Misbah-ul-Haq needs to be held accountable for selecting Mohammad Irfan in 2019

[Asif321]

Trust me this is just start you will see how Pakistan cricket will regress with Misbah and Waqar in dressing rooms
If even you have 5 babar Azam we will still lose

 

[Kroll]

PCB need to admit they’ve made a mistake and get rid of this clown with immediate effect.

 

[Pete Rose]

Then, do it under some policy and explain that - like age, future plan, fitness..... You can't pick Wahab and ignore Irfan after the SRL Series and National T20.

I am the one here posting many times regarding reduction of average age of the squad, but honestly can't fault the selection if they had picked Wahab and if they had made Azhar Test Captain.

Ahmed & Umar were called back - they failed and got dropped. Team got blanked by SRL reserves, Irfan performed in next domestic tournament, got called back - I don't see much fault here. Yes, if he is persisted with next series or there after, after a horrible AUS tour, I can understand.

You see, the problem is when team isn't performing and expectation is beyond the level of the team - selectors can never win. You pick Faheem here and he won't have uprooted any tree in AUS - people would have said that Misbah picks PSL performers blindly, regardless of domestics. Now, the best performer of domestics is picked (with additional attribute of height for AUS Tour) - people are still un happy.

The problem isn't selection, trust me - problem is in expectations, that on "Talent" level PAK can compete with full AUS side in AUS, be in T20 - even today, I was silently reading that 150 could make AUS struggle...... Get over that, I don't think Irfan was a poor choice - he still can give top 4 overs in T20 which will win games against mediocre sides or had AUS rested 6-7 of their starters - something I am not confident about other options left.

Inzamam made this point early in his tenure that we need to stop sending discard international players on A tours repeatedly, since we already know what we can get out of them. They end up taking the place of new players.

As for the selection dilemma here, yes wahab should also not be on this tour. There are too many domestic kings in Pakistan cricket like khurrum manzoor who do not have the talent to succeed at intensional level. It will take time but the new domestic structure will eventually weed these players out.
Ppl hate on Mickey because he favored Shadab and Faheem Ashraf. Honestly if the choice is between them and bringing back serial international failures, I will give the coach his discretion

 

[MMHS]

Irfan’s height aside, Sohail Tanvir was highest wicket taker, he is comparatively fitter and a better batsman as well along with him being experience

No bro, I know my stats - Tanvir might have bought few wickets in slog overs, but this guy bowled 20 overs at 5 economy, in a tournament where average score was close to 200 and he bowled 3 overs in power play almost every time, when in dead slow PAK wickets, ball comes to bat best to hit through the line.

No one bothers much about wickets taken in T20, if you are leaking 35+ per 4 overs....... this guy took 5 wickets and maintained an economy of around 3.5 in Power Play, when other end was going at close to 10.

 

[MMHS]

Inzamam made this point early in his tenure that we need to stop sending discard international players on A tours repeatedly, since we already know what we can get out of them. They end up taking the place of new players.

As for the selection dilemma here, yes wahab should also not be on this tour. There are too many domestic kings in Pakistan cricket like khurrum manzoor who do not have the talent to succeed at intensional level. It will take time but the new domestic structure will eventually weed these players out.
Ppl hate on Mickey because he favored Shadab and Faheem Ashraf. Honestly if the choice is between them and bringing back serial international failures, I will give the coach his discretion

I think, people are most critical (& that was his ultimate down fall) about Arthur for his shambolic selections/tactics in Test matches in UAE and his rigidity to learn from mistakes. His T20 team was performing brilliantly, won an ICC ODI event and don't think much was expected from his AUS-NZ-SAF Test tours. His biggest failure was Asia Cup, and two home Test series against SRL & NZ - these are uncompromising failures.

Misbah might be at fault, but can't justify Artrur here.

 

[Kroll]

I think, people are most critical (& that was his ultimate down fall) about Arthur for his shambolic selections/tactics in Test matches in UAE and his rigidity to learn from mistakes. His T20 team was performing brilliantly, won an ICC ODI event and don't think much was expected from his AUS-NZ-SAF Test tours. His biggest failure was Asia Cup, and two home Test series against SRL & NZ - these are uncompromising failures.

Misbah might be at fault, but can't justify Artrur here.

Arthur brought us an ICC trophy, Misbah’s just going to bring us more humiliation.

 

[Pete Rose]

I think, people are most critical (& that was his ultimate down fall) about Arthur for his shambolic selections/tactics in Test matches in UAE and his rigidity to learn from mistakes. His T20 team was performing brilliantly, won an ICC ODI event and don't think much was expected from his AUS-NZ-SAF Test tours. His biggest failure was Asia Cup, and two home Test series against SRL & NZ - these are uncompromising failures.

Misbah might be at fault, but can't justify Artrur here.

I don’t excuse his failures though. I think he should have stayed regardless of those failures. By the end of South Africa tour we were in a place to have difficult conversations about Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq’s future. With Mickey I had the hope that we can be a better team. With Misbah I expect us to forget the improvements in our odi game. At best he will help us win test matches at home playing a style of cricket that was the indian success model of the 90’s

 

[Mamoon]

Irfan’s stats in the domestic T20 cup says more about the lack of batting class than his quality bowling. You have to question the caliber of the batsmen who were failing to take him to the cleaners.

 

[MMHS]

Arthur brought us an ICC trophy, Misbah’s just going to bring us more humiliation.

They took a stand that they'll go for a local coach - and main reason is PAK's former cricketers, experts. Competence wise, Arthur is still among best coaches around, but he was caught in wrong job at wrong time. I am pretty sure, with Arthur in charge and Sarfraz on Wheels, if that T20 squad had been selected without MoHa, Malik - PAK won't have done much better against SRL (The gap was quite embarrassing to be honest) - the main reason was that the only guy capable of putting a fight with bat failed measurably. People would have sucked blood of Arthur, PCB & Wasim Khan there after .....

It's not a popular comment, I realize now - but the bitter truth is that not much left in the barrel to scratch the bottom - next few years of PAK cricket will go through this and we can only hope that few kids picked recently, will change the fortune in future with maturity. It's probably not a bad idea to make a scapegoat out of Misbah (Read local, unqualified coach), which might result in to a recall of Arthur. Individually, he helped developing skills of several players, which I don't think any local coach is capable of.

@ Pete Rose

 

[MMHS]

Irfan’s stats in the domestic T20 cup says more about the lack of batting class than his quality bowling. You have to question the caliber of the batsmen who were failing to take him to the cleaners.

Completely agreed - but, how can you prove that.

I have been trolled around here right now to say that the options are limited (scratch bottom of the barrel). That 0-3 demanded a change, and if had they gone for say Sameen or Musa (I hope, he'll prove me wrong if he gets a chance) or Amad, things won't have much different in front of a rampant Warner/Finch - and people would have lambasted Misbah for not picking "domestic performers", rather waiting for PSL.

The problem here is expectation management, not selection - hence PCB's selectors won't win much. This guy Misbah is better than the previous one, because I at least can see some logic in his selections, failure is for a different reason.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

This is the prequel to what will happen to Imran Khan Jr. in the Test series.

This can't be highlighted enough. This is only a T20 against murderous batsman like Finch in Australia. Guys like Hasaranga and rajitha who had come off a good series got smashed here. Can happen to any bowler in a T20. And as pointed out by other posters, Irfan had the numbers in domestic T20's so it's actually somewhat justifiable. There is no justification for selecting Imran in tests especially considering how he performed here last time. The Inzi-Mickey combination had its faults - selecting both Malik and hafeez for world cup, persisting with sarfaraz ahead of Rizwan in ODIs, not selecting the best two spinners for home tests etc but a lot of it was the likes of faheem, shadab , Hasan not performing to expectations /regressing . Misbah, on the other hand, is utterly incompetent/clueless. Selecting the likes of Imran and Yasir in Australia is just asking for trouble

 

[Abdullah]

Completely agreed - but, how can you prove that.

I have been trolled around here right now to say that the options are limited (scratch bottom of the barrel). That 0-3 demanded a change, and if had they gone for say Sameen or Musa (I hope, he'll prove me wrong if he gets a chance) or Amad, things won't have much different in front of a rampant Warner/Finch - and people would have lambasted Misbah for not picking "domestic performers", rather waiting for PSL.

The problem here is expectation management, not selection - hence PCB's selectors won't win much. This guy Misbah is better than the previous one, because I at least can see some logic in his selections, failure is for a different reason.

Geezer, as long as they don't bowl like they are over the hill, full tosses, no balls, no pace and leg stump half volleys, we will be happy. All in the space of 12 balls!!!

Forget the result, use yours eyes bro!! He was bowling woefully

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Completely agreed - but, how can you prove that.

I have been trolled around here right now to say that the options are limited (scratch bottom of the barrel). That 0-3 demanded a change, and if had they gone for say Sameen or Musa (I hope, he'll prove me wrong if he gets a chance) or Amad, things won't have much different in front of a rampant Warner/Finch - and people would have lambasted Misbah for not picking "domestic performers", rather waiting for PSL.

The problem here is expectation management, not selection - hence PCB's selectors won't win much. This guy Misbah is better than the previous one, because I at least can see some logic in his selections, failure is for a different reason.

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] by and large, I don't disagree with you - the team selection logic works for the most part, except 37 year old heavily unfit pace bowler.

However, there is one thing Misbah has brought back into the team which Pakistan had gotten rid of to a large extent at least in T20: Defensive Mindset.

Misbah has made Pakistan timid again - in a matter of 4 games. There is no turning back from this.

 

[MMHS]

Geezer, as long as they don't bowl like they are over the hill, full tosses, no balls, no pace and leg stump half volleys, we will be happy. All in the space of 12 balls!!!

Forget the result, use yours eyes bro!! He was bowling woefully

I know now - but, could you see that before today's game? I'll still not discard him for 2nd game, rather I'll give him all 3 games - sometimes players with such unusual physique struggle to find rhythm; once Ambrose went for 50+ in 5 overs with 12 no balls (not comparing). So, benefit of doubt should go to recent performer, nothing wrong with that - what'll be wrong is Irfan bashed here in AUS and then retained against BD to fix his damaged reputation ..... something Inzi/Arthur did for 2 years with Faheem, Asif ...

Can't fault Irfan's selection to be honest after that 0-3, particularly when they decided to rest Shaheen and the series is played in Australia.

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] by and large, I don't disagree with you - the team selection logic works for the most part, except 37 year old heavily unfit pace bowler.

However, there is one thing Misbah has brought back into the team which Pakistan had gotten rid of to a large extent at least in T20: Defensive Mindset.

Misbah has made Pakistan timid again - in a matter of 4 games. There is no turning back from this.

I beg to disagree that as well, because I watch games and I can connect dots.

You see, what was happening in past (most cases), PAK was playing T20s in UAE where 150 was a winning total with PAK spinners - all those 6 T20s won against NZ & AUS reserves last year were done playing absolute defensive cricket like chasing 140ish target in last over or defending 150 by spinners slanting dart on tailor made tracks. Same Sarfraz & Arthur was in charge against Jr. Dala's SAF and I didn't see the "aggressive" PAK - lost 2 games in single digit margin by playing absolute sh!t batting in middle overs despite brilliant starts by Babar both times.

I am well aware of Misbah's tactics, but can't blame that here - take out Starc, Cummins, Zampa, Finch, Smith & Warner - Misbah's PAK would have also dominated AUS in AUS. The issue here is that 1 year before next WC at home, Aussies have decided to start their preparation - rest is obligation, not preference/tactics.

 

[Abdullah]

I know now - but, could you see that before today's game? I'll still not discard him for 2nd game, rather I'll give him all 3 games - sometimes players with such unusual physique struggle to find rhythm; once Ambrose went for 50+ in 5 overs with 12 no balls (not comparing). So, benefit of doubt should go to recent performer, nothing wrong with that - what'll be wrong is Irfan bashed here in AUS and then retained against BD to fix his damaged reputation ..... something Inzi/Arthur did for 2 years with Faheem, Asif ...

Can't fault Irfan's selection to be honest after that 0-3, particularly when they decided to rest Shaheen and the series is played in Australia.

You only pick 37year olds if they are pulling up trees!
I would love to know how he was bowling in the nets last few days

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

I know now - but, could you see that before today's game? I'll still not discard him for 2nd game, rather I'll give him all 3 games - sometimes players with such unusual physique struggle to find rhythm; once Ambrose went for 50+ in 5 overs with 12 no balls (not comparing). So, benefit of doubt should go to recent performer, nothing wrong with that - what'll be wrong is Irfan bashed here in AUS and then retained against BD to fix his damaged reputation ..... something Inzi/Arthur did for 2 years with Faheem, Asif ...

Can't fault Irfan's selection to be honest after that 0-3, particularly when they decided to rest Shaheen and the series is played in Australia.

jeez have you seen his run up..
looks like grandpa running behind his grandkids

 

[MMHS]

You only pick 37year olds if they are pulling up trees!
I would love to know how he was bowling in the nets last few days

MUST have bowled brilliantly - that little trust you have give for a fast bowler taking almost 1,000 International wickets in 12+ years long glittering career (no, I am not talking about Irfaaan here); otherwise there is no point appointing a bowling coach - many of us here can arrange nets.

I won't blame anyone for picking a 37 years old (that too, Officially), 214 cm tall pacer for 3 T20s in AUS, who has been absolute unplayable as recent as just 3 weeks back - but PCT management must not trust the hype once beaten, that'll be unacceptable - they have to be shy this time..... something I can't say that I saw always with Inzi/Arthur in charge.

 

[Omer2002]

can you tell me ehen you have warner and finch and need 40 in 5 overs due drs...which of our bowlers would be so good

 

[Abdullah]

MUST have bowled brilliantly - that little trust you have give for a fast bowler taking almost 1,000 International wickets in 12+ years long glittering career (no, I am not talking about Irfaaan here); otherwise there is no point appointing a bowling coach - many of us here can arrange nets.

I won't blame anyone for picking a 37 years old (that too, Officially), 214 cm tall pacer for 3 T20s in AUS, who has been absolute unplayable as recent as just 3 weeks back - but PCT management must not trust the hype once beaten, that'll be unacceptable - they have to be shy this time..... something I can't say that I saw always with Inzi/Arthur in charge.

Make your mind up, if he needs rythym, T20 ain't gonna help him
If its experienced he's picked for, we have to expect he will hit the ground running and be on the money from ball 1.
I'm angry cos I thought he was totally finished a few years ago

 

[Mamoon]

Mickey summed up Irfan’s problems well. It is too easy to hit him for fours by going deep in the crease and hitting him over cover. His extra bounce but average pace are perfect for that shot.

 

[MMHS]

jeez have you seen his run up..
looks like grandpa running behind his grandkids

I definitely saw (And so did the guy knows fast bowling better than us, played a bit as well) - but that could be for a jet lag as well. A 214 CM tall pacer takes much longer than a week to recover from 8 hours long flight, even in 1st class. That's why almost every NBA team uses customized chartered aircraft ....

I'll wait for couple of games more - he could find his rhythm. Look, he didn't bowl poor, he bowled horrible - full toss, no ball, slanting on leg - something suggests that he is missing rhythm. I see lots of people slaughtering Irfan here, but I'll wait for next game before final verdict.

On policy level, yes, you can argue that Irfan shouldn't have been picked - but only because, rain didn't allow was enjoying Wahab's pace ......

 

[cricketjoshila]

After a long time i woke up early on a sunday morning to watch a Pakistan match.

Wanted to watch Musa and Hasnain.

I saw a 7 foot long log lumber down the wicket and getting smashed by Finch.

Sorry to say but this kind of selection just kills the interest in the game.

 

[MMHS]

Make your mind up, if he needs rythym, T20 ain't gonna help him
If its experienced he's picked for, we have to expect he will hit the ground running and be on the money from ball 1.
I'm angry cos I thought he was totally finished a few years ago

T20 won't help, but what will help is bowling 12-15 overs in nets on rock hard AUS tracks. He is coming from PAK wickets with soft surface - it doesn't kick back the ankle for a 7 footer. From his run-up, I felt, he was adjusting his stride during run-up, something should improve in next game.


[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] - play 7 bowlers all of whom taking ball away from right handers, these things will happen. PAK had the option to pick Rauf and Amad - opted for this attack and Aussies are not fools. You see, between the two, Warner, a lefti (& in marvelous form) was just a normal batsman, Finch was like a bull against red handkerchief .... and he took middle stick guard. Aussies know their game and their grounds/wickets.

If Mickey could summed the problem up so easily, may be he should have used a sweeper from ball one and take out the fine leg - it's easy to explain problems for a struggling team, the whole world is against them .... but Mickey didn't explain 6 pacers in UAE for Asia Cup or 3 pacers in UAE Test XI, which was even more obvious.

 

[nextover666666]

M Irfan shouldn't play international anymore and just do domestics and leagues do thank him for his services will always be remembered as the guy who ended Gautam Gambhir career

 

[Mueez]

Get rid of him now.

He’s finished long time ago.

 

[Danyaalr01]

something should improve in next game.

Next game, you really think he will play? If Misbah was smart he would move on from him and give Musa and Hasnain a chance.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Answer is simple. Misbah is continuing from where he left. Selecting Umar Akmal, Shehzad and Irfan are examples of that. You will soon see Rahat Ali in the team as well.

 

[Markhor]

We endure this cycle every time a new coach is appointed whereby they recall the failed names of the past in the misguided belief that they'll get something out of them that nobody else could, only to be disappointed.

Pakistan cricket has no institutional memory - we stubbornly insist on repeating past mistakes. Even recently you hear folks like Mohammed Yousuf and Mohsin Khan wanting Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq in ODIs, ignoring the mountain of evidence against them.

Honestly, Misbah's selections so far seem bent on sticking two fingers up at the Mickey Arthur era. In Akmal, Shehzad, Imran and Irfan, Misbah has recalled all the guys who Mickey took the most public and firm stance against.

 

[fasihulhaq94]

Irfan’s stats in the domestic T20 cup says more about the lack of batting class than his quality bowling. You have to question the caliber of the batsmen who were failing to take him to the cleaners.

quite true

 

[Extra_Cover]

I like Misbah as the person and feel the country is really in debt to him that Pakistan cricket is still relevant at world stage after the debacle in 2010 together with the crisis the country was in. Having said that Misbah is not perfect, he has made some bad decisions during his captaincy days and is now making bad decisions in his new role too.

I believe in constructive criticism rather than blind hatred so before I list out his drawbacks credit should be given to him for following decisions so far:
1. Naming Babar as captain (this was predicted but still happened in his watch)
2. Axing Sarfraz across all formats (again predicted)
3. Selection on young pacers for international tour to Australia
4. Giving chance to domestic performers (Ifti, Khushdil and Abid)

The above decisions were good but the worrying part is that list of bad decisions outweighs the good decisions in here. In his short lived tenure the list is as follows:
1. Appointing Azhar captain in tests
2. Selection of Irfan and Wahab in limited overs games
3. Dropping Shadab and Faheem from international test tour
4. Persistence with Fakhar and Asif (clearly they both are not getting much runs so decisions will need to be made by Misbah here)
5. Selection of Imran Khan Jr. in tests (How did this happen?)
6. Selection of Akmal and Shahzad out of the blue in T20s (it killed to whatever momentum the team had)
7. Selection of players in wrong format; Haris in T20, Fakhar in T20, Ifti in tests.

My biggest worry at the moment stands that we will find Malik and Hafeez playing their farewell matches in T20 WC next year. If that happens then PCB should not call itself a professional body which runs on merit as that would be disgraceful and slap to domestic players. This is culture in this setup, a young player in domestic sees an experienced player take his spot in international matches who is inferior to him. So when this young player gets more senior and plays international matches he does the same to his juniors. This is a cycle that goes on and on and Misbah is a product of this cycle. With Wasim Khan I thought we can break this cycle and introduce merit to our cricket but I guess we just have too many players from this cycle attached to our overall setup to facilitate a change. Unfortunate but its a reality.

 

[Saj]

Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce.

If you can't put the ball in the right areas, pace and bounce means nothing.

 

[IAJ]

Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce.

If you can't put the ball in the right areas, pace and bounce means nothing.

And Australians love pace and boucne so Irfan is just perfect for them.

 

[IAJ]

Misbah can't keep players and then drop them next series and think everything is alright. He made big blunders by picking Akmal and Shehzad and now Irfan. Even if Irfan bowls well the next two matches this selection is controversial.

You just can't give so much Power to one single man in Pakistan, they get one top job they think they can do whatever they want and this guy has 3 posts now so imagine what he must be feeling.

 

[Rana]

Until the PCB doesn’t ensure the well being of domestic and International cricketers till then these leaches will not retire and continue to cause issues for selection and youngsters to develop.

Pakistan needs to change its senior culture and ban journalists who Hold the selectors to ransom.

 

[Kroll]

Get rid of him now.

He’s finished long time ago.

You mean Misbah, can’t blame Irfan for this as we all knew he can’t play internationals anymore.

 

[Hasan123]

I thought he was doing well in the local T20 comps?

Doesn’t look like he is up to the job in international cricket as this age.

 

[Kroll]

Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce.

If you can't put the ball in the right areas, pace and bounce means nothing.

Shouldn’t have been picked in the first place but thanks to Misbah the saviour he was.

 

[MenInG]

Mickey Arthur on Irfan:


"Very rusty, Mohammad Irfan. He didn't play much during my time and that was because we didn't think he was consistent enough in his areas and we saw that. He was both sides of the wicket, bowled a no-ball. Irfan gives you pace and bounce but is it sustainable over a long period of time? No. He's going to have to bowl very well to maintain his place in the side because he gives runs away in the field. If you're trying to establish a high performance culture, a fitness and disciplined culture, he doesn't give you that. He gives you x-factor, but is it sustainable? Not sure. The lengths he bowls are very good to domestic cricketers but international cricketers take toll on that.That's a dilemma Misbah and Waqar will face going forward"

"If I was coaching a batsman, I'd say you go deep in the crease for Irfan and look to hit him square because of the extra bounce. That played a bit with Irfan, we saw him miss his lengths. That makes Amir's job harder. Bowling in partnerships, we didn't see that at all"

 

[Saj]

Mickey Arthur on Irfan:


"Very rusty, Mohammad Irfan. He didn't play much during my time and that was because we didn't think he was consistent enough in his areas and we saw that. He was both sides of the wicket, bowled a no-ball. Irfan gives you pace and bounce but is it sustainable over a long period of time? No. He's going to have to bowl very well to maintain his place in the side because he gives runs away in the field. If you're trying to establish a high performance culture, a fitness and disciplined culture, he doesn't give you that. He gives you x-factor, but is it sustainable? Not sure. The lengths he bowls are very good to domestic cricketers but international cricketers take toll on that.That's a dilemma Misbah and Waqar will face going forward"

"If I was coaching a batsman, I'd say you go deep in the crease for Irfan and look to hit him square because of the extra bounce. That played a bit with Irfan, we saw him miss his lengths. That makes Amir's job harder. Bowling in partnerships, we didn't see that at all"

Mickey spot on regarding Irfan.

I still recall the tv footage of Mickey so annoyed at Irfan when playing in England.

 

[IMMY69]

I think the chief selector has to have a word with the team coach.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Misbah in recent presser:
"Usman has experience of playing in AUS so he will be useful"
"Musa is our surprise package for the Aussies"
"My message is clear: we want youngsters to get a chance, we believe in them and they are our future."

No youngster selected in 1st T20I. In fact, Hasnain was dropped for Irfan.

How many times will people fall for his words?
Fearless, aggressive cricket isn't defined by playing old-experienced hands (read failures) after every few years yet that's exactly what Misbah has done (as was feared and predicted). The selections of Iftikhar, Bhatti, Shehzad, Umar, Irfan and Asif (who has no INTL innings of note yet) prove just that.

I have no idea why people think Irfan's selection is totally justified. He's unfit, inconsistent, pathetic fielder and doesn't have the attitude of a fast bowler. Domestic performances (despite multiple international failures) count for nothing.

Also, where was Imad? The one guy who owned Finch in so many T20I matches didn't get a bowl in the 1st few overs. Why? What's the team management doing if everything has to be spoon-fed to them by media experts and analysts?

I called this when Misbah was hired.
The dark days of #MisbahEra are back. We're gonna be pathetic in LOIs for a while.
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

 

[sjahmed23]

Selecting Wahab and Irfan for t20s is a travesty

 

[Titan24]

Selecting Wahab and Irfan for t20s is a travesty

Hassan and Shaheen’s unavailability caused this. If not them than who should have been selected? A decent bowler with reasonable experience? As two newbies with not even a of FC experience are enough otherwise people would have also questioned so someone with atleast some FC experience could have only come in and to be honest I cant think of many names.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Hassan and Shaheen’s unavailability caused this. If not them than who should have been selected? A decent bowler with reasonable experience? As two newbies with not even a of FC experience are enough otherwise people would have also questioned so someone with atleast some FC experience could have only come in and to be honest I cant think of many names.

Hasan shouldn't even be near the team. He should be dropped to domestic for at least a year and told to perform there. He has been very poor for almost 2 years now. It's amazing how he still has a free pass into the team.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Misbah in recent presser:
"Musa is our surprise package for the Aussies"
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]

Surprise package for what? Sitting on the bench. Not many surprises he can pull from there.

 

[Titan24]

Hasan shouldn't even be near the team. He should be dropped to domestic for at least a year and told to perform there. He has been very poor for almost 2 years now. It's amazing how he still has a free pass into the team.

My point is only these 4 are the difference in Mickey’s T20 squad and the current one. Once these 4 werent in the squad they obviously were gonna be replaced by someone to complete the squad.

 

[coy0607]

It’s not just Irfan. Wahab didn’t get a chance to bowl today, but I don’t think he would’ve faired much better. He bowls well once every 5 matches

And we have Imran Khan jr coming in for the tests to continue the tamasha

Some truly awful selections

 

[Usman Chadda]

Completely agreed - but, how can you prove that.

I have been trolled around here right now to say that the options are limited (scratch bottom of the barrel). That 0-3 demanded a change, and if had they gone for say Sameen or Musa (I hope, he'll prove me wrong if he gets a chance) or Amad, things won't have much different in front of a rampant Warner/Finch - and people would have lambasted Misbah for not picking "domestic performers", rather waiting for PSL.

The problem here is expectation management, not selection - hence PCB's selectors won't win much. This guy Misbah is better than the previous one, because I at least can see some logic in his selections, failure is for a different reason.

Stop parrotting the same rubbish everywhere. Irfan was dropped because he was not fit enough, and nothing has changed. No amount of XYZ performances in domestic cricket can justify his selection here. He was unfit for international cricket when he was at his peak, forget about now when he's 37 years old. Mohammad Sami was uprooting stumps in PSL 2016, recalled for the T20WC 2016 and got mauled senseless thereafter. Pretty much everyone knew Sami was done and we were wasting a spot, but Waqar persisted and we know the end result.

The point is, you judge TTFs based on improvements in their game. You can't say just because Irfan did well in Pakistan or West Indies in either domestic or franchise cricket, he will end up doing well at international level. I'm sure you have seen enough cricket to realize international cricket is more about the mental aspect of the game than entirely skill. There is a reason some people don't want to see Fawad Alam or Khurram Manzoor or Sohail Tanvir in the team anymore, even though they are performing well.

Also, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Irfan are not the only bowlers playing cricket in Pakistan. We found Hasan Ali because Mickey gave him a chance, despite Misbah and Afridi constantly reminding us we had no one talented coming through. We have an even better and faster lot coming up now with Musa, Hasnain and Naseem. Give them a chance, as what's the worst that could happen when your 'X-factor' joke is getting carted around for 20+ runs in the initial overs.

 

[Danyaalr01]

It’s not just Irfan. Wahab didn’t get a chance to bowl today, but I don’t think he would’ve faired much better. He bowls well once every 5 matches

And we have Imran Khan jr coming in for the tests to continue the tamasha

Some truly awful selections

Senior. If junior was selected the ICC would probably take away Pakistan's test status for picking such a bowler in a test match. Senior is a pathetic pick though.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I think the chief selector has to have a word with the team coach.

Has a word with himself?

 

[Rana]

For a long time now Pakistani fast bowlers and spinners have looked impotent with the white ball.

Either the batsmen of other teams have evolved so much or we have regressed terribly. Currently the bowlers are too scared to pitch the ball up hence we never really see much movement.

 

[Titan24]

Has a word with himself?

I think he was highlighting the irony.

 

[ads101]

Misbah-ul-Haq has made the same mistakes Mickey Arthur did at the start of his reign!

Mickey Arthur wanted both Irfan and Umar to both play at the start. He quickly dropped them after realising their fitness wasn't up to scratch. Both were brought back after being ousted from the team for a while. He also chose to play Shehzad and only midway through the CT finally dropped him.

Misbah has done the exact same thing, brought back Irfan and Umar, and given Shehzad a go.

I can excuse Mickey down to lack of experience with Pakistan side at that point. But I'm very confused why Misbah readily repeated the same mistakes, he's played alongside all these players are really should know. Umar I can excuse, Shehzad i disagree but understand a bit, but Irfan just doesn't make any sense.

I also think Arthur may have given those three a go because best to see the previous international experience players and see if there's anything to work with before trying out the new guys.

 

[Energy]

Got away with it today, big time! Irfan's selection bias has been exposed. Misbah will play simpleton now and give excuses that his height will be an advantage on these pitches.

Even Hasnain, Wahab would have got tonked all around the park make no mistake about it. But selecting unfit and over-aged players is a selection crime.

 

[Savak]

Iran's height was only effective when he was operating at 140-145-148 km/hr. He becomes easier to negotiate when he starts bowling at 130-136 km/hr. His selection is pointless if he does not have pace anymore

 

[MMHS]

Stop parrotting the same rubbish everywhere. Irfan was dropped because he was not fit enough, and nothing has changed. No amount of XYZ performances in domestic cricket can justify his selection here. He was unfit for international cricket when he was at his peak, forget about now when he's 37 years old. Mohammad Sami was uprooting stumps in PSL 2016, recalled for the T20WC 2016 and got mauled senseless thereafter. Pretty much everyone knew Sami was done and we were wasting a spot, but Waqar persisted and we know the end result.

The point is, you judge TTFs based on improvements in their game. You can't say just because Irfan did well in Pakistan or West Indies in either domestic or franchise cricket, he will end up doing well at international level. I'm sure you have seen enough cricket to realize international cricket is more about the mental aspect of the game than entirely skill. There is a reason some people don't want to see Fawad Alam or Khurram Manzoor or Sohail Tanvir in the team anymore, even though they are performing well.

Also, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Irfan are not the only bowlers playing cricket in Pakistan. We found Hasan Ali because Mickey gave him a chance, despite Misbah and Afridi constantly reminding us we had no one talented coming through. We have an even better and faster lot coming up now with Musa, Hasnain and Naseem. Give them a chance, as what's the worst that could happen when your 'X-factor' joke is getting carted around for 20+ runs in the initial overs.

He was never unfit for T20 - otherwise he won't have been picked for CPL; get your facts right. He was dropped for his fitness issues when Arthur was new in PAK and tried to establish a fitness regime. Since then, the "accepted standard" has gone quite a bit down with Captain and prime all-rounder ... and the last fielding display against SRL (in both formats), doesn't give much of a high standard either. Irfan is perfectly fit for 4 overs - should they pick an over aged player or not, that could be debated. This was in AUS and they opted to rest Shaheen - Irfan is a decent alternative, and performing.

 

[topspin]

Just watched the highlights and the number of times I saw him ball under 125km/h could not give a clearer indication of how incompetent Misbah and Waqar Younis really are.

 

[topspin]

He was never unfit for T20 - otherwise he won't have been picked for CPL; get your facts right. He was dropped for his fitness issues when Arthur was new in PAK and tried to establish a fitness regime. Since then, the "accepted standard" has gone quite a bit down with Captain and prime all-rounder ... and the last fielding display against SRL (in both formats), doesn't give much of a high standard either. Irfan is perfectly fit for 4 overs - should they pick an over aged player or not, that could be debated. This was in AUS and they opted to rest Shaheen - Irfan is a decent alternative, and performing.

Genuine question, would Irfan make Bangladesh's T20I team on merit?

 

[MMHS]

Genuine question, would Irfan make Bangladesh's T20I team on merit?

That's not probably a right standard to set - but, he'll definitely make that SRL team which won 3-0 in PAK with plenty to spare, so I guess you have got a clue about the bottom of the barrel. It's not about Irfan only and it's not about what Arthur did - he dropped Umar & Iftekhar as well, both made a come back ... and MoHa, Shehzad will comeback again. Irfan is lambasted here because your (plural) expectation was unrealistic and you are in your delusion still - let Hasnain or Musa play against a rampant Finch/Warner first.

 

[Azrim_91]

I don't understand why people are so surprised. This is very typical Misbah. One step forward but 2 steps back. For every great decision he used to make even as a player/captain he'd make 2 absurd and pathetic choices. Mickey and Inzimam would take less risks and chances meaning we'd be stuck in plateau but at least we would not be going backwards. Misbah is a fraud. Simple as.

 

[Titan24]

That's not probably a right standard to set - but, he'll definitely make that SRL team which won 3-0 in PAK with plenty to spare, so I guess you have got a clue about the bottom of the barrel. It's not about Irfan only and it's not about what Arthur did - he dropped Umar & Iftekhar as well, both made a come back ... and MoHa, Shehzad will comeback again. Irfan is lambasted here because your (plural) expectation was unrealistic and you are in your delusion still - let Hasnain or Musa play against a rampant Finch/Warner first.

Irrespective of what Finch and Warner did or what they can do, I think we can all agree Irfan’s lengths were off. Maybe pressure of coming back in the team but at 37 you dont get much of a honeymoon period. Musa, Hansian, Shaheen, Naseem will be sticked with irrespective of 1 or 2 poor series.

 

[Azrim_91]

Also:
I really wish Mickey was around with a better chief selector/ or if Mickey was given authority to pick his players and had more involvement in the domestic scene. PCB would never allow for this because they'd never give an outsider so much power. The core issue with our corrupt country.

 

[UP]

Shame on Misbah for picking this mediocre of a cricketer. Always has that a loser body language.

Rahat Ali takes the cake though of having a joke of a body language.

 

[MMHS]

Irrespective of what Finch and Warner did or what they can do, I think we can all agree Irfan’s lengths were off. Maybe pressure of coming back in the team but at 37 you dont get much of a honeymoon period. Musa, Hansian, Shaheen, Naseem will be sticked with irrespective of 1 or 2 poor series.

He needs a proper exit, so that there is no question about 2020 WC - otherwise, there was always a chance of calling him back just before WC, considering his height & WC in AUS.

I still think, he is struggling for rhythm and if played all 3 games, he'll come good with time.

 

[topspin]

That's not probably a right standard to set - but, he'll definitely make that SRL team which won 3-0 in PAK with plenty to spare, so I guess you have got a clue about the bottom of the barrel. It's not about Irfan only and it's not about what Arthur did - he dropped Umar & Iftekhar as well, both made a come back ... and MoHa, Shehzad will comeback again. Irfan is lambasted here because your (plural) expectation was unrealistic and you are in your delusion still - let Hasnain or Musa play against a rampant Finch/Warner first.

You didn't answer the question, so I'll ask again would Irfan make Bangladesh's T20I team?

I don't know where you rate your side in the shortest format in comparison to this Pakistan team and the depleted SL team that whitewashed them. So for me it is pertinent to know whether Irfan does or not, since you are so adamant that he makes Pakistan's T20I team on merit.

 

[CadPakFan]

Finch ended Irfans career in one over.

 

[MMHS]

You didn't answer the question, so I'll ask again would Irfan make Bangladesh's T20I team?

I don't know where you rate your side in the shortest format in comparison to this Pakistan team and the depleted SL team that whitewashed them. So for me it is pertinent to know whether Irfan does or not, since you are so adamant that he makes Pakistan's T20I team on merit.

I do think he'll make BD team, and few other teams as well. I won't say he makes it on merit, but PAK doesn't select squad on future plan, neither test back-up players even in T20s - he is definitely one of those you can try in AUS for sure. I would say - much better pick than Imran Khan Sn in Test.

 

[topspin]

That's not probably a right standard to set - but, he'll definitely make that SRL team which won 3-0 in PAK with plenty to spare, so I guess you have got a clue about the bottom of the barrel. It's not about Irfan only and it's not about what Arthur did - he dropped Umar & Iftekhar as well, both made a come back ... and MoHa, Shehzad will comeback again. Irfan is lambasted here because your (plural) expectation was unrealistic and you are in your delusion still - let Hasnain or Musa play against a rampant Finch/Warner first.

No, I'm in no delusion because I have always said this team isn't even close to being a bonafide number 1 ranked T20I side. I took great pleasure in because there are at least five better batting line-ups out there. As for the bowling, I think Pakistan's is at the bottom end of the top four.

So to suggest Irfan is good enough to make Pakistan's T20I side is just absurd analysis.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce. Pace and bounce.

If you can't put the ball in the right areas, pace and bounce means nothing.

Are you going to bounce out the aussies? Really?

 

[topspin]

I do think he'll make BD team, and few other teams as well. I won't say he makes it on merit, but PAK doesn't select squad on future plan, neither test back-up players even in T20s - he is definitely one of those you can try in AUS for sure. I would say - much better pick than Imran Khan Sn in Test.

Okay I disagree, I don't think Irfan at 37 is good enough to play for Bangladesh's T20I team. For me he has regressed to Nepal level.

I think it's an insult towards Pakistan, Bangladesh and that depleted SL team to suggest that he would make all the first teams of all these sides.

 

[Syed1]

This is just the start.... this pathetic insaan will take us to number 8-9 in the rankings in all formats.

 

[Suleiman]

Don’t know how his cult members / fans will continue to defend him.

Beghairti ki bhi hud hoti hai.

Even people who had a neutral stance on Misbah in terms of being useful now realize that he is absolute trash in this position and wasn’t born to lead or head any organization.

I’m personally tired of all this and haven’t watched a game since his appointment and awful selections, nor do I regret it as the results speak for themselves.

Living through the 2012 - 2015 era with the same garbage players and Misbah at the helm was already enough. We saw the lowest of lows in limited overs cricket.

After that we saw some progress, but now this man is dead set to take us back to the era of Shehzad opening with Irfan, Tanvir and Anwar Ali as opening bowlers while guys like Shaheen will eventually be moved out to become dood walas.

This guy is traumatized against young players and/or has a fetish for older men.

 

[Saj]

Are you going to bounce out the aussies? Really?

Obviously not, but you can make things tougher by landing the ballbin good areas which Irfan just didn't do.

 

[Shazzam]

These days I can skip a game while knowing the results just by looking at the selection. Thats how predictable we are now. This coaching staff does not give me confidence one bit. The only plus is Misbah fans seeing reality.

 

[The Viper]

It was a pathetic selection to rely on someone who does not even bowl fast or have any clever variations. His short balls were embarrassing and a piece of cake for Finch to obliterate.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Mickey Arthur on Irfan:


"Very rusty, Mohammad Irfan. He didn't play much during my time and that was because we didn't think he was consistent enough in his areas and we saw that. He was both sides of the wicket, bowled a no-ball. Irfan gives you pace and bounce but is it sustainable over a long period of time? No. He's going to have to bowl very well to maintain his place in the side because he gives runs away in the field. If you're trying to establish a high performance culture, a fitness and disciplined culture, he doesn't give you that. He gives you x-factor, but is it sustainable? Not sure. The lengths he bowls are very good to domestic cricketers but international cricketers take toll on that.That's a dilemma Misbah and Waqar will face going forward"

"If I was coaching a batsman, I'd say you go deep in the crease for Irfan and look to hit him square because of the extra bounce. That played a bit with Irfan, we saw him miss his lengths. That makes Amir's job harder. Bowling in partnerships, we didn't see that at all"

The X-factor seems to be either getting you a couple of wickets upfront OR losing the game in the first 3 overs only for the rain to save you.

 

[Rayyman]

How is haris rauf any worse ??
Cricket isnt even worth the time these days.

Ridiculous how Haris Rauf wasn't selected and Mohammad Irfan was.

 

[Kroll]

These days I can skip a game while knowing the results just by looking at the selection. Thats how predictable we are now. This coaching staff does not give me confidence one bit. The only plus is Misbah fans seeing reality.

Don't be so sure about that. Misbah will do his sweet talk and these same fans will for it again.

 

[Saj]

The X-factor seems to be either getting you a couple of wickets upfront OR losing the game in the first 3 overs only for the rain to save you.

Yes, with no consistency at all from him.

Add to this that he's a total liability in the field and with the bat.