clearly see Azhar as a transitional captain. If he performs, he stays. If not, he will retire by his own accord. He did the same in ODIs of his own accord, is a respected voice in the dressing room and can't just be discarded like a piece of rubbish, no matter your flawed opinion.

As an aside, you have this habit of getting entrenched in your opinions without looking at greater factors at play. E.gs include

1. If you're a short bowler you might as well retire, never play tests - (Nope, everyone forms their own path in sports. If Barthez can succeed as a goal keeper and Mugsy Bogues in NBA, short fast bowlers can also succeed in tests)

2. Shadab should be used as the team's spinner - (Nope, he can't play a holding role, given that he can't bowl a consistent test length, can't build pressure on placid tracks etc.)

3. Faheem Ashraf is the all-rounder Pakistan needs - (Nope, his batting has regressed whilst his bowling is functional at best)

You back you opinions on skewed, context-less stats that don't take in qualitative judgements.

Apart from the fact that he is an ex-batsman, he has no leadership skills whatsoever.

Azhar and Shafiq failed dismally to step up when Misbah and Younis retired. They are followers with zero leadership ability.

But of course that is why Misbah made Azhar the captain. He has a man entirely dependent upon his patronage, who knows that without Misbah he wouldn’t even be in the team.

And so Azhar is a Dummy Captain to allow the Coach to effectively captain the team.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

The hilarity continues.

Whilst it's important that he performs, leadership comes in different forms. It's not driven only by performance, or chest beating or examples from whichever Clint Eastwood movie you remember from your childhood.

He is an experienced pro who has been on three different tours to England before this one and is someone who is respected in Somerset because of the effect he had on the dressing room there. He can be a reference point for calmness especially in the covid environment where old heads have movitate youngsters through their experience.

This 'ex-batsman' also scored a century in his last test or did that fact also escape your bias?

Also, not sure if you have some inside knowledge that the rest of us don't have about Misbah de-facto leading the team? Is there any substantive evidence? Or is this another example of your opinion suddenly becoming a fact? Nope. Just a lot of hilariously unsubstantiated leaps of logic.

Lastly, despite your flimsy reasoning for Azhar not being in the team, I haven't heard of any alternatives as Test captain. I've already stated that Babar is absolutely not ready to be test captain given his lack of experience. You risk breaking is captaincy confidence by throwing him at the very deep end in an England tour no less.

Shan is Azhar's successor

 

[Kroll]

So at the moment, 75% are saying No which is in line with the general consensus.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I wouldnt make babar captain to much responsibility I would make shan masood hes level headed and I think he will be playing for pakistan for ages

It's true that Babar is our most gifted player at the moment but sooner or later you will have to take some responsibility.

Shan Masood who i wasn't a big fan of has impressed me with his improvements so yea he wouldn't be half bad but again he's just started to get back in his grove which again i think that can be broken if he's given captaincy. It could go either way though. Anyways my test playing XI against England.

1. Shan Masood
2. Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Haider Ali/Saad Ali
5. Fawad Alam
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
8. Kashif Bhatti
9. Naseem Shah
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Muhammad Amir (Shinwari I'm not a big fan of and Haris Rauf needs to take it easy)

 

[MMHS]

Me being one of his critics, I think it's a correct call. The mistake was done at the start when they appointed him Captain, but once appointed, one just can't throw the Captain under bus. Also, he has done reasonably well in his last few outings, albeit against SRL & BD. And, it's unfair to throw a new Captain to lead in UK as first assignment.

I think, PCB should look to phase him out from the upcoming English tour - may be appoint Shan (Or Rizwan, another WK ) deputy, if they don't want to over burden Babar and ask Azhar to prepare for stepping down in due course of time (instead of being sacked unceremoniously). I think, after UK tour PAK's Test cricket will resume with the remaining WTC Test against us - that can be an ideal opportunity to introduce a new Captain, but for the time being, he is rightly persisted with for the UK tour.

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

It's true that Babar is our most gifted player at the moment but sooner or later you will have to take some responsibility.

Shan Masood who i wasn't a big fan of has impressed me with his improvements so yea he wouldn't be half bad but again he's just started to get back in his grove which again i think that can be broken if he's given captaincy. It could go either way though. Anyways my test playing XI against England.

1. Shan Masood
2. Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Haider Ali/Saad Ali
5. Fawad Alam
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
8. Kashif Bhatti
9. Naseem Shah
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Muhammad Amir (Shinwari I'm not a big fan of and Haris Rauf needs to take it easy)

Do you know Mohd Amir has retired from tests? And Haider Ali for tests? What rubbish!

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Yes. Until Babar Azam is ready for test captaincy.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Do you know Mohd Amir has retired from tests? And Haider Ali for tests? What rubbish!

Sorry forgot about Amir retiring, meant to put in Muhammad Abbas (my mind hit a blank, that covid19 withdrawal has made me forgetful). Azhar Ali i'm sorry needs to be dropped you could either go for someone else if you don't want Haider but i think this will be an excellent learning curve for him.

Can still try some good domestic performers like Ashfaq Ahmed, Saad Ali, Usman Salhuddin or any of the other top performers on the domestic circuit but i think adding someone new and young will help them mature now otherwise you can argue that they need to spend time on the domestic circuit for say at least 2 years. However if you want my safe bet i'd go for Saad Ali as he wasn't given a fair chance and then he deserves it over Haris Sohail.

 

[shamaan]

Of course I'd take it, this was the formula used in the UAE but it won't work elsewhere and you still need to attack with bowlers.

Yasir in this regard is not the same bowler he was 4 years ago and neither is Azhar the same batsman he was 4 years ago.

So in sena conditions we should attack even thou our record in austrlia in austrlia and south Africa are crap

100 percent I agree with you they ain't but I would stil stick with him.until the end of england series then get rid of shafiq azhar abbas

 

[shamaan]

This is Azhar Ali’s Away record since his 33rd birthday.

2018
4 Tests
109 runs
0 centuries
1 fifty
6 innings out of 8 under 20
Average 13.63

2019
4 Tests
85 runs
0 centuries
0 fifties
7 innings out of 8 under 20
Average 10.63

So why is this has-been still in the team.

Outside Asia, he has scored less than 20 runs in 13 of his last 16 innings.

It's not his fault it's the management fault they gave him captinacy even thou he wasnt performing !

 

[shamaan]

It's true that Babar is our most gifted player at the moment but sooner or later you will have to take some responsibility.

Shan Masood who i wasn't a big fan of has impressed me with his improvements so yea he wouldn't be half bad but again he's just started to get back in his grove which again i think that can be broken if he's given captaincy. It could go either way though. Anyways my test playing XI against England.

1. Shan Masood
2. Abid Ali
3. Babar Azam (c)
4. Haider Ali/Saad Ali
5. Fawad Alam
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Muhammad Rizwan (wk)
8. Kashif Bhatti
9. Naseem Shah
10. Shaheen Afridi
11. Muhammad Amir (Shinwari I'm not a big fan of and Haris Rauf needs to take it easy)

He has taken responsibility captinacy in t20s now odis.

I would rather have shan masood its vital for babar to score runs with extra captinacy in all three formats could affect him in all three formats hence why I would not give him the captaincy in tests but maybe in year or 2 he can.

So your expecting amir to make a u turn just for this series or totally overturn it.

 

[shamaan]

Me being one of his critics, I think it's a correct call. The mistake was done at the start when they appointed him Captain, but once appointed, one just can't throw the Captain under bus. Also, he has done reasonably well in his last few outings, albeit against SRL & BD. And, it's unfair to throw a new Captain to lead in UK as first assignment.

I think, PCB should look to phase him out from the upcoming English tour - may be appoint Shan (Or Rizwan, another WK ) deputy, if they don't want to over burden Babar and ask Azhar to prepare for stepping down in due course of time (instead of being sacked unceremoniously). I think, after UK tour PAK's Test cricket will resume with the remaining WTC Test against us - that can be an ideal opportunity to introduce a new Captain, but for the time being, he is rightly persisted with for the UK tour.

Agreed with all you stated

 

[Shoaibbtt]

He has taken responsibility captinacy in t20s now odis.

I would rather have shan masood its vital for babar to score runs with extra captinacy in all three formats could affect him in all three formats hence why I would not give him the captaincy in tests but maybe in year or 2 he can.

So your expecting amir to make a u turn just for this series or totally overturn it.

My apologies brother i totally forgot Amir doesn't play anymore, the covid19 withdrawal has made me forget some names and so i totally forgot about Abbas. Sorry replace Amir with Abbas (mistake on my end).

My drops though are Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah and Azhar Ali out and Fawad Alam and perhaps Saad Ali/Haider Ali/any top domestic performer from the recently concluded QeA trophy in.

 

[shamaan]

My apologies brother i totally forgot Amir doesn't play anymore, the covid19 withdrawal has made me forget some names and so i totally forgot about Abbas. Sorry replace Amir with Abbas (mistake on my end).

My drops though are Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah and Azhar Ali out and Fawad Alam and perhaps Saad Ali/Haider Ali/any top domestic performer from the recently concluded QeA trophy in.

I agree Harris sohail is second to babar in terms of class but he has a big weakness against short ball.yasir and azhar should be dropped after england series but not before.i would pick usman salahuddin or saad ali

 

[Kroll]

So in sena conditions we should attack even thou our record in austrlia in austrlia and south Africa are crap

100 percent I agree with you they ain't but I would stil stick with him.until the end of england series then get rid of shafiq azhar abbas

To win a Test, at some point you have to take the initiative. Pak used to beat Eng in Eng during the nineties with their aggressive approach. Recently, they've not done too bad either drawing the last two series.

If you know anything about Pak cricket, is that they're at their best with an aggressive approach. I know Misbah has tried bring some sort of structure during his playing days and now trying to implement the same philosophy here but he's turned them into soft lads.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I agree Harris sohail is second to babar in terms of class but he has a big weakness against short ball.yasir and azhar should be dropped after england series but not before.i would pick usman salahuddin or saad ali

yep definitely agree with those names. There are others on the domestic circuit that did well like top scorer Imran Butt

 

[TeymurBlake]

Is Azhar Ali the right choice?

No.

Then who should captain Pakistan in Tests?

Don't have a clue.

This is the current problem with our test setup right now. There's now viable options to lead the team. Our bowlers are too young to be considered captaincy material right now and often the personnel are different depending on the pitch.

That then leaves the batsman and again no viable options. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are still settling into the format and it would be wise not to burden Babar with another format captaincy. Rizwan has captain his domestic team and does have some experience but he is still establishing himself in the team despite being first choice. Asad Shafiq needs to follow Azhar out of the team but with his experience maybe our only choice. Haris Sohail & Shan Masood are so inconsistent and were quite close to being dropped. Abid Ali has also had too few appearances for Pakistan to be considered.

So..... this is the current issue for us in the format. In ODI & T20, the PCB covered there backsides by giving the captaincy to our teams bright spot Babar. But he is yet to really get going and establish himself in Tests. Current conundrum is serious as it gets. Misbah has his work cut out and honestly I'm not sure if he is up to it. There's more of a chance of him continuing with Azhar or giving the captaincy to Asad and continuing with Azhar as a batsman or this would be no surprise if this happened, Misbah bringing back Mohammad Hafeez. Anything could happen and unfortunately not to us PPer's liking.

 

[shamaan]

To win a Test, at some point you have to take the initiative. Pak used to beat Eng in Eng during the nineties with their aggressive approach. Recently, they've not done too bad either drawing the last two series.

If you know anything about Pak cricket, is that they're at their best with an aggressive approach. I know Misbah has tried bring some sort of structure during his playing days and now trying to implement the same philosophy here but he's turned them into soft lads.

Do you even no the bowling attack pakistan had in the 1990s and the batting consistent of javed,amir sohail,malik arguably the greatest 2 bowlers in the cricket

 

[shamaan]

yep definitely agree with those names. There are others on the domestic circuit that did well like top scorer Imran Butt

Omair bin yousuf is another one but hes an opener zeeshan Malik is another one

 

[Kroll]

Do you even no the bowling attack pakistan had in the 1990s and the batting consistent of javed,amir sohail,malik arguably the greatest 2 bowlers in the cricket

So you're saying we should just continue to play meek and defensive cricket. Are you saying we should just roll up overseas and continue to get thrashed without doing anything about it?

 

[shamaan]

So you're saying we should just continue to play meek and defensive cricket. Are you saying we should just roll up overseas and continue to get thrashed without doing anything about it?

No I am saying that generation we had the bowlers and batters win games single handily can you even take 5 players are capable of doing that if you want to play attacking cricket bring fakhar in bring haider ali for sena conditions and sharjeel ect

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Omair bin yousuf is another one but hes an opener zeeshan Malik is another one

Saud Shakeel was another, thing is we have bags of domestic performers so why not give them a go? There's no sense in assuming that they aren't good enough. By mixing it up it shows you have variety in your squad and that even your bench squad can be played. India constantly mix it up which is why i think they've become so successful over the last few years.

 

[ManFan]

Experience and no replacement

What’s the use if the experience cannot function anymore?

This argument has been invalidated as a requirement with many examples in the past such as G. Smith and the recent trend of Kohli, Root, Smith, and Williamson.

 

[Kroll]

No I am saying that generation we had the bowlers and batters win games single handily can you even take 5 players are capable of doing that if you want to play attacking cricket bring fakhar in bring haider ali for sena conditions and sharjeel ect

I'm not talking about ODI's here. My point is we're just taking along guys like Azhar Ali and Shafiq just for the sake of it who are not going to do anything.

Making Azhar captain fool proofs it. I'd like a paid vacation too, but I already live in England.

 

[shamaan]

Saud Shakeel was another, thing is we have bags of domestic performers so why not give them a go? There's no sense in assuming that they aren't good enough. By mixing it up it shows you have variety in your squad and that even your bench squad can be played. India constantly mix it up which is why i think they've become so successful over the last few years.

Am not sure tbh why they dont give them ago maybe cuz of fear of players failing not sure

 

[shamaan]

What’s the use if the experience cannot function anymore?

This argument has been invalidated as a requirement with many examples in the past such as G. Smith and the recent trend of Kohli, Root, Smith, and Williamson.

That's the only reasons I could think off lol

 

[shamaan]

I'm not talking about ODI's here. My point is we're just taking along guys like Azhar Ali and Shafiq just for the sake of it who are not going to do anything.

Making Azhar captain fool proofs it. I'd like a paid vacation too, but I already live in England.

So who would you bring in bearing in mind your attacking approach ?

 

[Kroll]

So who would you bring in bearing in mind your attacking approach ?

There's a few guys that other posters have mentioned that should have already been given opportunities. This thread isn't about that. I made my point that Azhar should have been retired as he can no longer cut it in SENA. To say he plays like a tailender isn't far from the truth.

Misbah played it smart by making him captain ensuring his place is secured. It's only going to end in tears.

 

[Junaids]

Shan Masood too is an inexperienced captain (but Azhars successor, in my opinion). Who else can be captain? Nope, I don't have any other alternatives either.

The management clearly see Azhar as a transitional captain. If he performs, he stays. If not, he will retire by his own accord. .

That’s just bizarre.

1. Why do you avoid making people the captain until they are too old for the job?

2. If a captain is elderly and no longer capable of holding down a place in the team, why do you let him choose when to go? (Which also went wrong with Misbah, who should have been dropped after Australia in 2016 so that he and Younis didn’t exit at the same time.)

For me, the ideal with a captain is for him to be the skipper from the ages of 27-31, then play on for twelve more months to support the new skipper. And then retire.

I would have appointed Shan Masood as skipper ten months ago. I also would have held a press conference with Azhar Ali after the Third Test in South Africa in January 2019 to announce his retirement and celebrate his career.

To be frank, Shan Masood is already too old to take over the captaincy. He should probably retire no later than the June 2021 World Test Championship Final, to allow Sami Aslam and Imran Butt to join the team before they too are too old, so it’s too late to promote him.

I would appoint Mohammad Rizwan as captain now, with Babar Azam as the next in line and Sami Aslam as third in line and Shadab Khan as the intended long-term successor from the end of the World Test Championship Cycle in June 2023.

Joe Root took over from Alastair Cook when Root was 26 and Cook was 32.

Ironically, Cook and Azhar were born just 56 days apart.

Cook’s captaincy started at the age of 27 and ended at 32, with his last Test at the age of 33.

Azhar didn’t BECOME the captain until he was already 34 and a half and in major decline as a batsman.

The Pakistan way of appointing very old captains works once in every 30 years - Imran, then Misbah. It’s a terrible idea.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Am not sure tbh why they dont give them ago maybe cuz of fear of players failing not sure

If i'll be honest brother i feel it's more greed. The fact is that your old pal/colleague should not be your boss i.e. Misbah. This is what many pundits have been complaining about not giving domestic performers a chance, i mean there's lots of names i can mention that should get a go or are due a go and they could easily replace some of the dead weight in the team.