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

[shamaan]

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.

The point is pcb should have look at the captinacy before misbah retired I do not blame azhar it's the management fault let's be honest if someone offered you captiancy would you reject. He had no other choice !

 

[shamaan]

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.

I agree with you hopefully the new doesmtic structure will make sure that the dead rubber gets found out.

 

[Kroll]

The point is pcb should have look at the captinacy before misbah retired I do not blame azhar it's the management fault let's be honest if someone offered you captiancy would you reject. He had no other choice !

Of course not, I don't blame Azhar at all, he's a great guy, a credit to Pakistan cricket. Sarfraz was the right choice after Misbah but obviously have gotten it wrong this time.

 

[Junaids]

Of course not, I don't blame Azhar at all, he's a great guy, a credit to Pakistan cricket. Sarfraz was the right choice after Misbah but obviously have gotten it wrong this time.

[MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] will like my response here...…

Misbah does not understand just how unique he was in reaching and remaining at his peak from his mid-thirties onwards.

He knows that in his late thirties he combined skill, wisdom and experience, and that Younis Khan did too. But that is such a rare thing: for every Misbah there are ten Alastair Cooks who are ready for the scrapheap by the age of 33.

It seems like years since Cook retired, yet he is only a couple of months older than Azhar Ali.

Everyone knows that Azhar Ali is an honourable man of true integrity. And Misbah just can't see that as a batsman he is completely finished, only able to survive on very flat Asian wickets against very mediocre bowling.

Azhar averages 12 in both of his last two years of away international cricket. But he also only averaged 26 at Somerset at a much lower level, and that should be enough to tell you that he hasn't lost form, he has lost his ability due to age.

 

[Kroll]

[MENTION=134608]Hawkeye[/MENTION] will like my response here...…

Misbah does not understand just how unique he was in reaching and remaining at his peak from his mid-thirties onwards.

He knows that in his late thirties he combined skill, wisdom and experience, and that Younis Khan did too. But that is such a rare thing: for every Misbah there are ten Alastair Cooks who are ready for the scrapheap by the age of 33.

It seems like years since Cook retired, yet he is only a couple of months older than Azhar Ali.

Everyone knows that Azhar Ali is an honourable man of true integrity. And Misbah just can't see that as a batsman he is completely finished, only able to survive on very flat Asian wickets against very mediocre bowling.

Azhar averages 12 in both of his last two years of away international cricket. But he also only averaged 26 at Somerset at a much lower level, and that should be enough to tell you that he hasn't lost form, he has lost his ability due to age.

I would also add that this approach somewhat worked for Tests but for a fast game like ODI, it was a complete unmitigated disaster. At least he stayed away from T20s where he knew his 70 SR was not going hold sway with even his most ardent fans.

Sadly, the decision is now made and we will have to endure more torture and waste yet more time plodding along with the same rubbish whilst we could have already made changes a year ago.

 

[The Viper]

For now yes. Although I think Azhar should be replaced, there are a lack of options. Babar is the obvious candidate, but he is captaining in limited overs, and you don't want to overburden your star batsman already. So i would give Azhar Ali a couple more series at least and then re evaluate. Its too early to make somebody like Shan captain - he needs more performances to cement his spot in the team in the long term.

 

[Kroll]

Currently, 72% saying NO, keep the votes coming for those who haven't yet.

 

[sshakir411]

I'd like to hear Misbah list out the reasons why Azhar 2.0 will be better than Azhar 1.0....

 

[Junaids]

For now yes. Although I think Azhar should be replaced, there are a lack of options. Babar is the obvious candidate, but he is captaining in limited overs, and you don't want to overburden your star batsman already. So i would give Azhar Ali a couple more series at least and then re evaluate. Its too early to make somebody like Shan captain - he needs more performances to cement his spot in the team in the long term.

There is a fundamental flaw with that approach. In the case of Shan Masood, who is already the wrong side of 30, he is not going to become the captain until age is already impairing his performances.

The way I see things, there are only 4 Pakistan players who are 100% certainties on merit to play all Tests home and away: Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

On home and away performances over the last 2 years, none of Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah or Mohammad Abbas are guaranteed a place in the starting eleven. Asad Shafiq is closer than any of them, but his numbers over the last 2 years are not good enough either for a senior player, although they are much better than Azhar Ali's.

So you really need to pick a skipper out of Shan Masood, Asada Shafiq, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

 

[Abdullah719]

Hundred in the practice match.

Will be an important series for him. Another string of low scores and he will be under immense pressure to step down.