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Mohammad Hafeez favourite to become new Test captain [Reports]

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MightyObnoxious

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This was just on 3'O'Clock Bulletin.
$ names are in contention.
Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmad and Mohammad Hafeez. Board Officials don't want Sarfaraz Ahmad as captain. Hafeez is preffered choice as he already has captaincy experience and is seen as someone who can lead well and keep the team united. Final consultation will take place between Inzi and Misbah but Inzi prefers Hafeez too.
 
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How a person ineligible to be selected in Test squad in WI can come in squad as test captain. Are we repeating Azhar ODI episode
 
Can someone tell me why Azhar can't be the next test captain ? I agree Saf cannot be captain for all 3 formats, would be too much for him. We need to move on from characters like Hafeez which are sitting wicket in tough conditions, Azhar is the boy one who can score in all conditions.
 
Doubt it is true, but it is something that you can expect the Revolutionary to suggest.
 
They'll never let a lad from Karachi be the captain of all three formats........ Our biggest province at work again I am afraid :(
 
Not sure whether Safraz has the right temperament to be Test Captain. Who are the alternatives?

Azhar Ali is doing fine opening the batting and I think he should just concentrate on that. Besides his captaincy in ODI's left much to be desired.

Who else is a legitimate candidate?

Hafeez has a decent cricketing brain and can be a good leader but his batting failures (especially overseas) will lose him respect amongst his players so there are are huge risks associated with his appointment.
 
If PCB is reluctant to burden Sarfraz with all three formats, then the only realistic alternatives are:

Hafeez
Azhar
Shafiq

Let's not waste time on left-field options like Yasir, Amir, Wahab etc. because it is not going to happen. Between the three - with a heavy heart - I would go for Hafeez. He is tactically much better than Azhar, and as long as he bats in the middle-order, he shouldn't be a problem. Plus he gives the 5th bowling option as well. The downside is that he is past retirement age already and will most likely insist on opening.

Azhar is entering his prime as a batsman and is a proven failure as captain. No need of making the same mistake again. As far as Shafiq is concerned, his captaincy is untested, but he can't even handle his own batting let alone lead the team. I really hope this isn't true though. Keeping all factors in mind, Sarfraz is the only viable option.
 
Hafeez doesn't even merit a place in the test team, on what basis can he be made captain? Already done with the revolutionary but making Hafeez captain will be his worst decision yet.

Sarfraz deserves the captaincy and I hope he is made captain.
 
Mamoon said:
If PCB is reluctant to burden Sarfraz with all three formats, then the only realistic alternatives are:

Hafeez
Azhar
Shafiq

Let's not waste time on left-field options like Yasir, Amir, Wahab etc. because it is not going to happen. Between the three - with a heavy heart - I would go for Hafeez. He is tactically much better than Azhar, and as long as he bats in the middle-order, he shouldn't be a problem. Plus he gives the 5th bowling option as well. The downside is that he is past retirement age already and will most likely insist on opening.

Azhar is entering his prime as a batsman and is a proven failure as captain. No need of making the same mistake again. As far as Shafiq is concerned, his captaincy is untested, but he can't even handle his own batting let alone lead the team. I really hope this isn't true though. Keeping all factors in mind, Sarfraz is the only viable option.
Click to expand...


Didn't the revolutionary say he wants a captain for all 3 formats?
 
Hasan123 said:
Didn't the revolutionary say he wants a captain for all 3 formats?
Click to expand...

He did, but Revolutionary has a habit of contradicting his words with his actions. Still think there is nothing to this, but just evaluating the alternatives.
 
Mamoon said:
He did, but Revolutionary has a habit of contradicting his words with his actions. Still think there is nothing to this, but just evaluating the alternatives.
Click to expand...


Hafeez doesn't merit a place in the test team, so I don't see how he can be made captain.
 
Mamoon said:
Doubt it is true, but it is something that you can expect the Revolutionary to suggest.
Click to expand...

Let's just forget that he has been Sarfaraz's most vocal supporter and the main reason he is leading the ODI team and not Azhar.
 
MoHa is a good choice for Captaincy, on leadership skills. But, he is close to 40 now - by the time PAK reaches UK in 2018, he'll be over 40 & then there are tough away series coming, therefore I don't think it's a good choice. If he was 5 years younger, definitely was a better pick than Sarfraz. Among the other 2 names - Azhar is even more defensive than Misbah & he is more clueless than MoYo or Afridi, while Asad doesn't deserve a starting spot anymore, let alone Captaincy.

I think, PCB'll eventually appoint Amir as Captain, but hope that's before he is 35. PAK team won't flourish under batsman/WK Captains, most of whom are extremely defensive, often clueless with bowling & fielding when it's needed to attack. Even I thought, Yasir could have been a very good choice, until he mishandled wife's pill.

If it's left on Inzi only, he'll make MoHa Captain & Azhar deputy - then when he is eventually sacked, new CS will be stuck with a 40+ Captain & 35+ deputy & he'll be forced to carry them because of a generation hollow in leadership.
 
Bilal7 said:
Let's just forget that he has been Sarfaraz's most vocal supporter and the main reason he is leading the ODI team and not Azhar.
Click to expand...

What I meant was that this would be something in line with the poor decisions that the Revolutionary has made since becoming the Chief Selector. It will be right up there (or down there) with recalling Azhar for the Champions Trophy and persisting with Junaid. Not to mention, reselecting Shan Masood and continuously ignoring Yamin.
 
Hasan123 said:
Hafeez doesn't merit a place in the test team, so I don't see how he can be made captain.
Click to expand...

It is not new in Pakistan cricket. Malik was made Test captain and Azhar the ODI captain when none of them merited a place in the respective teams. Most countries select their best XI first and then pick a captain from within that XI. In Pakistan, the captain is selected first and then forced into the playing XI.
 
Syed1 said:
My first thought as well
Click to expand...

The sad part is that people who understand cricket and can clearly see that Sarfraz is the best option now will try to rationalize this entire farce just in the attempts to not come across as having victim mentality when in reality we all know why this is being considered in the first place. Having Sarfraz captain he will make sure that Lahori dross like the Akmals / Butts etc will not be a part of the XI and this scares the masters to such a point that they would play with Pakistan and it's future success just so they can deny a lad from Karachi this privilege

I for one am not going to hold back and call it as how I see it. If Sarfraz doesn't become captain then I am 100 % it has nothing to do with burden or workload and everything to do with selective bias and regional discrimination based on ethnicity.
 
Mamoon said:
It is not new in Pakistan cricket. Malik was made Test captain and Azhar the ODI captain when none of them merited a place in the respective teams. Most countries select their best XI first and then pick a captain from within that XI. In Pakistan, the captain is selected first and then forced into the playing XI.
Click to expand...


True but I think Sarfraz has been made VC because he will take over after Misbah.
 
dont think he will be captain, but i called it some time back that i fully expect him to make a comeback due to seniority tag and bowling. He can hide in the middle order and be a good FTB but would would rather spend that time on someone new
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
The sad part is that people who understand cricket and can clearly see that Sarfraz is the best option now will try to rationalize this entire farce just in the attempts to not come across as having victim mentality when in reality we all know why this is being considered in the first place. Having Sarfraz captain he will make sure that Lahori dross like the Akmals / Butts etc will not be a part of the XI and this scares the masters to such a point that they would play with Pakistan and it's future success just so they can deny a lad from Karachi this privilege

I for one am not going to hold back and call it as how I see it. If Sarfraz doesn't become captain then I am 100 % it has nothing to do with burden or workload and everything to do with selective bias and regional discrimination based on ethnicity.
Click to expand...

I am not from Karachi but this is a possibility. I have seen regionalism affected Pak cricket for a long time. Also as in the reports it said "Board k aik eham official" so wont be surprised this decision will be made on non cricketing grounds. Karachi walay are not dhoodh k dhulay huay too but the stronger lobby will win.
 
pakistanigoneaussie said:
dont think he will be captain, but i called it some time back that i fully expect him to make a comeback due to seniority tag and bowling. He can hide in the middle order and be a good FTB but would would rather spend that time on someone new
Click to expand...

His comeback his 100% set in stone. Only question is if he will return as a player or captain.
 
big_gamer007 said:
What are the chances of Salman butt coming back and becoming the captain?
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Considering the fact that Azhar has replaced him as the Australian GOAT and the ongoing spot-fixing scandal, there is almost no chance of Butt staging a comeback.
 
Mamoon said:
His comeback his 100% set in stone. Only question is if he will return as a player or captain.
Click to expand...

And I think that depends on the Misbah now. inzi as per the reports is now in favour of Hafeez. Misbah is friends with both Hafeez and Azhar. Who does he recommend now? :P
 
The self destruct, it's not optional in Pakistan, its mandatory.
 
Sarfraz is not a good choice as a captain so I agree with not making him captain in any format.
 
Mamoon said:
Considering the fact that Azhar has replaced him as the Australian GOAT and the ongoing spot-fixing scandal, there is almost no chance of Butt staging a comeback.
Click to expand...


Ahh ok if Sarfaraz doesn't become the captain then I guess Hafeez is the next strongest candidate considering reports which said Azhar did not want it were true..
 
Mamoon said:
What I meant was that this would be something in line with the poor decisions that the Revolutionary has made since becoming the Chief Selector. It will be right up there (or down there) with recalling Azhar for the Champions Trophy and persisting with Junaid. Not to mention, reselecting Shan Masood and continuously ignoring Yamin.
Click to expand...

Except that in all those cases, the players selected were the best that Pakistan has. Aamir Yamin has had a few good performances and that does not lend him an immediate place in the XI, especially when his bowling is as terrible as ever. The all-rounder Inzamam did select is far more balanced.
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
I am not from Karachi but this is a possibility. I have seen regionalism affected Pak cricket for a long time. Also as in the reports it said "Board k aik eham official" so wont be surprised this decision will be made on non cricketing grounds. Karachi walay are not dhoodh k dhulay huay too but the stronger lobby will win.
Click to expand...

Nobody is doodh ka Dhula huwa and I am not claiming us (karachites) to be one, but as a professional body you make decisions that are in the best interest of the country. Sarfraz is the next logical and cricketing choice for Pakistan to appoint as the test captain and if he's snubbed from the opportunity in the name of experience and seniority then I am most certain it will be due to non cricketing reasons as Lahore lobby cannot digest all the glory and accolades to be given to a lad from Karachi (if they find success in future).

I am not a blind supporter or Anti Punjab Lobby or anything, heck if this conversation was regarding the T20 captaincy I wouldn't even batted an eye since in that format Sarfraz is clearly someone we can make do without but in Test and ODIs ....... NO WAY MAN !!!
 
Mamoon said:
It is not new in Pakistan cricket. Malik was made Test captain and Azhar the ODI captain when none of them merited a place in the respective teams. Most countries select their best XI first and then pick a captain from within that XI. In Pakistan, the captain is selected first and then forced into the playing XI.
Click to expand...

Easy to say in hindsight. Both of them not only merited a place in the team but were actually one of the better performers when they were made captain of their respective teams. A good example of your statement would be Misbah himself, who did not deserve a recall solely on merit but thank God for Ijaz Butt's eureka moment.
 
Bilal7 said:
Except that in all those cases, the players selected were the best that Pakistan has. Aamir Yamin has had a few good performances and that does not lend him an immediate place in the XI, especially when his bowling is as terrible as ever. The all-rounder Inzamam did select is far more balanced.
Click to expand...

Certainly, Azhar and Junaid are the best Pakistan have.
 
ahmedwaqas92 said:
Nobody is doodh ka Dhula huwa and I am not claiming us (karachites) to be one, but as a professional body you make decisions that are in the best interest of the country. Sarfraz is the next logical and cricketing choice for Pakistan to appoint as the test captain and if he's snubbed from the opportunity in the name of experience and seniority then I am most certain it will be due to non cricketing reasons as Lahore lobby cannot digest all the glory and accolades to be given to a lad from Karachi (if they find success in future).

I am not a blind supporter or Anti Punjab Lobby or anything, heck if this conversation was regarding the T20 captaincy I wouldn't even batted an eye since in that format Sarfraz is clearly someone we can make do without but in Test and ODIs ....... NO WAY MAN !!!
Click to expand...

Yep Sarfraz should be an obvious choice.
Considering their jahalat may be they didnt like how Sarfraz was running with Abbas and saying chal chal chal 2 hain 2 hain. May be it was too 'loud' for them. Aisay to jahil log hai yahan.
Should have been the captain after 2015 wc but then again we wasted 2 years.
 
Bilal7 said:
Easy to say in hindsight. Both of them not only merited a place in the team but were actually one of the better performers when they were made captain of their respective teams. A good example of your statement would be Misbah himself, who did not deserve a recall solely on merit but thank God for Ijaz Butt's eureka moment.
Click to expand...

Malik was one of Pakistan's MVPs in Limited Overs cricket at that time, but he was an average performer in Test cricket and did not deserve to be captain when his own long-term future was in doubt. Azhar was a gamble that unfortunately did not pay off. He tried his best to adjust to the demands of ODI but it wasn't meant to be. Mistakes however, do happen, but the fact that he has been recalled for the Champions Trophy shows that we haven't learned anything from the past two years.
 
Would be a major injustice to Sarfraz.

Its not a very reliable source so I won't worry too much about it yet.
 
So a guy who can't make it in test team based on merit coming back as a captain. R.I.P Pakistan cricket
 
Azhar resigned from Test vice captaincy so I don't think he has any aspirations for Test captaincy anymore. I'd rather Fawad be brought in and made captain rather than Hafeez.
 
Markhor said:
Would be a major injustice to Sarfraz.

Its not a very reliable source so I won't worry too much about it yet.
Click to expand...

Well the Azhar and Akmal selection for CT reports were coming from unreliable sources at first before Inzi the revolutionary put his stamp of approval on it.

As they say, if there is smoke there is fire.


Given Inzi's atrocious track record I wouldn't put it past him to make this garbage decision.
 
I don't agree with this decision. Mohammad Hafeez is susceptible against the new ball. If he were to play in the middle-order, Pakistan would again be carrying a sleuth of right-handers. Younger players like: Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam are better options in the middle-order. The "Professor" does add a bonus as an all-rounder, but again, a younger option would be better. Somebody like Aamer Yamin or Imad Wasim. Selectors might hint to experience, but Shafiq and Alam are players who have been around the highest levels of the game and have a plethora of experience. Overall, there is no reason to include Hafeez other than "nepotism."
 
Too old, not good enough, better to invest in younger players, not good enough to get into the test side anymore. Sami Aslam and Azhar are better openers, and we have better talent for middle order than him, even though his bowling would be useful (though i hope we have a bigger range of bowling part time options when yk and misbah are replaced).

Should have been given a shot at ODI captaincy though. Misbah didn't do well as an ODI captain after early success and it was worth taking a shot with someone else, especially since hafeez seemed proficient at T20 captaincy. Maybe it would make any difference, and Misbah is a good test captain, but was worth a shot.
 
Sarfraz is the choice but i personally think it will be too much for him all 3 formats captaincy add to that his batting and wicketkeeping role . he isnt a calm personality also . so i think he should lead 2 formats and test
i think Azhar or Shafiq should be made captain they have been regular in this team and are experienced
Hafeez i doubt would do good but not bad choice also . if he and azhar open batting
 
LOLLLL at the typical desi mindset of "bbut but but it is a saazish against Karachi!!!". :)))

Unbelievable.
 
Mamoon said:
It is not new in Pakistan cricket. Malik was made Test captain and Azhar the ODI captain when none of them merited a place in the respective teams. Most countries select their best XI first and then pick a captain from within that XI. In Pakistan, the captain is selected first and then forced into the playing XI.
Click to expand...

Malik was good enough in Tests in asian conditions.

I remember he had a good 2006 with centuries against SL and good, consistent scores against India. Plus Woolmer always liked all-rounders so Malik was likely to be in the playing XI regardless of being captain or not.

Azhar I agree did not merit a spot.
 
Meh. Would take him over Sarfraz who's only able to shout behind the stumps.
 
SAID IT!

this awful hack will always find a way back to the side just because he is a SR (who is awful)

Anyway, not fussed, not too fussed what happens with Pakistan cricket, is dead and buried now, we are pretty much on equivalent to Bangladesh
 
All other test nations including Australia, England, SA, NZL, WI, BD, SL, And India are going for much much younger test captains for a reason and we are thinking about bringing back a 37 (+2) year old , who has been dropped from test team for sometime for lack of performance , in test team, that too as Captain. God mercy.

If we don't have any Roots, Smith or Kohli, keep Azhar as captain.
 
I know I said that Hafeez was the only way to get a fifth bowler into the team but man, I never expected he'd be linked with the captaincy :))
 
Ridiculous. Hafeez should retire. There are so many passengers in this team by the time they are forced to retire it would be too late to salvage Pak cricket.
 
Big Mac said:
I know I said that Hafeez was the only way to get a fifth bowler into the team but man, I never expected he'd be linked with the captaincy :))
Click to expand...

5th bowler ? After banned twice , he just bowls straight length balls and can bowl some overs in LOC but don't expect him to be of any use in test cricket. Doesn't deserve a test place to begin with let alone as captain.
 
Jabo said:
SAID IT!

this awful hack will always find a way back to the side just because he is a SR (who is awful)

Anyway, not fussed, not too fussed what happens with Pakistan cricket, is dead and buried now, we are pretty much on equivalent to Bangladesh
Click to expand...

Even Bangladesh plays more aggressive cricket than Pak oldies XI.
 
MightyObnoxious said:
This was just on 3'O'Clock Bulletin.
$ names are in contention.
Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmad and Mohammad Hafeez. Board Officials don't want Sarfaraz Ahmad as captain. Hafeez is preffered choice as he already has captaincy experience and is seen as someone who can lead well and keep the team united. Final consultation will take place between Inzi and Misbah but Inzi prefers Hafeez too.
Click to expand...

Seriously???? Is it because of Sarfraz's English? and Hafeez can speak it fluently?
 
Goodbye to Test cricket if Sarfraz is not made the captain. There's no hope with TTFs shafiq, hafeez and defensive one dimensional player Azhar.
 
Is it me or is Hafeez sometimes really supported by the media,

I remember Hafeez had a similar rumour come up as a candidate for the ODI captaincy as well before Sarfraz got it
 
Classic PCB thinking we need a "senior" to guide us through this transition phase post Misbah and YK even if that Senior is past his best and no longer deserves a place in the team. He has age and games under his belt thats all that matters.
 
Mamoon said:
If PCB is reluctant to burden Sarfraz with all three formats, then the only realistic alternatives are:

Hafeez
Azhar
Shafiq

Let's not waste time on left-field options like Yasir, Amir, Wahab etc. because it is not going to happen. Between the three - with a heavy heart - I would go for Hafeez. He is tactically much better than Azhar, and as long as he bats in the middle-order, he shouldn't be a problem. Plus he gives the 5th bowling option as well. The downside is that he is past retirement age already and will most likely insist on opening.

Azhar is entering his prime as a batsman and is a proven failure as captain. No need of making the same mistake again. As far as Shafiq is concerned, his captaincy is untested, but he can't even handle his own batting let alone lead the team. I really hope this isn't true though. Keeping all factors in mind, Sarfraz is the only viable option.
Click to expand...

Agreed with everything you've said. If Hafeez is captain then it has to be either at number 3 (pushing Babar to 4) or number 6 as an all-rounder. It's a left-field decision but also the only alternative to Sarfraz. Azhar as captain would be a massive blunder. He doesn't seem to command the respect of his peers and not point in burdening your best batsman.

The board seems reluctant to appoint Sarfraz but if that was the case then they should have selected Hafeez for this tour. I would have expected him to score a few runs and his off-spin would have been handy too
 
if the news is true... then good from the board and management to have judged Sarfraz is not the right choice for a test captaincy... TEST is in different class than the LOIs where you can get away with screaming and shouting... The all best LOI matchwinner and captain Mr. DHONI has failed in tests many times especially abroad... Azhar despite his ODI captaincy where he was forced to take it and was establishing himself as an ODI batsman and also clearing the pak opening problems was really tough and it would be on any player.. I feel Azhar is more deserving than Sarfraz for test captaincy which I have uttered from the beginning and still stand by it...

Now the case with hafeez is , quite inevitable for his return as an allrounder/5th bowler in the side post MIS|YOU...I also have a feeling that MICKEY is planing to use HAFEEZ effectively as he himself will not leave the team voluntarily + MICKEY's love for players who can bowl a bit as batsman/ bat a bit as a bowler. So he will continue to play in the middle order as a no.4 in ODIs and in tests... I wanted Azhar to become the test captain as Hafeez will be a stop gap solution...if they want to give it to hafeez then they could have easily given him all three formats from the beginning post CWC'15 a mistake in the past..and now for giving him as a stop gap they could have easily honoured MYK giving the captaincy....
 
This is more masala news coming out of pakistani media.... i dont believe it 100%..... lies lies and more lies
 
ads101 said:
Too old, not good enough, better to invest in younger players, not good enough to get into the test side anymore. Sami Aslam and Azhar are better openers, and we have better talent for middle order than him, even though his bowling would be useful (though i hope we have a bigger range of bowling part time options when yk and misbah are replaced).

Should have been given a shot at ODI captaincy though. Misbah didn't do well as an ODI captain after early success and it was worth taking a shot with someone else, especially since hafeez seemed proficient at T20 captaincy. Maybe it would make any difference, and Misbah is a good test captain, but was worth a shot.
Click to expand...
But would not Mohammad Hafeez be a better option than Asad Shafiq at #6?
 
JibranAnsari said:
I will stop watching pakistan test cricket even if he makes it back to test team.
Click to expand...

If Sarfu doesn't fix his fitness & overall game, MoHa'll lead PAK in 2019 WC - we'll recall this post then. People have no idea, how highly MoHa is rated among PCB people.
 
srh said:
But would not Mohammad Hafeez be a better option than Asad Shafiq at #6?
Click to expand...

He probably would be in asia, and not outside of asia. But would be a poor investment. Asad will step up hopefully. Asad is overall the better test batsman.
 
The guy who is statistically the Second Worst Batsman Of All Time outside Asia.

And is 36 years old.

And a twice-convicted chucker.
 
Junaids said:
The guy who is statistically the Second Worst Batsman Of All Time outside Asia.

And is 36 years old.

And a twice-convicted chucker.
Click to expand...

Simply as batsmen, MoHa is rated at per, if not better than Mazid Khan by old players, who have seen or had played along with Mazid. You have to learn Urdu to listen some of the discussions in PAK cricket programs by those people on Hafeez - amazing, trust me, truly amazing - if they don't call names, you'll be convinced that you are listening about someone Garfield St Aubrun Sobers.
 
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