Extra_Cover
Local Club Star
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- Jul 17, 2017
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We all agree that there is a significant middle order void that is eventually going to cost Pakistan dearly if not filled in limited overs international. What is happening right now is completely unprecedented given historically we have always had superior middle over bats like Inzi, Yousuf, Miandad and till recently Misbah. However the balance has completely shifted where our important players are now Babar, Fakhar, Imam and Rizwan all of whom are top order bats. To make matters worse our alternatives (batters who are performing in domestics) are also mainly middle overs bat.
The purpose of this thread is that I frankly do not believe that Khushdil, Asif and Iftikhar are our solutions to crisis here. There are a short-term fill who would likely perform 4/10 times. So given we have a home season coming up it would be great to actually test someone who would be a longer term solution here. Also this is strictly related to limited overs which is ODI and T20s and does not refer to test cricket.
One of the solutions could be to ask a top order bat to drop down and bat in the middle overs. I feel this is a short term fix and would not yield many results. The candidates who can potentially do this are follows:
1. Shan Masood
2. Fakhar Zaman
Second option would be to play people based on potential rather than any real domestic performance of late. Again I do not feel this is good fix and it would only be a matter of time before they fail as I personally believe in hard work over talent. Some options for this role would be:
1. Haider Ali
2. Sohaib Maqsood
Another option for PCB is to simply reward the domestic players with a stint in national side. This is something I endorse however we have seen in most cases that the stints are limited to just 1/2 outings before being discarded so if PCB goes down this route then they better don't do that. If they really want to reward domestic performers then options would be:
1. Umar Amin
2. Agha Salman
The last option PCB has is to put all its eggs in one basket by investing in a young player for a long tenure. This is when PCB really believes in the person's ability. I do not recommend this option as Pakistan isn't Australia of 2000s where they have luxury of multi world class players who would win games and hence can carry a youngster in team for grooming. Pakistan unfortunately isn't there yet hence this wouldn't work. However if PCB does want to give it a go then the following are the options.
1. Qasim Akram
2. Haseebullah (although top order but the kid can bat)
Pakistan badly needs a middle order bat at 5/6 in both T20 and ODIs. The above are the options for PCB and to be honest PCB doesn't need to choose both players from same category and also can choose different players for T20 and different for ODIs.
In my personal opinion I would choose to reward a domestic player and potential player for ODIs (Amin and Maqsood). Whilst I would go for a young player and a potential player for T20s (Qasim Akram and Haider Ali). The reason is simple in ODIs I want someone who can play with experience in middle order as their worth usually comes in handy when chasing totals like Inzi used to do for us whilst T20 is perfect platform to groom youngsters to take up the mantle in ODIs when ready.
The purpose of this thread is that I frankly do not believe that Khushdil, Asif and Iftikhar are our solutions to crisis here. There are a short-term fill who would likely perform 4/10 times. So given we have a home season coming up it would be great to actually test someone who would be a longer term solution here. Also this is strictly related to limited overs which is ODI and T20s and does not refer to test cricket.
One of the solutions could be to ask a top order bat to drop down and bat in the middle overs. I feel this is a short term fix and would not yield many results. The candidates who can potentially do this are follows:
1. Shan Masood
2. Fakhar Zaman
Second option would be to play people based on potential rather than any real domestic performance of late. Again I do not feel this is good fix and it would only be a matter of time before they fail as I personally believe in hard work over talent. Some options for this role would be:
1. Haider Ali
2. Sohaib Maqsood
Another option for PCB is to simply reward the domestic players with a stint in national side. This is something I endorse however we have seen in most cases that the stints are limited to just 1/2 outings before being discarded so if PCB goes down this route then they better don't do that. If they really want to reward domestic performers then options would be:
1. Umar Amin
2. Agha Salman
The last option PCB has is to put all its eggs in one basket by investing in a young player for a long tenure. This is when PCB really believes in the person's ability. I do not recommend this option as Pakistan isn't Australia of 2000s where they have luxury of multi world class players who would win games and hence can carry a youngster in team for grooming. Pakistan unfortunately isn't there yet hence this wouldn't work. However if PCB does want to give it a go then the following are the options.
1. Qasim Akram
2. Haseebullah (although top order but the kid can bat)
Pakistan badly needs a middle order bat at 5/6 in both T20 and ODIs. The above are the options for PCB and to be honest PCB doesn't need to choose both players from same category and also can choose different players for T20 and different for ODIs.
In my personal opinion I would choose to reward a domestic player and potential player for ODIs (Amin and Maqsood). Whilst I would go for a young player and a potential player for T20s (Qasim Akram and Haider Ali). The reason is simple in ODIs I want someone who can play with experience in middle order as their worth usually comes in handy when chasing totals like Inzi used to do for us whilst T20 is perfect platform to groom youngsters to take up the mantle in ODIs when ready.
