Is Fakhar Zaman now the first choice opener for Pakistan in T20Is?

[Rayyman]

Looking back to the last series, Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad were opening.

Now there is a series in Lahore against World XI.

Kakmal has been rightfully dropped, but Shehzad scored a fifty in the last match and is in the squad.

Fakhar Zaman is also in the squad. Should he be the first choice opener?

 

[Rayyman]

Also because Sharjeel and Latif are gone and Babar usually plays at 3 and Sarfraz doesn't open anymore and neither does Malik and Hafeez is dropped

 

[marlonbrowndo]

No of course not. Why should the guy who scored consistently throughout the champions trophy and won us the final of the tournament by playing an unbelievable knock against our arch rivals, be our first choice opener over someone like Ahmed Shehzad?

 

[Rayyman]

No of course not. Why should the guy who scored consistently throughout the champions trophy and won us the final of the tournament by playing an unbelievable knock against our arch rivals, be our first choice opener over someone like Ahmed Shehzad?

Because he is a leg-side hack.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Yes open with Fakhar and Babar. No place for a tuk tuk like Shehzad. Even Hafeez would have been a better choice.

 

[Markhor]

Yes. Have to pick the only hard hitting opener in our squad for a T20.

 

[mak36]

Not sure what OP is trying to get at with this thread. Surely the answer is obvious.

 

[another drop catch]

most probably he will be permanent opener for all formats

 

[Hasan123]

Yes he is. Easy question.

 

[IMMY69]

Because he is a leg-side hack.

Are you saying that Zaman is a leg side hack???

What games were you watching?
If anything India's ploy was to bowl tight on his legs as he scored freely through the offside in the other games he played in.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Expecting this for the first game

1) Shehzad
2) Fakhar
3) Babar
4) Malik
5) Sarfraz
6) Imad
7) Faheem
8) Shadab
9) Rumman
10) Shinwari
11) Amir - if he doesn't show then Yamin or Sohail Khan could take that spot

 

[backfootpunch]

Because he is a leg-side hack.

Zaman's strength is offside and that's common knowledge.

 

[aloo paratha]

Only an idiot would say no.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Fakhar is 100% our opener, I think he can help A Shehzad as he helped Azhar Ali. Azhar played slow at the start of the tournament but became aggressively with Fakhar in the semis and finals.

 

[Rayyman]

Are you saying that Zaman is a leg side hack???

What games were you watching?
If anything India's ploy was to bowl tight on his legs as he scored freely through the offside in the other games he played in.

Zaman's strength is offside and that's common knowledge.

That's what people called him after his T20I matches.

Hopefully he proves them wrong.

 

[Saj]

No competition really for Fakhar is there at the moment.

Ahmed Shehzad is struggling. Kamran Akmal is out of favour. Sharjeel and Khalid Latif off the scene.

A real shortage of top order big-hitters in Pakistan.

 

[Rayyman]

Only an idiot would say no.

I would assume people want him to open in T20Is because of his performances in ODIs. Not sure if that will translate but it probably will.

It's funny how he has never opened before in T20Is and yet he is the unanimous first choice now.

Saj makes a good point that there is a lack of depth at the opening position for Pakistan in T20s especially.

 

[aloo paratha]

I would assume people want him to open in T20Is because of his performances in ODIs. Not sure if that will translate but it probably will.

It's funny how he has never opened before in T20Is and yet he is the unanimous first choice now.

Saj makes a good point that there is a lack of depth at the opening position for Pakistan in T20s especially.

Who else would you rather have to open? Shehzad?? No please.

 

[Anis10]

I think this will probably be the playing 11:

Fakhar
Shehzad
Babar
Amin
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Rumman
Amir/Shinwari/Sohail

 

[Rayyman]

I think this will probably be the playing 11:

Fakhar
Shehzad
Babar
Amin
Malik
Sarfraz
Imad
Shadab
Hasan
Rumman
Amir/Shinwari/Sohail

Yea I think you are right. Looks pretty beastly on paper to me.


Only I would go with Nawaz over Rumman if the pitch supports spinners.

 

[khurram39]

For others to replace him >>>> do exceptionally well in domestic
and for him>>>>> do exceptionally bad performance in quick succession.

Otherwise no chance of replacement.

 

[hadi123]

There is no doubt about that. I just hope he doesn't feel that his place is guaranteed though and subsequently his performance drops. But I expect him to give his best every game. That century against India already means he will be remembered for many years down the line.

 

[coy0607]

what is the point of this thread?

is there any doubt to the response?

 

[Eagle_Eye]

there is even a doubt that he should?

He should be playing all three formats as first choice.

 

[Hamza_]

Umar Amin and Fakhar should open tomorrow

 

[Rayyman]

what is the point of this thread?

is there any doubt to the response?

I mean he has never opened before in a T20I so would he be considered over Shehzad who just scored a fifty in the last game.

 

[Justcrazy]

Yes , no doubt.

 

[Plumb]

ODI/T20s without any doubt give him 3-4 complete series. I really want to see what he does next game when he fails. So far he been scoring runs. Pak have produced batsmen for a series or two and then we discard them if they fail couple of games. I hope that's not the case with him. Give him time even if he fails couple of games.

 

[UN talkz]

The OP is just asking whether he should be used as an first choice opener....
no need to bash him

 

[msb314]

No of course not. Why should the guy who scored consistently throughout the champions trophy and won us the final of the tournament by playing an unbelievable knock against our arch rivals, be our first choice opener over someone like Ahmed Shehzad?

Different format?

 

[msb314]

Who else would you rather have to open? Shehzad?? No please.

Why should Shehzad not open if he scored a fifty in his last game?

 

[msb314]

No competition really for Fakhar is there at the moment.

Ahmed Shehzad is struggling. Kamran Akmal is out of favour. Sharjeel and Khalid Latif off the scene.

A real shortage of top order big-hitters in Pakistan.

How is Shehzad struggling when he scored a fifty in his last T20 game?

 

[coy0607]

I mean he has never opened before in a T20I so would he be considered over Shehzad who just scored a fifty in the last game.

why can't they open together?
thats what I expect to happen tomorrow

 

[aloo paratha]

Why should Shehzad not open if he scored a fifty in his last game?

Because it is established for people who can see that he is a poor player who plays slow and only gets runs once in a while.

 

[mak36]

How is Shehzad struggling when he scored a fifty in his last T20 game?

I suggest you look at his stats for that series.

 

[kingusama92]

How is Shehzad struggling when he scored a fifty in his last T20 game?

In 45 balls.

Before that...

13, 14, 4.

Horrible opener with a hint of selfishness to his batting.

 

[dauntless]

Shehzad should be dumped for good.He is good for nothing.Most selfish and horrible player in the team.Enough of this garbage now

 

[Rayyman]

Has Ahmed Shehzad overtaken him?

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Has Ahmed Shehzad overtaken him?

Yes shazad has scored a match winning hundred in a final against bitter rivals... that too abroad.

Why are you guys glotten for punishment

 

[maxamax]

I guess he's figured out for T20s. In ODIs he can punish over poor balls and can nudge around in tighter ones, but in t20 he seemed poorly exposed now. People have figured him out. Unless he improves his game I cant see him lasting long in T20s.

 

[Kianig89]

Fakahr an upgraded version of Awais Zia and Sharjeel Khan #VTI turbo

 

[hadi123]

I guess he's figured out for T20s. In ODIs he can punish over poor balls and can nudge around in tighter ones, but in t20 he seemed poorly exposed now. People have figured him out. Unless he improves his game I cant see him lasting long in T20s.

Figured out? Come on, this was his first cricket since the CT which was a few months ago. He is an aggressive player and he is going to fail some times and come off some times, that's what players like him are like. He definitely has not been figured out though. Keep an eye on his performance in the next few series and then if he fails, you can say he has been figured out but that's very premature to say now after 3 average scores.

 

[Rana]

I can see majority of opening fast bowlers coming around the wicket to him, cramping him up on the off side channel, angling the ball in to the top of off-stump. He cant seem to do anything with that line. Morne Morkel did it firt, and Ben Cutting found success doing the same. The problem is, most fast bowlers in international cricket are better than these two

 

[maxamax]

Figured out? Come on, this was his first cricket since the CT which was a few months ago. He is an aggressive player and he is going to fail some times and come off some times, that's what players like him are like. He definitely has not been figured out though. Keep an eye on his performance in the next few series and then if he fails, you can say he has been figured out but that's very premature to say now after 3 average scores.

Yes, couple of games can answer this.

 

[Rayyman]

Can't remember his last good innings in T20Is.

 

[babajee]

Can't remember his last good innings in T20Is.

That’s because he hasn’t had one.

But still Fakhar is the first choice opener.

 

[Rayyman]

That’s because he hasn’t had one.

But still Fakhar is the first choice opener.

Well his selection hasn't been justified by performance.

 

[Fahdi]

I just don't think he will make a very good T20 player. He is more suited to ODIs. In T20 he can get shut down and resort to slogging. In ODIs he can be patient when the boundaries don't come. Sadly he is just not as fluent a strokemaker as Sharjeel was. Pakistan will be better served investing in more fluent strokemakers though I am not sure if we have too many of those. Hussain Talat is one option, Umar Amin another, both can be tested.

 

[babajee]

Well his selection hasn't been justified by performance.

His selection has been on merit. He played some fantastic innings in the PSL like against Karachi Kings.

 

[Sirris]

Fakhar's place in t20 as an opener cannot be questioned by default as long as Shehzad is his opening partner.

First find replace Shehzad before replacing Fakhar who just made international debut 3 months ago. Can't we just be patient?

 

[Sirris]

His selection has been on merit. He played some fantastic innings in the PSL like against Karachi Kings.

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Memory not found.

 

[Sirris]

I just don't think he will make a very good T20 player. He is more suited to ODIs. In T20 he can get shut down and resort to slogging. In ODIs he can be patient when the boundaries don't come. Sadly he is just not as fluent a strokemaker as Sharjeel was. Pakistan will be better served investing in more fluent strokemakers though I am not sure if we have too many of those. Hussain Talat is one option, Umar Amin another, both can be tested.

We can test alternatives but wouldn't it be wiser to test them by replacing Shehzad first?

 

[babajee]

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Memory not found.

https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-scores/17471/lhq-vs-krk-8th-match-pakistan-super-league-2017

 

[Sirris]

https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-scores/17471/lhq-vs-krk-8th-match-pakistan-super-league-2017

Refer this link to all those with short memory.

 

[Rayyman]

His selection has been on merit. He played some fantastic innings in the PSL like against Karachi Kings.

Fakhar's place in t20 as an opener cannot be questioned by default as long as Shehzad is his opening partner.

First find replace Shehzad before replacing Fakhar who just made international debut 3 months ago. Can't we just be patient?

I am speaking of international performances.

 

[Sirris]

I am speaking of international performances.

How can he justify his selection for T20I without having played a couple of them consistently?

I question your judgments since you believe Shehzad's place in T20I is justified since he scored some 50odd runs against some world XI.

 

[Abdullah]

Yes fakhar is still first choice people.
Until we find somebody who is capable of playing innings like he did in the ct

 

[Rayyman]

How can he justify his selection for T20I without having played a couple of them consistently?

I question your judgments since you believe Shehzad's place in T20I is justified since he scored some 50odd runs against some world XI.

He has played 6 innings and only scored 88 runs. I'm not saying I want Fakhar dropped and Shehzad to stay. Am just stating facts.

 

[Rayyman]

This guy hasn't played one innings of substance in T20Is.

 

[shah_1]

He has been exposed badly, batting like a tail ender.

Don't see a long future for him. I rather see Umar Akmal open.

 

[giri26]

Seems to have struggled this series except for the first game. Still Pakistan needs to stick with him as he is talented and will definitely improve with more exposure.

 

[Fahdi]

I have maintained for a while now that his game doesn't suite T20s. He is good in ODIs but in T20s where he feels the pressure hit out even when he isn't comfortable he won't do well. He isn't someone who has a large range of shots but in ODIs he makes the most of what he has thanks to good intent.

 

[ethan hunt]

Not sure who told him that he is a hitter .
He is a terrible hitter of the ball .
. Loses his shape and weight when slogging . Stick to strokeplay .

 

[Greenstorm]

He should bat at 4 and take on the spinners in the middle overs which is his strength.

 

[Abdullah719]

He is our best batsman

 

[Majid Khan]

I still think as soon as he hits a bad patch for 3/4 inngs, selectors and team management will be ready to capitalise on it and reunite the wonderful opening batting pair of Ahmad Shezad and Mohammed Hafeez.. especially for the World Cup.

 

[hadi123]

Great innings by him! He's here to stay, we need Babar Azam back soon

 

[Fahdi]

He has performed well beyond my expectations in T20s. Funny thing is I still stick to my reasoning but it seems I underestimated his ability to find a way to make things work for him.