So I am thinking who use to anchor our batting lines up in the last 30 years, the quality of batsman we had and I am pretty convinced this is the worst batting line up I have seen in my entire life. The blame is on our selectors who are not choosing players from domestic that average over 50. Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haffez, Inam were not even top 5 in domestic four day cricket yet they find themselves representing Pakistan.
Late 1980s:
Miandad was leading our line up and he averaged over 50. He was then supported by Salim Malik and Shoaib Mohammad who both averaged in the mid 40's. So we had a guy average over 50 and two guys who could average in the mid 40's. Remember Imran could also bat
Early 1990s
Inzamam had started to emerge so now we had two guys who could average over 50 (Miandad and Inzi). Salim M was still there, and while Shoaib Mohammad was going away Saeed Anwar was starting to emerge. So again we had a few guys averaging over 50 and a couple of guys in their mid 40's
Late 90s
Miandad was gone, but we had Inzi and Saeed Anwar leading the charge. Again a guy average over 50 and another guy in their mid 40's. We had some decent all rounders as well and Ijaz could be handy at times. Around this time Mohammad Yousuf starting to emerget as well
2000's till now
Inzi, Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan and Misbah. We had 3 guys average near 50 or more and one guy who average high 40's for most of his career. Our openers remained a huge struggle post Saeed Anwar and till date we don't have a solution, but probably our best middle order ever.
Now Days
Azhar and Asad who were cleary the number 3 and number 4 choice for the past 10 years have to lead and its clear they don't have the capability. For the first time in 30 years we don't have anyone average 50 or more. Heck we don't have anyone average in the high 40s. Azhar averages 44 and Asad averages 39. Inam and Babar are unproven and Harris has also not completely lived up. The lack of planning is honestly shocking. We pick up guys who average 40 in domestic and expect them to be world beaters.
Inzi, Moyo, Younus, Miandad, Zaheer, Malik, Anwar, Misbah all had one thing in common. They were champion batsman in local 4 day cricket. Point being garbage in garbage out. Our selectors believe they will choose people on technique and potential rather than actual performance and the results are for us to see.
Picture below says everything:
Late 1980s:
Miandad was leading our line up and he averaged over 50. He was then supported by Salim Malik and Shoaib Mohammad who both averaged in the mid 40's. So we had a guy average over 50 and two guys who could average in the mid 40's. Remember Imran could also bat
Early 1990s
Inzamam had started to emerge so now we had two guys who could average over 50 (Miandad and Inzi). Salim M was still there, and while Shoaib Mohammad was going away Saeed Anwar was starting to emerge. So again we had a few guys averaging over 50 and a couple of guys in their mid 40's
Late 90s
Miandad was gone, but we had Inzi and Saeed Anwar leading the charge. Again a guy average over 50 and another guy in their mid 40's. We had some decent all rounders as well and Ijaz could be handy at times. Around this time Mohammad Yousuf starting to emerget as well
2000's till now
Inzi, Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan and Misbah. We had 3 guys average near 50 or more and one guy who average high 40's for most of his career. Our openers remained a huge struggle post Saeed Anwar and till date we don't have a solution, but probably our best middle order ever.
Now Days
Azhar and Asad who were cleary the number 3 and number 4 choice for the past 10 years have to lead and its clear they don't have the capability. For the first time in 30 years we don't have anyone average 50 or more. Heck we don't have anyone average in the high 40s. Azhar averages 44 and Asad averages 39. Inam and Babar are unproven and Harris has also not completely lived up. The lack of planning is honestly shocking. We pick up guys who average 40 in domestic and expect them to be world beaters.
Inzi, Moyo, Younus, Miandad, Zaheer, Malik, Anwar, Misbah all had one thing in common. They were champion batsman in local 4 day cricket. Point being garbage in garbage out. Our selectors believe they will choose people on technique and potential rather than actual performance and the results are for us to see.
Picture below says everything:
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