Misbah-ul-Haq hints at comeback for Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik

[SajF55]

Misbah-ul-Haq speaking at the post match conference after 3rd T20I

"Where our eyes needed to open up, you people (media) also needed your eyes to open up. The way we go after the seniors like in the World Cup, do this, do that etc., we forget their performances. No doubt that Hafeez and Malik not being here, no matter what their performances are otherwise, they are 2 players who play spin the best. And that was a problem for us in this whole series. Our younger lot play fast-bowlers better but since they don't play leggies that often, they struggle to pick them and that's a big reason for us not getting to the targets in the last two games"

 

[KingKhanWC]

Give him time, Imran Nazir will back at the top of the order.

Its nearly 2020 and we still have Pakistani coaches/selector giving jobs to mates.

 

[Shazzam]

Not surprised. If anything he will bank on there experience even more. They may play for 3 more years.

 

[Titan24]

Give him time, Imran Nazir will back at the top of the order.

Its nearly 2020 and we still have Pakistani coaches/selector giving jobs to mates.

Not surprised. If anything he will bank on there experience even more. They may play for 3 more years.

Didnt Mickey Arther keep both of these in the team for last 2-3 years?

 

[unemployedgm]

The fact that Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez are even being considered is a complete indictment on Pakistan Cricket. It shows a complete lack of knowledge and faith in the domestic system. The same way our batsman bat as if they have handcuffs on, our management team does exactly the same. It is far easier to justify losing with Shoaib Malik than staking your career on an unproven player. Disgrace.

 

[Shazzam]

Didnt Mickey Arther keep both of these in the team for last 2-3 years?

Is Mickey coaching and selecting the team right now?

 

[big_gamer007]

Pakistani fans are being very harsh, T20 bilaterals are used for testing new players. Need to give some time to misbah.

 

[Shazzam]

Pakistani fans are being very harsh, T20 bilaterals are used for testing new players. Need to give some time to misbah.

I agree however none of the players selected were new players. We were using our full strength team.

 

[big_gamer007]

I agree however none of the players selected were new players. We were using our full strength team.

It happens, have to be little patient with him. After just 1 T20i series knives are already out. It's very unfair.

 

[Shazzam]

It happens, have to be little patient with him. After just 1 T20i series knives are already out. It's very unfair.

True we need more series of failures. I never said he should be dropped as coach. The criticism however is warranted cause we lost at home to a Sri-Lankan C team. This was the easiest assignment for any coach. He failed in it now how will he do against better teams?

 

[aloo paratha]

Shoaib Malik? Fine. Mohammad Hafeez? No.

 

[Major]

11 posts in this thread and not a single person could argue with reason or even read OP.

THis series exposed Pakistan. People cry about seniors, but look why we lost the t20 series. Even the third t20, no umar or shzad played and we still lost.

He is right, if the youngsters dont know how to plauy spin, than bring in the oldies back.

 

[Plumb]

Why are we surprised???... this was bound to happen. Himself came in the team at older age and that's the mindset he has that "seniors/oldies" get chance to prove. Avg. players have avg eyes. Great players have great eye to pick talent.

This clown will make sure we end up No.1 from the bottom and play WC Qualifiers..

 

[Cricketrenew]

Sack him Wasim Khan, save your professional reputation.

Malik and Hafeez after Akmal, Shezhad….how many matches is planning to lose?

 

[BreadPakoda]

11 posts in this thread and not a single person could argue with reason or even read OP.

THis series exposed Pakistan. People cry about seniors, but look why we lost the t20 series. Even the third t20, no umar or shzad played and we still lost.

He is right, if the youngsters dont know how to plauy spin, than bring in the oldies back.

Should have won with Umar, Shahzad, and Sarfaraz in the team. Surely they have more experience and are not younger than the Sri Lankan players. Or not?

 

[MMHS]

11 posts in this thread and not a single person could argue with reason or even read OP.

THis series exposed Pakistan. People cry about seniors, but look why we lost the t20 series. Even the third t20, no umar or shzad played and we still lost.

He is right, if the youngsters dont know how to plauy spin, than bring in the oldies back.

Are you sure that with those two PAK would have won the series? SRL out batted PAK by some margin and bowlers were well experienced compared to SRL's batsmen, even considering Shadab. Experience doesn't deliver if the quality isn't there. Misbah's explanation (Spin play) isn't acceptable because SRL won at least 2 games with their new ball attack - you think Mian Malik & MoHa would have mastered that new ball movement?.. Spin cost in middle overs not because of absence of MoHa/Malik, rather the sheer ineptness of PAK middle order to counter at best acceptable quality spin - and Misbah is the batting coach. If 40+ players are needed to solve a problem that relates with basic skills, then you don't need Coach or Selector.

Only purpose of mentioning them here is that, it would have been easier to explain the defeat (these are our best players - there is not enough talent), rather than explaining that the batsmen were not capable of handling SRL attack which it self was missing few regulars, excluding recently retired Malinga (He is probably still active in T20I). If PAK manager has to justify absence of two 40+ players against SRL reserves, at home and at their strongest suits, then next time PCB better invite U19 teams.

Two of the MoM were T20 debutantes, and the MoS is playing probably first time for SRL - and Misbah is crying for MoHa, Malik !!!!!!!!!!!!.... please feel some shame to back this guy blindly.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Say what you want about Malik but he would have thrashed the SL spinners

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Malik is fine, hafeez depends on form.

 

[topspin]

Misbah's phobia for youngsters and appetite for seniors exposed yet again.

But lo and behold his biggest fan on here is justifying it. I call it Major Desperation!

 

[Kroll]

Didnt Mickey Arther keep both of these in the team for last 2-3 years?

We can probably guess what went on behind the scenes as these two have the most powerful lobbies in the whole of Pakistan playing eleven.

They might have been played last few years but the WC really should have been the final call for both players in all formats. Only one should be retained if they do have to come back and that man should be Malik.

 

[Syed1]

At this rate this shameless person will be selecting himself for a comeback in all three formats.

 

[topspin]

Didnt Mickey Arther keep both of these in the team for last 2-3 years?

Oh please lets not pretend both circumstances are the same.

There is a clear difference, Misbah is intending to get get Hafeez to come out of test retirement and Malik from ODI and/or Test retirement.

 

[TeymurBlake]

"Spin the best"........ Where is the next T20I World Cup held????

Rather than move forward and bring in players for the future and long term success, they decide to continue with Hafeez and Malik.

 

[Zaz]

If misbah does bring them back its going to be an extremely short sighted and panic selections

It ll simply mean misbah does not have the ability for taking this team forward in the right direction

 

[Hasan123]

If they are recalled it would be a disgrace of a decision.

 

[Pete Rose]

Didnt Mickey Arther keep both of these in the team for last 2-3 years?

Yes and it cost him his job. So if Misbah wants to do that, it should cost him his job as well. Hopefully we dont need another 2-3 years for that that to happen.

 

[Abdullah719]

11 posts in this thread and not a single person could argue with reason or even read OP.

THis series exposed Pakistan. People cry about seniors, but look why we lost the t20 series. Even the third t20, no umar or shzad played and we still lost.

He is right, if the youngsters dont know how to plauy spin, than bring in the oldies back.

The T20 World Cup is in Australia where both these seniors average in the teens in T20s.

Oh please lets not pretend both circumstances are the same.

There is a clear difference, Misbah is intending to get get Hafeez to come out of test retirement and Malik from ODI and/or Test retirement.

Hyperbole, haven't seen anything to suggest this may be the case.

 

[Ellipsism]

Bring back Sohail Tanvir, Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Irfan while your at it as well.

 

[topspin]

The T20 World Cup is in Australia where both these seniors average in the teens in T20s.



Hyperbole, haven't seen anything to suggest this may be the case.

I don't do hyperbole, like nearly all the posters on here, we just don't trust Misbah.

I remember you were against his appointment, but now you're vouching for him like the loyalist brigade have been doing for years.

 

[coy0607]

Misbah is just filled with bright ideas

 

[coy0607]

Yes and it cost him his job. So if Misbah wants to do that, it should cost him his job as well. Hopefully we dont need another 2-3 years for that that to happen.

Also, 2-3 years ago there was on Babar, Haris, Fakhar, Imam, Imad - and Hafeez and Malik weren't 35 year olds

 

[Abdullah719]

I don't do hyperbole, like nearly all the posters on here, we just don't trust Misbah.

I remember you were against his appointment, but now you're vouching for him like the loyalist brigade have been doing for years.

I am not 'vouching for him'. I just prefer to call a spade a spade.

For example in the T20Is against Sri Lanka, his major mistakes were to disrupt the team combination and bring back Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal and slot them right into the playing XI. I criticised that and will continue to do so.

However, lazy 'analysis' which says that he forced Babar Azam to bat slowly is (in my opinion) hogwash, because Babar was actively looking to try and get the ball away, but struggled to time it throughout the series. He struggled with the nature of the pitches and failed to adapt.

I just call it as I see it without trying to envision what the future will be like. If and when Misbah makes Hafeez take back Test retirement then we can have this discussion. For now, all I know is that it was clearly stated that players need to be playing FC cricket to be in contention for Test selection and last I checked, both Hafeez and Malik are busy in the Caribbean.

 

[Titan24]

Oh please lets not pretend both circumstances are the same.

There is a clear difference, Misbah is intending to get get Hafeez to come out of test retirement and Malik from ODI and/or Test retirement.

I guess its only for T20s in the case of Malik and it would be a disaster if Misbah calls him out of retirement or Hafeez in tests for that matter.

 

[Titan24]

I am not 'vouching for him'. I just prefer to call a spade a spade.

For example in the T20Is against Sri Lanka, his major mistakes were to disrupt the team combination and bring back Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal and slot them right into the playing XI. I criticised that and will continue to do so.

However, lazy 'analysis' which says that he forced Babar Azam to bat slowly is (in my opinion) hogwash, because Babar was actively looking to try and get the ball away, but struggled to time it throughout the series. He struggled with the nature of the pitches and failed to adapt.

I just call it as I see it without trying to envision what the future will be like. If and when Misbah makes Hafeez take back Test retirement then we can have this discussion. For now, all I know is that it was clearly stated that players need to be playing FC cricket to be in contention for Test selection and last I checked, both Hafeez and Malik are busy in the Caribbean.

Well put.

 

[topspin]

I am not 'vouching for him'. I just prefer to call a spade a spade.

For example in the T20Is against Sri Lanka, his major mistakes were to disrupt the team combination and bring back Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal and slot them right into the playing XI. I criticised that and will continue to do so.

However, lazy 'analysis' which says that he forced Babar Azam to bat slowly is (in my opinion) hogwash, because Babar was actively looking to try and get the ball away, but struggled to time it throughout the series. He struggled with the nature of the pitches and failed to adapt.

I just call it as I see it without trying to envision what the future will be like. If and when Misbah makes Hafeez take back Test retirement then we can have this discussion. For now, all I know is that it was clearly stated that players need to be playing FC cricket to be in contention for Test selection and last I checked, both Hafeez and Malik are busy in the Caribbean.

Fair enough, good points made.

But do you really think after switching coaches it is all down to the inclusions of Shehzad and Akmal into this side? - that has led to Pakistan underperform so severely, where they have gone from whitewashing a full strength Sri Lanka team this time of the year in 2017 to be whitewashed at home against second string Sri Lanka side.

 

[Ami]

This is just a lack of talent...compelling us to even consider Malik and Hafeez.

Frankly...without Babar, we have no other world class player for T20s...Fakhar is mere useful when on song, and as for the rest...their game style is more suited to a reasonable odi side.

And...that's that.

We can analyze this and analyze that...but we cant deny what's in front of us.

 

[Abdullah719]

Fair enough, good points made.

But do you really think after switching coaches it is all down to the inclusions of Shehzad and Akmal into this side? - that has led to Pakistan underperform so severely, where they have gone from whitewashing a full strength Sri Lanka team this time of the year in 2017 to be whitewashed at home against second string Sri Lanka side.

The inclusions of Shehzad and Akmal started the rot because both were disastrous batting in crucial top-order slots.

But I think another mistake was to promote Sarfaraz to #4 (this is Misbah's call). Misbah made it clear that Sarfaraz needs to be batting in the middle-order where he has fared well in the past, and I think that was OK for ODIs. The ODI team had a lot of room for improvement and carrying a specialist captain is not feasible. But with T20Is, you can afford to have a player for his all-round worth to the team and Sarfaraz had led the side pretty well in the past. Putting him up the order just meant that we had a batsman with no confidence hogging a middle-order spot and coming in at a set number regardless of the match situation.

In the past, Sarfaraz was used as a 'floater' sometimes coming up the order and other times batting below the likes of Hasan. If he was to be persisted with in T20Is then this was the correct approach. He has never been a very good T20 batsman either way.

With Fakhar and Asif struggling, this was basically a complete failure of a batting order completely reliant on Babar.

As for the bowling, I don't think much has changed... but bringing back Wahab was a mistake. And Shinwari is a liability in this format as well. So I think it was mostly the selection that went wrong here rather than tactics, etc.

 

[Bilal_103]

11 posts in this thread and not a single person could argue with reason or even read OP.

THis series exposed Pakistan. People cry about seniors, but look why we lost the t20 series. Even the third t20, no umar or shzad played and we still lost.

He is right, if the youngsters dont know how to plauy spin, than bring in the oldies back.

If you mess up the teams chemistry what do you think will happen? Misbah messed up badly when he selected the ttf buddies of his. Atleast try some young uncapped players. Pakistan is always playing musical chairs with the same clowns who are just not good enough.

 

[Pete Rose]

I am not 'vouching for him'. I just prefer to call a spade a spade.

For example in the T20Is against Sri Lanka, his major mistakes were to disrupt the team combination and bring back Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal and slot them right into the playing XI. I criticised that and will continue to do so.

However, lazy 'analysis' which says that he forced Babar Azam to bat slowly is (in my opinion) hogwash, because Babar was actively looking to try and get the ball away, but struggled to time it throughout the series. He struggled with the nature of the pitches and failed to adapt.

I just call it as I see it without trying to envision what the future will be like. If and when Misbah makes Hafeez take back Test retirement then we can have this discussion. For now, all I know is that it was clearly stated that players need to be playing FC cricket to be in contention for Test selection and last I checked, both Hafeez and Malik are busy in the Caribbean.

The test line up against Australia will future Yasir Shah, Azhar Ali, Shafiq, Rahat Ali. At least three if not all four of these cricketers should not be there. But you wont see Misbah make those calls. He is going to roll in to Australia with the foregone conclusion that we dont deserve to win that series.

 

[Abdullah719]

The test line up against Australia will future Yasir Shah, Azhar Ali, Shafiq, Rahat Ali. At least three if not all four of these cricketers should not be there. But you wont see Misbah make those calls. He is going to roll in to Australia with the foregone conclusion that we dont deserve to win that series.

It will take more failures from the experienced players before we realise that we need to move on, unfortunately.

 

[topspin]

The inclusions of Shehzad and Akmal started the rot because both were disastrous batting in crucial top-order slots.

But I think another mistake was to promote Sarfaraz to #4 (this is Misbah's call). Misbah made it clear that Sarfaraz needs to be batting in the middle-order where he has fared well in the past, and I think that was OK for ODIs. The ODI team had a lot of room for improvement and carrying a specialist captain is not feasible. But with T20Is, you can afford to have a player for his all-round worth to the team and Sarfaraz had led the side pretty well in the past. Putting him up the order just meant that we had a batsman with no confidence hogging a middle-order spot and coming in at a set number regardless of the match situation.

In the past, Sarfaraz was used as a 'floater' sometimes coming up the order and other times batting below the likes of Hasan. If he was to be persisted with in T20Is then this was the correct approach. He has never been a very good T20 batsman either way.

With Fakhar and Asif struggling, this was basically a complete failure of a batting order completely reliant on Babar.

As for the bowling, I don't think much has changed... but bringing back Wahab was a mistake. And Shinwari is a liability in this format as well. So I think it was mostly the selection that went wrong here rather than tactics, etc.

Selections were extremely flawed along with Sarfraz's batting position but I'm not sold on this alone. To go from whitewashing a full strength Sri Lanka team in 2017 -> to end up getting whitewashed 2 years later tells you that there is more than what meets the eye.

I genuinely think the selections made and the batting line-up chosen is only half of the story and I say that because even if we had stuck with the same side as the one we saw under Mickey, they would have still underperfomed.

The fact that our batsmen could only hit five sixes across three T20Is against a very mediocre bowling attack is what disturbs me. I appreciate these are slow wickets, however we have been playing T20 cricket in UAE for like 10 years now, which are even slower (especially the one in Abu Dhabi).

I wouldn't be concerned about the lack of sixes if we were able to restrict the Sri Lankan batsmen but what makes this excuse of sluggish surfaces more futile is the fact they ended up matching our count of maximums for the series in the first T20I alone and they subsequently went on to add ten more in the following two matches, to end up with fifteen over the three T20Is. That is three times more than what our batsmen achieved - let this sink in just for a second.

Believe me there is a lack of intent and confidence of our batsmen to impose themselves (even at home) against a mediocre bowling attack, so overall I also strongly believe that our players are being poorly coached and given the wrong strategic direction from Misbah. Believe me this will become more apparent after each series (as it was during his captaincy), assuming he can retain his job for long enough.

 

[Abdullah719]

Selections were extremely flawed along with Sarfraz's batting position but I'm not sold on this alone. To go from whitewashing a full strength Sri Lanka team in 2017 -> to end up getting whitewashed 2 years later tells you that there is more than what meets the eye.

I genuinely think the selections made and the batting line-up chosen is only half of the story and I say that because even if we had stuck with the same side as the one we saw under Mickey, they would have still underperfomed.

The fact that our batsmen could only hit five sixes across three T20Is against a very mediocre bowling attack is what disturbs me. I appreciate these are slow wickets, however we have been playing T20 cricket in UAE for like 10 years now, which are even slower (especially the one in Abu Dhabi).

I wouldn't be concerned about the lack of sixes if we were able to restrict the Sri Lankan batsmen but what makes this excuse of sluggish surfaces more futile is the fact they ended up matching our count of maximums for the series in the first T20I alone and they subsequently went on to add ten more in the following two matches, to end up with fifteen over the three T20Is. That is three times more than what our batsmen achieved - let this sink in just for a second.

Believe me there is a lack of intent and confidence of our batsmen to impose themselves (even at home) against a mediocre bowling attack, so overall I also strongly believe that our players are being poorly coached and given the wrong strategic direction from Misbah. Believe me this will become more apparent after each series (as it was during his captaincy), assuming he can retain his job for long enough.

For what it's worth, the SL side we faced in 2017 was pretty weak, containing players like Munaweera, Priyanjan, Sanjaya (who?), Udawatte, Pathirana...

Six-hitting hasn't been Pakistan's strongest point over the past few years. Malik has been the one to hit the most sixes and he wasn't there, next is Fakhar who looks like a tailender nowadays, then Asif who ALSO looks like a tailender and couldn't even middle full-tosses. Iftikhar looked like the only one capable of hitting a few big ones and he barely batted.

Pakistan's strong point has generally been overall team performances with many players chipping in and relying on 160ish totals, and then a good enough display with the ball with the likes of Shaheen and Amir leading the way. With the inclusions of Shehzad and Akmal, I think they took the team down with them. Even someone like Hussain Talat would often chip is with a useful score rather than just making ducks over and over again.

 

[Slog]

Misbah couldn't spell creativity or bravery if the only thing left to do was to add the 'y' at the end of the incomplete word

 

[topspin]

Misbah couldn't spell creativity or bravery if the only thing left to do was to add the 'y' at the end of the incomplete word

Lol

The only word he could spell ending in "y" is Misery.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Won't stop here. I can see Hafeez in some kind of captaincy role.

 

[Bewal Express]

Bring back Sohail Tanvir, Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Irfan while your at it as well.

Please don't give him ideas

 

[kingusama92]

The T20 WC squad is almost guaranteed to include Misbah's top 15 best friends. It's just a matter of time.

 

[Sherlock]

Win the ODI series are nothing is said. Lose the T20 series and the man melts like 'The Wicked Witch of The West'.

 

[Slog]

Win the ODI series are nothing is said. Lose the T20 series and the man melts like 'The Wicked Witch of The West'.

Winning the ODI series wasn’t a big achievement and the t20 series should have been a whitewash too

Sri Lanka’s best side is a poor side and this is Sri Lanka’s second eleven

 

[sweep_shot]

Misbah is showing signs of inexperience.

Instead of trying hungry and capable youngsters, he is going back to past failures.

 

[waseem84]

I was always a fan of misbah the player but as coach he is being negative in bringing the old TTF

 

[Maher96]

Make sense why you lose 3-0 to Sri Lanka haha what morons

 

[moghul]

Give him time, Imran Nazir will back at the top of the order.

Its nearly 2020 and we still have Pakistani coaches/selector giving jobs to mates.

And, Imran Farhat too, why not.

 

[volcyz]

Deja vu

 

[hussain.r97]

I miss Mickey Arthur.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol. Just wait and see the squad for Australia tests. Theres a realistic chance that PAK will end up at #8 in tests. A 2-0 whitewash in Australia and WI beatinf Afghanistan would put WI 1 point ahead of Pakistan.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Freaking hell. I'm probably gonna lose interest in Pakistan cricket completely if Misbah stays longer than a year.

 

[Shazzam]

Freaking hell. I'm probably gonna lose interest in Pakistan cricket completely if Misbah stays longer than a year.

I feel like I have already lost interest.

 

[Majid Khan]

One wonders who will be Pakistan’s opening pair in the T20 World Cup now that Fakhar has lost confidence and premier opener Ahmed Shezad not in good form, my guess is Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal, with Hafeez at one down to play the Viv Richards role. Or wait, could Imran Farhat make a comeback?

 

[Shafi]

Yes and it cost him his job. So if Misbah wants to do that, it should cost him his job as well. Hopefully we dont need another 2-3 years for that that to happen.

Misbah has big connection in high places and he is a desi coach plus if Misbah takes Faisal Iqbal as batting coach he will be fully safe because Miandad lobbies will defend Misbah to stay.

 

[Shafi]

11 posts in this thread and not a single person could argue with reason or even read OP.

THis series exposed Pakistan. People cry about seniors, but look why we lost the t20 series. Even the third t20, no umar or shzad played and we still lost.

He is right, if the youngsters dont know how to plauy spin, than bring in the oldies back.

If you are so fond of old players why you watch International matches. You should watch masters league where veteran players like Mudassar najar, Iqbal Qasim, Ijaz Faqih, Sarfraz Nawaz like classic players participate. The matches are calm and very friendly.

 

[AAli98]

Bring back Salim Malik for all I care just get rid of pathetic Sarfraz!!

 

[Pete Rose]

Misbah has big connection in high places and he is a desi coach plus if Misbah takes Faisal Iqbal as batting coach he will be fully safe because Miandad lobbies will defend Misbah to stay.

There are other lobbies as well: you have Younis Khan who is basically Faisal Iqbal but with better figures - he will make alliances with guys like Yousuf and Akhtar in order to pressure for a job in the PCs set up. It was amusing to see YK snubbed by UBL when he ran a visible vocal campaign to prevent them from disbanding their cricket team.

 

[ahmedzee]

Misbah was known to keep oldies in the team. He didn’t test any youngster. Once he left as captain that’s when mickey tried new guns before champions trophy. I understand we should give Misbah Time. But come on. Don’t bring tried and tested players.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Didnt Mickey Arther keep both of these in the team for last 2-3 years?

forced to... he is the one who kept Hafeez out for a long time, takes him only when he is allowed to bowl... shortened his test career too...

 

[Danyaalr01]

Rename this thread: Misbah-ul-Haq hints at comeback for himself and his pals to international cricket.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Freaking hell. I'm probably gonna lose interest in Pakistan cricket completely if Misbah stays longer than a year.

I have already lost interest.

 

[Sherlock]

So the ODI series win isn't a big deal, but the T20 series is more important...

Come on.

 

[Shazzam]

So the ODI series win isn't a big deal, but the T20 series is more important...

Come on.

Are you satisfied by our whitewash?

 

[Barragan]

Two guys that love to pound spinners, are going to be selected against a team known for their fast bowling and in their backyard.

Wonder what will happen......

 

[BalluBalleBaaz]

How can PCB bring back these players? Surely someone younger would make more sense.

Mickey will be missed very soon.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I don't blame him because their replacements have been woeful and I'm not sure there's obvious names out there who can help the team.

At the same time, Hafeez and Malik track record in ODI in Australia is awful. Hafeez has never played a T20 game there and Malik has played one where he made 3 runs on 11 balls. The world cup is in Australia and unfortunately, there won't be spinners for Malik to bully around.

Pakistan need to keep in mind WC is in Australia, not in Asian conditions. Spin won't matter nearly as much and Malik will get destroyed by fast bowlers. I think with Hafeez ability to play pacers, there's a case to play him but it should definitely be a little lower in the order to use him primarily as a slogger.

I'd give this lineup a shot:

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Hafeez
Asif
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hasnain
Shaheen

 

[barah_admi]

I don't blame him because their replacements have been woeful and I'm not sure there's obvious names out there who can help the team.

At the same time, Hafeez and Malik track record in ODI in Australia is awful. Hafeez has never played a T20 game there and Malik has played one where he made 3 runs on 11 balls. The world cup is in Australia and unfortunately, there won't be spinners for Malik to bully around.

Pakistan need to keep in mind WC is in Australia, not in Asian conditions. Spin won't matter nearly as much and Malik will get destroyed by fast bowlers. I think with Hafeez ability to play pacers, there's a case to play him but it should definitely be a little lower in the order to use him primarily as a slogger.

I'd give this lineup a shot:

Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Hafeez
Asif
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Hasnain
Shaheen

Which replacements? They have to be given a chance over a long enough period of time to make a difference. Why would anyone in their right mind go back t oHafeez if the aim, as Misbah has stated, is to build a team for the future.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Which replacements? They have to be given a chance over a long enough period of time to make a difference. Why would anyone in their right mind go back t oHafeez if the aim, as Misbah has stated, is to build a team for the future.

There's no obvious replacements for them, that's the issue. You can say a person needs to be given games but their domestic track records to be good too. Guys like Abid Ali/Haris track record in T20 is pretty poor. We've already seen how Shehzad/Akmal can perform.

One obvious option I can see for them to try is Sohail Akhtar. And of course Sharjeel, when he is ready.

Even though Pakistan ability to play spin got exposed in this match, they should still focus on guys that are able to play pace much better because that's what they'll see in Australia.

 

[Saj]

Is this due to the bench strength being poor or a reluctance to try new players?

 

[trickyone]

Is this due to the bench strength being poor or a reluctance to try new players?

Status Quo in Pakistan Cricket team as well, they are scared what if new players perform better than seniors player. Pakistani Awam has been told that we don't have any talents waiting in domestic cricket.

 

[Rayyman]

I'd rather they give Umar Akmal a couple of more matches at #4 than return to Hafeez/Malik.

 

[barah_admi]

There's no obvious replacements for them, that's the issue. You can say a person needs to be given games but their domestic track records to be good too. Guys like Abid Ali/Haris track record in T20 is pretty poor. We've already seen how Shehzad/Akmal can perform.

One obvious option I can see for them to try is Sohail Akhtar. And of course Sharjeel, when he is ready.

Even though Pakistan ability to play spin got exposed in this match, they should still focus on guys that are able to play pace much better because that's what they'll see in Australia.

You've said it again lol

YOu can't go back to Hafeez and Malik if you make a blankets statement that their replacements shouldn't be given a chance anyway. Is that logical to you?

Also the negativity around the younger players is mind boggling because Pakistan can field 15 players, many of whom have performed, without even resorting to Hafeez or Malik. For LOs in general, look how easy it is -

Imam
Fakhar
Abid
Babar
Haris
Talat
Yamin
Rizwan
Shadab
Gohar
Umer Khan
Shaheen
Hasnain
Amir
Ali

No mention of Malik/Hafeez/Ahmed/Akmal...or any match fixers.

Most of these guys have done well in some form of T20 or LO cricket.

 

[Nasty Naz]

You've said it again lol

YOu can't go back to Hafeez and Malik if you make a blankets statement that their replacements shouldn't be given a chance anyway. Is that logical to you?

Also the negativity around the younger players is mind boggling because Pakistan can field 15 players, many of whom have performed, without even resorting to Hafeez or Malik. For LOs in general, look how easy it is -

Imam
Fakhar
Abid
Babar
Haris
Talat
Yamin
Rizwan
Shadab
Gohar
Umer Khan
Shaheen
Hasnain
Amir
Ali

No mention of Malik/Hafeez/Ahmed/Akmal...or any match fixers.

Most of these guys have done well in some form of T20 or LO cricket.

When did I say they shouldn't be given a chance? I said they should if their T20 track record is good as well. Otherwise, its just a complete waste of time.

Imam T20 career SR - 118.55
Abid - 102.75 SR (like come on, how does anyone play this slow in T20's?)
Haris - 107.38 (I think there's a chance he could play better on faster wickets in Australia/NZ/England/SA but that is extremely slow).
Rizwan - 114.29

I do think Talat should be back on this team. But most of these guys you've provided have played historically slow in T20 career and they lack the ability to hit sixes. Pakistan will need to focus on heavy hitters if they want any ability to post or chase big totals otherwise, you better pray the bowlers can get the opposition out for 140-150 consistently.

 

[Greenstorm]

I have already lost interest.

Same here. It is useless waste of time following this team. Misbah is destroying our cricket.