Mohammad Rizwan as a replacement for Asad Shafiq in the 2nd Test against South Africa?

[MenInG]

Media reports indicating that Pakistan management considering the misfiring Asad Shafiq with Mohammad Rizwan.

Wise move or same difference?

Sure Rizwan has done well but can he just be thrown into the deep end mid tour?

 

[ikky47]

Media reports indicating that Pakistan management considering the misfiring Asad Shafiq with Mohammad Rizwan.

Wise move or same difference?

Sure Rizwan has done well but can he just be thrown into the deep end mid tour?

Thanks to our revolutionary chief selector for not including another middle order batsmen in the test squad.

 

[shariqnoor]

Replacing a batsman with a semi-batsman is stupidity. Sure Asad hasn't had the best of years in Test cricket but he is still 1000 times more likely to score a century against SA than Rizwan. If you have to induct him, then it can only be in place of Sarfraz and no one else.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

What about Haris Sohail then?

That means Fakhar will also be dropped.

 

[ads101]

Nah we have to be logical. He scored a century one test ago. Asad should have been dropped way before, he's been mediocre for 3 years on the trot. Getting rid of an experienced bat, experience in SA, scored a test century just one test before, vice-captain, midway through a short test series doesn't make all that much sense. Rizwan hasn't even got a practice game in SA, with just 1 test played. Will be just set up to fail.

We can't panic after 1 loss in SA. I fully expect Asad to be dropped after this series if he doesn't do anything in SA. And if he does, then wrong decision to drop him.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Nah we have to be logical. He scored a century one test ago. Asad should have been dropped way before, he's been mediocre for 3 years on the trot. Getting rid of an experienced bat, experience in SA, scored a test century just one test before, vice-captain, midway through a short test series doesn't make all that much sense. Rizwan hasn't even got a practice game in SA, with just 1 test played. Will be just set up to fail.

We can't panic after 1 loss in SA. I fully expect Asad to be dropped after this series if he doesn't do anything in SA. And if he does, then wrong decision to drop him.

Then, how can we include Haris Sohail?

 

[umerz]

Nah we have to be logical. He scored a century one test ago. Asad should have been dropped way before, he's been mediocre for 3 years on the trot. Getting rid of an experienced bat, experience in SA, scored a test century just one test before, vice-captain, midway through a short test series doesn't make all that much sense. Rizwan hasn't even got a practice game in SA, with just 1 test played. Will be just set up to fail.

We can't panic after 1 loss in SA. I fully expect Asad to be dropped after this series if he doesn't do anything in SA. And if he does, then wrong decision to drop him.

Came here to write what you said. I agree if Asad fails in both tests just drop him for good and bring a new face after this series

 

[ads101]

Then, how can we include Haris Sohail?

Haris comes in for Fakhar. I don't think it's worth persisting with Fakhar for SA tests when we need him in good form for LOIs and the fact he also has had hardly any tests yet and we're already playing with three openers (four if you count Azhar). Even most people that want him in want him to shift to middle order to protect him, which could work, but is an experiment in what is a short tough tour and one which doesn't seem like the right time to do it in a foreign away tour.

 

[Zaz]

as every man and his dog pointed out when the squad was finalised they shouldve included at least one other mid order batter if not more

Some of the thinking behinds inzys selections baffles me Surely after a poor couple of batting series where we kept collapsing and going to south africa in bowler friendly conditions thats the firrst thing he shouldve done

 

[ataullah]

I heard Rizwan and Abbas for Asad and Hasan. Also Haris will play if fit but don't know who he'll replace.

 

[babajee]

Unfair on Rizwan, unless Haris is still unfit.

Imam
Azhar
Shan
Haris
Babar
Fakhar

 

[barah_admi]

What's up with haris and shadab fitness?

 

[Green Patriot]

Asad should be dropped for Haris and Rizwan should be brought in if the management decides to drop Sarfaraz,which IMO should not be done mid-series.Fakhar should be dropped down the order and Azhar should open.

 

[hadi123]

Haris Sohail should be considered first over Rizwan

 

[Rayyman]

Yeah drop Asad and keep Captain Chubby. SMH. I hope Sarfraz scores another pair in this game.

 

[Syed1]

Thank you Inzi for bestowing the squad with plenty of batting options to chose from. What would we ever do without the revolutionary


Don't care as long as my bhateeja is selected

 

[Hasan123]

I would rather Haris replaces Asad than Rizwan.

 

[topspin]

I don't mind this. I want to see what Rizwan can come up with and whether Sarfraz can step up his game knowing his selection would be a signal to indicate that his spot in the team as the wicket keeper batsman is in danger. He's taken his place for granted for far too long and we've all had enough. Lets settle this, so Pakistan can at least move forward. This is better than playing Shafiq and Sarfraz in the side with Rizwan on the sidelines.

In the ideal world, an in form Rizwan should be replacing him anyway with Haris coming in for Shafiq but that won't happen.

 

[Hawkeye]

Rizwan is not a good enough batsman.

Shafiq is poor, but rizwan is not an upgrade. So, do we want to see the same misery from our lineup?

 

[Hawkeye]

Thank you Inzi for bestowing the squad with plenty of batting options to chose from. What would we ever do without the revolutionary


Don't care as long as my bhateeja is selected

Shameful. You keep hating on a guy who actually scored and gave us a chance in the match, particularly the 2nd innings.

 

[Hawkeye]

Replacing a batsman with a semi-batsman is stupidity. Sure Asad hasn't had the best of years in Test cricket but he is still 1000 times more likely to score a century against SA than Rizwan. If you have to induct him, then it can only be in place of Sarfraz and no one else.

Pretty much this.

Rizwan is the same level at batting as Sarfraz.

Both very poor. Just bring in Harris in place of Shafiq.

 

[Barragan]

Rizwan is better against pace, better in the field and is in form - so I'd definitely go for it.

 

[Khwaja78]

I'd suggested something radical. Play Faheem Ashraf in the place of Asad Shafiq even if he scores 20 runs in both innings his average and strike rate would be much better and contributing the team. Faheem and Shadab both should play, Pakistan will only gain if these 2 play in the team. That is how low Shafiq is for the team. For 2 years he has been occupying 5th position just for being a senior. Scores
in 1 out of 4 innings mostly in the second but to lost causes. Pakistan is the only country where the seniors get automatic selections and the debutants suppose to do the heavy lifting. None of the seniors deserve to be in the team.

Shafiq was suppose to take the mantle from Younis and Misbah. He was suppose to play in 1st or 2nd down to support the team as required by a senior. He instead has been performing poorly even coming on 4th and 5th. Sorry to say Asad Shafiq is nothing but a parasite feeding on the team.

 

[moghul]

Kapza group in the team and selection committee will not take any chances, what if Rizwan scores a 50, Call for Sarfraz's sacking will be even louder , they won't let it happen.

 

[hitthestump]

No doubt these rumours have been leaked to give Shafiq a kick up the backside. After so many tests on the trot perhaps he has gotten complacent. Realistically though it would be borderline insane to swap him with Rizwan and expect better results.

 

[Muhammad10]

Rizwan's scintillating form cannot be ignored, as was the case with Shan Masood. He deserves a decent run in Tests and ODIs purely on merit.

 

[Greenstorm]

Play Faheem in place of Asad if Harris is unfit for the second set. Rizwan will be walking wicket in SA.

 

[Tabishbeigh]

Here is a thing , replacing Asad alone won't change the results, they might as well ask a rookie to play test cricket that won't change a thing. You can't change a player at test level , seldom improve on their FC averages while playing test .So if someone averages 35-40 one must not expect more than that from him . Besides averages after 62 test matches is enough to understand how much a player can score each time he bats .

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Haris Sohail should replace Asad Shafiq.

 

[mastersaan10]

So no one here saw what mayank Agarwal did in Australia on debut? It doesn't matter if it is your first match or 50, if you are quality then you will do good. Everyone was against Shan too but he was pulling and cutting the ball like not a single other Pakistani player. Even if rizwan fails it is better than what sarfraz has been doing, he is literally playing afridi type innings of throwing away his wicket and so is Asad.

I would play this best xl
Imam
Azhar
Shan
Harris
Babar
Fakhar
Rizwan wk
faheem/shadab/Yasir depending on pitch
Hasan/abbas
Amir
Shaheen

 

[LordEddardStark]

Wrong decision. Rizwan is worse batsman than Sarfaraz. Replacing Asad for him won't do any good to the team.

Appropriate replacement is Haris. And if he is not fit yet, Asad shouldn't be dropped for next test.

 

[Savak]

Get Fahim Ashraf in. You get an extra bowling option as well

 

[Suleiman]

Good idea. Shafiq needs to see a psychiatrist and maybe an imam as well.

 

[Pete Rose]

The only reason (and it would be the wrong one) they might be considering it is because, Rizwan can stand in the slips. Shafiq’s slip catching is still ok unlike his batting.

 

[Pete Rose]

So no one here saw what mayank Agarwal did in Australia on debut? It doesn't matter if it is your first match or 50, if you are quality then you will do good. Everyone was against Shan too but he was pulling and cutting the ball like not a single other Pakistani player. Even if rizwan fails it is better than what sarfraz has been doing, he is literally playing afridi type innings of throwing away his wicket and so is Asad.

I would play this best xl
Imam
Azhar
Shan
Harris
Babar
Fakhar
Rizwan wk
faheem/shadab/Yasir depending on pitch
Hasan/abbas
Amir
Shaheen

Haris not fit for Cape Town and most likely for the tour

 

[a_tahir]

Then they should send Saad Ali for the tour

 

[Sadozai]

ideally Haris should replace Asad but if he is unfit, testing Rizwan would be better instead of assuming his failure. if he succeed, I hope sarfraz's matter would be settled too.

 

[Karl]

Grant Flower says that Haris is still struggling with the knee. I think Rizwan will be playing.

 

[The Viper]

Rizwan has been performing well so deserves the chance. There should have been an extra batsman though. Saad Ali should have been in the squad considering he was in the last squad.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Rizwan has been performing well so deserves the chance. There should have been an extra batsman though. Saad Ali should have been in the squad considering he was in the last squad.

They wouldn't have debuted him anyway, but still in place of who if the squad remains of 16 players?

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Rizwan is in good form recently.
I fully back this decision as we don't have any other middle order batsman in the sequad.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

If Haris Sohail isn’t atleast 85 % match fit than we should not risk playing him because than his knee injury will worsen. Even if he is 85 % fit he shouldn’t be bowling a single ball.

We need to somehow preserve him for World Cup.


With news of Rizwan being considered ahead of Haris coming out, it clearly shows that Haris’s Knee is quite bad atm.



If Rizwan has overcome his technical glitches against both pace and spin than he should be picked otherwise pick Faheem Ashraf.



Won’t be surprised if Pakistan give Asad Shafique one last chance in 2nd Test.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Measured words from Grant Flower. He says he has no say in team selection but what I have extracted from his words is that If it was upto him than he would have backed Asad Shafiq one more time.


It seems like Pakistan might not be dropping Fakhar Zaman either.



May be drop Yasir and accommodate Faheem. Faheem needs to be backed especially in Tests outside Asia.

 

[KyoOne]

Measured words from Grant Flower. He says he has no say in team selection but what I have extracted from his words is that If it was upto him than he would have backed Asad Shafiq one more time.


It seems like Pakistan might not be dropping Fakhar Zaman either.



May be drop Yasir and accommodate Faheem. Faheem needs to be backed especially in Tests outside Asia.

Cape Town pitch favours spin. Last time Misbah himself admitted that playing Abdur Rahman would have helped. He, instead, selected Tanvir Ahmad, who was bowling in 110-120ks, alongside Ajmal and 2 pacers.

I hope Shafiq does play next match, he's one of the better players of spin in the squad. Rizwan should come in for an out-of-sorts Sarfraz. Yasir Shah can captain the side as a "temperory captain"

 

[aukhan]

Makes sense to drop him for Rizwan. Ideally Rizwan should replace captain zero.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Cape Town pitch favours spin. Last time Misbah himself admitted that playing Abdur Rahman would have helped. He, instead, selected Tanvir Ahmad, who was bowling in 110-120ks, alongside Ajmal and 2 pacers.

I hope Shafiq does play next match, he's one of the better players of spin in the squad. Rizwan should come in for an out-of-sorts Sarfraz. Yasir Shah can captain the side as a "temperory captain"

If wicket assists spinners than Yes Yasir should play. If Asad plays I hope he scores because he has perplexed many including Cricket Pundits but this would be his Last Test before getting dropped. I hope he scores and proves Mickey right wrt his comment that Shafiq's best years are ahead of him.


From the footage posted by PCB wrt Rizwan I can't assess whether He has improved technical side of his game. If He has than He should be picked if not than not atm.


Sarfraz will play next match and probably Last aswell. Outcome of series and his batting numbers will decide whether he will stay or resign/get dropped as a player/Captain of Test team.

 

[msb314]

Rizwan being setup to fail here.

He can only replace Sarfraz and not a middle order batsman. The right call would be to bring in Haris in place of Shafiq

 

[srh]

Media reports indicating that Pakistan management considering the misfiring Asad Shafiq with Mohammad Rizwan.

Wise move or same difference?

Sure Rizwan has done well but can he just be thrown into the deep end mid tour?

Why Inzimam did not select Saad Ali for this tour? Pakistan has no proper middle order backup batsman on this tour

 

[gazza619]

Why Inzimam did not select Saad Ali for this tour? Pakistan has no proper middle order backup batsman on this tour

I am actually thinking if it is Sarfaraz and Mickey who desperately wanted to back Asad Shafiq. May be we are blaming Inzi too much?

 

[srh]

I am actually thinking if it is Sarfaraz and Mickey who desperately wanted to back Asad Shafiq. May be we are blaming Inzi too much?

you may be right. But it is still Inzi's job to select the squad and he could have used his leverage to insist on selecting a backup middle order batsman. Now Inzi is looking worst than Sarfraz and Mickey

 

[Savak]

Faheem Ashraf needs to be included in place of a batsman, it will be a bold move, he surely cannot do worse than players getting out in single digits, he loves to cut, pull and hook which means his game is tailor made for SA conditions.

Also will provide the team management with the option of playing an extra pacer which means the team management can easily play 4 pacers meaning all pacers will be relatively fresh and will also give the option of playing Yasir.

Best possible combination

 

[indianpanacea]

Shaan
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Asad
Rizwan
Faheem
Amir
Shaheen
Abbas

 

[QalandarFan]

Honestly as long as he is dropped I would like Haris to replace him however, but as I won't complain.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Honestly as long as he is dropped I would like Haris to replace him however, but as I won't complain.

Haris probably won't play due to not being able to recover from knee injury, otherwise Haris Sohail is a sure starter.

 

[QalandarFan]

Haris probably won't play due to not being able to recover from knee injury, otherwise Haris Sohail is a sure starter.

He'll be missed then we needed him for this series why can't we fly some other middle order batsman in from Pak if he is injured...

 

[Boi]

Anyone but Shafiq.

 

[786warrior]

Replacing a batsman with a semi-batsman is stupidity. Sure Asad hasn't had the best of years in Test cricket but he is still 1000 times more likely to score a century against SA than Rizwan. If you have to induct him, then it can only be in place of Sarfraz and no one else.

Asad making 10 runs never mind a 50 or 100! What evidence have you seen of that bro??

Of course we're in a hole - ideally this Rizwan would be the wickie - he'd probably make more sense than the current incumbent who's using the gloves to protect the mainthi on his delicate hands!

Rules of Pak team survival- to consolidate your position get pally with skipper and remove your competition - check and check! If you're the skipper, make sure no viable alternative option exists in the team

 

[786warrior]

Rizwan being setup to fail here.

He can only replace Sarfraz and not a middle order batsman. The right call would be to bring in Haris in place of Shafiq

TRUE - he's walking into a minefield laid by Pak skipper and mentally weak middle order pretenders - YET he'll score more than them I reckon!

 

[Khwaja78]

I am actually thinking if it is Sarfaraz and Mickey who desperately wanted to back Asad Shafiq. May be we are blaming Inzi too much?

Apart from Faheem and Shadab, Arthur is'nt interested in backing anyone. Shafiq is playing just for being a senior and with backend support from selector and fellow seniors.
Squad is Chief selector Inzamam's domain. Did'nt he send Hafeez at the last moment to Dubai for the Australia series?

They had 6-7 days, enuff time to announce a reserve and send him. If not for 2nd test than the third.

Team management carying an injured Haris Sohail means they are resigned to the fact they don't expect any help from Chief Selector.

 

[srh]

Inzi has made horrible decisions for this tour select injured players (Abbas) or players who dont make sense (Shadab/Faheem), no middle order backup batsman (Saad Ali), drop a promising bowler after only 1 test (Mir Hamza). This is looking really bad and the blame will lie more on Inzi than Sarfraz + Mickey combined.

 

[MMHS]

It’ll be unfair for Rizwan. He is picked in the squad as 2nd WK, playing him as specialist bat would put him under extra pressure. Playing in SAF is always tougher than back home but he has built expectations by scoring lot in Asian wickets. If he is to play, Sarfraz has to get “injured”, otherwise PAK should play specialist batsman or change combination to 5-2-3.

 

[Suleiman]

It’ll be unfair for Rizwan. He is picked in the squad as 2nd WK, playing him as specialist bat would put him under extra pressure. Playing in SAF is always tougher than back home but he has built expectations by scoring lot in Asian wickets. If he is to play, Sarfraz has to get “injured”, otherwise PAK should play specialist batsman or change combination to 5-2-3.

Sarfraz to get “injured” straining his back reaching for a garlic naan to make way for Rizu.