Mohammad Hafeez: The only Pakistani in ICC top 5 rankings

[Hawkeye]

Yep. You heard it right.

The man who played a key role in winning the Champions Trophy for us. The batsman who actually scored in New Zealand. The only Pakistani in Top 5 rankings.

By no means Hafeez is perfect, but he's to Pakistan what Shakib is to Bangladesh. Extreme utility player, very handy with both bat and ball. An off spinner, one which we badly need.

Unlike other Pakistani batsmen in the team (like Sarfraz), he actually likes pace bowling.

His batting revolves around stroke play, timing the ball. Which makes him a dynamic batsman who can both hit and consolidate. Yes, he struggles against swing like all our batsmen do.

But he does what others cannot - score off pace bowling. Only Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan and (when ball's in zone) Fakhar Zaman can do this.

Flat, batting-friendly, pacy wickets like the ones in Champions Trophy is what we'll get in World Cup 2019.

What a great job we've done by discarding him right before World Cup 2019. We need players who are flat track bullies and dominate on such pitches for the World Cup.

Hafeez, Sharjeel, Fakhar, Babar are the types who will succeed.

Sarfraz, Malik, other spin and minnow bashers will not.

By all means, discard him after the WC.

 

[Zakaz]

We definitely need some more experienced players in the team for the world cup, when team suffers through high pressure situations (like batting collapse), thats when experience comes in handy. New players might have lot of talent but due to lack of experience, they struggle during pressure situations. I think Dhoni finds his place in Indian XI due to experience alone, his batting skills have deteriorated but has great cricketing mind that can pick wickets at crucial moments (shakib al hasans wicket in asia cup) and handle pressure moments. So in my opinion we need hafeez back.

 

[Abdullah719]

You are advocating for Hafeez's selection on the basis of other batsmen being minnow-bashers

 

[The Viper]

Unless he plays at number 6 or 7, he doesn’t really have much of a use. When he wants to he can be a clean striker of the ball but I am sure he would not be willing to move down the order.

 

[Hawkeye]

You are advocating for Hafeez's selection on the basis of other batsmen being minnow-bashers

No. I'm advocating because he's a better batsman than them, and more suitable to World Cup pitches + type of bowling we'll face.

No dead slow low pitches there.

And it's not just batting, his bowling will be an advantage. A massive utility player.

 

[Hawkeye]

Unless he plays at number 6 or 7, he doesn’t really have much of a use. When he wants to he can be a clean striker of the ball but I am sure he would not be willing to move down the order.

Lol.

When people like Sarfraz are batting at 4, how come a person who is a better batsman and can pace his innings should play at tailender / only hitter position?

He should not open unless we're not able to find a good opener to partner Fakhar. Babar is 3, so 4 or 5 are fine for him.

He helped give us a brilliant total in CT final when batting at 5.

 

[the_outsider]

Hafeez definitely makes a place for himself in the XI before someone like Asif Ali does.

That #6 position is being wasted on Asif Ali, to be frank.

 

[Something]

Hafeez definitely makes a place for himself in the XI before someone like Asif Ali does.

That #6 position is being wasted on Asif Ali, to be frank.

This is true. As much as I'd hate Hafeez to come back into the team. People like Asif Ali being selected over him is just plain silly.

 

[Hawkeye]

Despite not getting a chance to play as many matches, has shown he still is an excellent utility player. Should take his services till world cup 2019.

 

[hadi123]

When he's able to bowl, he is not a bad option. But he can't keep on resorting to chucking.