New Zealand vs Pakistan | 2nd T20I | Auckland | Jan 25, 2018 | Pre-Match Thread

[Sean143]

Will Pakistan be able to comeback after another shoddy display? or will the trend prevail?

 

[UN talkz]

Hope they win by hook or crook
Just win... Nothing else

 

[Snatch]

Got a feeling NZ might get up in this next match.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Nothing changes 8-0 is on the cards.

 

[Abdullah]

Hafeez n shezzy in I guess

 

[UN talkz]

Sarf will stick with same team..
Wont see any changes

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Sarf will stick with same team..
Wont see any changes

And Mickey

 

[Shafi]

Both Hafeez and Shehzad are better than Umar Amin and Imam or Babar

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Both Hafeez and Shehzad are better than Umar Amin and Imam or Babar

players who are not in the 11 always look to be better players compare to the players playing in the 11...

 

[Rayyman]

Shaz and MoHa in for Amn and Nw

 

[Hamstead_joy]

Anothe bouncy wicket waiting for us to hand loser kiwis the T20 series. Should play the 5th odi team.

Shehzad and Hafeez are the reason we are in this rut, if Hafeez is protesting for his pathetic bunch he should not play, Shehzad definitely should not play. Bring Yamin in. Coach needs to sit and work with Hasan, Harris and Umar Amin, and see who is giving him problems.

Winning is now secondary, coach needs to get Pakistani players to play their brand of cricket and just be fearless. Nawaz, Fahim, Yamin and Shadab are the key.

 

[MMHS]

Another one sided game is coming I feel. Arthur probably has deliberately dropped MoHa to make a point, otherwise he should be in starting XI (that actually tells more about Ul Haq's squad than MoHa's credit).

I would have rested Hasan (but, they have no back-up pacer and Hasan probably should make it simply as batsman). Nawaz out, Yamin in and may be one of FZ/Amin out Ahmed in (Ul Haq's wish was exactly this - you don't need to play 20 years of International cricket to know that FZ/Amin won't last 3 T20s in Kiwi land - he picked Imam as Azhar's back up and now Ahmed for Amin's back up) - but I guess both deserves one more shot.

My XI will be -

FZ, Babar, Amin
Hari, Yamin, Shadab, Fahim
Hasan, Amir
*Sarfraz+, Raees

Sarfraz's recent batting form tells me that he is playing better against pace than spin - hence either No. 1-2-3 or 9-10-Jack .... I took the safer option. It'll preserve his energy as well while keeping and leading the charges.

However, Nawaz scored 7 & gave 14 in only over he bowled - that's net negative 7; but I guess friendship is thicker than this, he might not be dropped - in that case, I think Amin has to go.


At any circumstances - PAK should bowl first if Sarfraz wins the toss. That'll keep the game active for us fans, at least till 23rd-25th over from start.

 

[babajee]

Another one sided game is coming I feel. Arthur probably has deliberately dropped MoHa to make a point, otherwise he should be in starting XI (that actually tells more about Ul Haq's squad than MoHa's credit).

I would have rested Hasan (but, they have no back-up pacer and Hasan probably should make it simply as batsman). Nawaz out, Yamin in and may be one of FZ/Amin out Ahmed in (Ul Haq's wish was exactly this - you don't need to play 20 years of International cricket to know that FZ/Amin won't last 3 T20s in Kiwi land - he picked Imam as Azhar's back up and now Ahmed for Amin's back up) - but I guess both deserves one more shot.

My XI will be -

FZ, Babar, Amin
Hari, Yamin, Shadab, Fahim
Hasan, Amir
*Sarfraz+, Raees

Sarfraz's recent batting form tells me that he is playing better against pace than spin - hence either No. 1-2-3 or 9-10-Jack .... I took the safer option. It'll preserve his energy as well while keeping and leading the charges.

However, Nawaz scored 7 & gave 14 in only over he bowled - that's net negative 7; but I guess friendship is thicker than this, he might not be dropped - in that case, I think Amin has to go.


At any circumstances - PAK should bowl first if Sarfraz wins the toss. That'll keep the game active for us fans, at least till 23rd-25th over from start.

Don’t you think Hafeez is our best batsman?

 

[shokz1408]

7-0...we forgot what it feels like to win, the morale is at an all time low.

 

[MMHS]

Don’t you think Hafeez is our best batsman?

No, but he has experience of 20 years, which helps him to manage numbers. I don't look much at stats, because it tells what you want to paint on wall, not what you need to put in the concrete mixture. For example take this series -

These days, ODI games has gone to 300+ era - even associates batting first would post around 225-250 against better sides. Gone are the days, when you try a little careless humpty, you might be shot out for 134 in 42'2 - just about 10-15 years back, BD's main target was to play out 50 overs, because that was tough. These days, without score board pressure, if you are cunning enough - you can easily bat selfishly and post numbers for pankha (fan) base to shout for you, while your team can found themselves over 50 under par.

MoHa has done exactly same in this series - twice PAK batted first and he took his comfort to score 60 (71), 81 (80) while his team posted at least 35 under par. Thrice PAK chased and his scores were 1 (9), 0 (4), 6 (20) - this is absolute manipulation of stats and this guy is a Professor in doing that. This has been his career story actually - manipulation, well supported by PCB & his Captains. Even when he was posting Sobers like performance with bat & chucking in UAE, his outside Asia stats were like 25/70 - that too hugely boosted by his lifetime achievement - a mega bonanza series against Robert Mughabe's ZIM.

Guy is intelligent and extremely cunning - instead of indulging in the rat race of Captaincy, he kept his Captain (s), coach (s) comfortable and enjoyed the megastar status in the team for almost a decade - only player regular starter for 3 formats, bats in top 3 for all 3 format, bowls full quota, drops at abundance at 1st slip or point, assured Cat A central contract ..... this won't have been possible had his Captain (s) were threatened.

Unfortunately for him, this time, this guy Arthur called the bluff, otherwise long may it lived and MoHa was destined for 2023, possibly as Captain (still can happen - if Arthur gets sacked).

 

[DRsohail]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] do u see Micky Arhur kicking this guy out now,or he himself be sacked.

 

[Ahson8]

Fakhar
Amin
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Yamin
Fahim
Shadab
Hasan
Amir
Rumman

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] do u see Micky Arhur kicking this guy out now,or he himself be sacked.

Don't know - if I were a betting guy, I would have bet for MoHa. There are several coyotes in PAK, waiting for their chance to mutilate Arthur's corps.

 

[Syed1]

Another phainti incoming.

 

[Abdullah719]

Don't know - if I were a betting guy, I would have bet for MoHa. There are several coyotes in PAK, waiting for their chance to mutilate Arthur's corps.

The media has already started the crusade against Arthur...

 

[Syed1]

Need only one batsman to stand up and rip apart the Kiwi attack. Bowlers like Rance are gully mohallah level and we gave him 3 wickets. Put the Kiwis under pressure and they will wilt.

 

[htariq25]

Hafeez is our best batsman. He will solve all our batting issues. Back him to get the highest t20 score in the next game. 200* coming boys.....

 

[MMHS]

The media has already started the crusade against Arthur...

Guy has his own fault as well - too stubborn to implement own philosophy. He should have learned after 15 months with PAK team that his bowlers' pick for SRL Test series was foolish to say the least. And, going with same combination (including Abbas) for Dubai was a combination of arrogance and stupidity.

For NZ tour, I don't think much could have been done - I don't see any combination of 16 players that could have made ODI series better than ODI 3-2 loss or T20 series 2-1 loss. But yes, there are enough players still available to avoid this bankruptcy.

 

[Rayyman]

Need only one batsman to stand up and rip apart the Kiwi attack. Bowlers like Rance are gully mohallah level and we gave him 3 wickets. Put the Kiwis under pressure and they will wilt.

Have a feeling it will be Shehzad tbh.

 

[Abdullah719]

Guy has his own fault as well - too stubborn to implement own philosophy. He should have learned after 15 months with PAK team that his bowlers' pick for SRL Test series was foolish to say the least. And, going with same combination (including Abbas) for Dubai was a combination of arrogance and stupidity.

For NZ tour, I don't think much could have been done - I don't see any combination of 16 players that could have made ODI series better than ODI 3-2 loss or T20 series 2-1 loss. But yes, there are enough players still available to avoid this bankruptcy.

I agree.

But the line of attack from the media is, predictably, pathetic.

Common theories:

"Mickey Arthur accused Pakistan of fixing in 2007 and Pakistan appointed someone as coach who abused us!"
"Mickey Arthur had issues with senior players every time and once again he is marginalising them!"
"Mickey Arthur has destroyed Pakistan cricket after the team won the Champions Trophy!"
"Pakistan team members are unhappy with Mickey Arthur!"
"Mickey Arthur is forcing youngsters into difficult situations (up the order)!"

These are just some of the statements that people in the media are coming up with. It's extremely annoying because rarely do people actually talk about the legitimate problems with the team and with his methods. There is plenty of room for constructive discussion and criticism.

 

[Kroll]

Need only one batsman to stand up and rip apart the Kiwi attack. Bowlers like Rance are gully mohallah level and we gave him 3 wickets. Put the Kiwis under pressure and they will wilt.

Problem is our team is playing worse than gully mohallah level and we do like to turn bowlers like Rance into the new Malcolm Marshall.

 

[MMHS]

I agree.

But the line of attack from the media is, predictably, pathetic.

Common theories:

"Mickey Arthur accused Pakistan of fixing in 2007 and Pakistan appointed someone as coach who abused us!"
"Mickey Arthur had issues with senior players every time and once again he is marginalising them!"
"Mickey Arthur has destroyed Pakistan cricket after the team won the Champions Trophy!"
"Pakistan team members are unhappy with Mickey Arthur!"
"Mickey Arthur is forcing youngsters into difficult situations (up the order)!"

These are just some of the statements that people in the media are coming up with. It's extremely annoying because rarely do people actually talk about the legitimate problems with the team and with his methods. There is plenty of room for constructive discussion and criticism.

These are easily manageable, if PCB wishes. Just call back few ring leaders from NZ and sent replacements - most of these will be silenced. These are paid media, trying to repay - otherwise you would have seen criticism on areas of concern (there are many actually) - top order batting, new ball skills, Sarf's fitness, Amir's inability to penetrate, batsmen's alarming incapability against anything short at even 135KM, novice like batting show against Kiwi spinners .......

Most of these media jokers are tools - don't have the basic understanding of cricket. They are basically cheer leading on given lead (s).

 

[Markhor]

Fakhar
Amin
Babar
Haris
Sarfraz
Yamin
Fahim
Shadab
Hasan
Amir
Rumman

Would go for this - but with Haris at 3 and Babar at 4.

Don't play the pseudo all-rounder at 3 again or bring back Shehzad.

 

[MenInG]

In the midst of one of the all-time great New Zealand form streaks, all-rounder Colin Munro says he and his teammates will simply keep on keeping on in Thursday's second Twenty20 clash against Pakistan.

Having won a record 13 completed matches on the trot since December, few can envisage anything other than a clear Kiwi victory on Thursday in Auckland.

Aided in part by Munro's unbeaten 49 off 43 balls, the Black Caps won Monday's first T20 match against Pakistan by a comfortable seven wickets.

Yet the in-form big-hitter insisted his side would have to cope with bouts of extreme Pakistani pressure at Eden Park and produce their best.

The free-scoring Munro - currently the world's foremost T20 batsman - has compiled 388 runs in his past six T20I innings, including two centuries.

"We're just trying to play each game as best as we can - I know it sounds boring, the old cliche, but that's what we're trying to do," Munro told reporters.

"Series wins will take care of themselves when those things are happening.

"It's always good because when you're winning, it's the best time to critique performances as well, without people being down on themselves."

On the personnel front, Munro's Black Caps are set to do without the rested Tim Southee, but regain pacemen Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson.

Bit-part T20 player Ross Taylor also steps out of the picture, while captain Kane Williamson is expected to return from a stiff side.

With Ferguson and the fearsome Boult to return, the Caps will be even more deadly with the ball - yet Munro wasn't getting ahead of himself.

Pakistan could be equally strong on their day, he believed, despite a disastrous Kiwi tour that has produced no wins from six matches to date.

They were whitewashed 5-0 in their ODI series.

"I think they're a pretty unpredictable team on their day - when they come out and play to their potential they can beat anyone," the 30-year-old Munro said.

"You can see that in the results they've had, but if we focus too much on their strengths and weaknesses, it takes away from what we're good at."

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=263042&fm=newsmain,narts

 

[letme alone]

the latest report is that"we are going to win" full stop.

 

[hussain.r97]

Going to the game. I hope it's not a waste of money ....

 

[Hamstead_joy]

They are resting Southee and playing Boult. Eden Park is a small stadium. Looks like we would play on a T20 pitch. Pakistan had an awful tour they need some luck and just one performance to kickstart their brand of cricket.

 

[barah_admi]

Reading Amin might play, which is a bit weird. I'm still trying to figure out why he is playing in the limited overs side while being very mediocre in the domestic circuit. If anything, he is a first class, long format bowler. PLus he isn't particularly electric with the bat either.

 

[Lynx]

Doesn't matter which combination we go with, we're going to lose. No two ways about it. This squad is a joke. We're playing T20s in 2018 with Shehzad, Amin, Babar, Haris, Hafeez and Sarfraz in our batting lineup.

 

[Abdullah719]

The pre-match rumours are that Shehzad will play, replacing Nawaz and that Amin will bat in the middle-order.

Great squad, so many options

 

[Madplayer]

2 things need to happen of Pakistan are to win it.

1)Fakhar needs to score big and Faheem/hassan needs to play a quick fire cameo.

2) Bowlers need to have a very very good day.

3rd thing that can happen is NZ should play atrocious cricket but thats unlikely.

 

[Madplayer]

The pre-match rumours are that Shehzad will play, replacing Nawaz and that Amin will bat in the middle-order.

Great squad, so many options

Not enough options really. Imam isnt there. Nor is azhar ali.

 

[Abdullah719]

Not enough options really. Imam isnt there. Nor is azhar ali.

At least we have Hafeez and Nawaz

 

[Madplayer]

At least we have Hafeez and Nawaz

Mickey has shut the door on hafeez already. Nawaz is our only hope now. They wasted him at 3 in the 1st t20. He must open.

 

[Hamstead_joy]

The pre-match rumours are that Shehzad will play, replacing Nawaz and that Amin will bat in the middle-order.

Great squad, so many options

Chopping and changing won't help matters. Arthur is digging his own by allowing Shehzad in the team. They should play the same side from 1st T20, I have a feeling pitch would be much better than Wellington and of T20 standard.
They should not shuffle the order, Nawaz was made a sacrificial option who never played at one down in his career. I still believe Yamin, Shadab, FAhim and Nawaz are the key for Pakistan to comeback in the series.

 

[BlueDoritos]

Looks like Shehzad is gonna play

So, maybe they will play this line up:

Fakhar
Shehzad
Hasan
Babar
Hafeez
Haris
Sarfraz
Shadab
Faheem
Amir
Rumman

 

[BlueDoritos]

This line up would do for now:

Fakhar
Hasan
Babar
Sarfraz
Shadab
Hafeez
Yamin
Faheem
Nawaz
Amir
Rumman

 

[BlueDoritos]

Pakistan's bowling doesn't seem to click, so maybe this line up wouldn't be out of question:

Fakhar
Amin
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Sarfaraz
Shadab
Shehzad
Yamin
Faheem
Hasan


Only play the ones who can bat

Can reverse this line up also, wouldn't make a difference.

 

[hadi123]

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Umar Amin - deserves another chance, although seems like he will be dropped for Shehzad
3) Babar Azam
4) Haris Sohail
5) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
6) Aamer Yamin - no need for Nawaz as Haris Sohail can turn his arm over
7) Shadab Khan
8) Faheem Ashraf
9) Hasan Ali
10) Mohammad Amir
11) Rumman Raees

 

[Rayyman]

We're probably gonna lose as that's the only thing we've been good at during this tour.

No point in watching this tbh.

 

[ads101]

Why not try Shehzad down the order if he must play. Opening isn't working out for him, who knows it doesn't hurt. Maybe will encourage him to play more aggressive.

1. Fakhar
2. Haris
3. Babar
4. Shehzad
5. Sarfraz
6. Amin
7. Yamin
8. Fahim
9. Shadab
10. Amir
11. Raees

Rest Hasan.

 

[Abdullah]

Pak to win this. You heard it hear first.
Fakhar
Babar
Amir
Faheem

The main contributors.

Book mark this post

 

[babajee]

We're probably gonna lose as that's the only thing we've been good at during this tour.

No point in watching this tbh.

Bro... where’s the jazba

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Pak to win this. You heard it hear first.
Fakhar
Babar
Amir
Faheem

The main contributors.

Book mark this post

add Shezzie to the list. a blistering 40 from him coming soon.

 

[CadPakFan]

To win we need the PCB to tell Fakhar to perform other whys they're sending him back to the navy, Shezzy to perform other whys they're banning him from taking Selfies, Babar to perform other whys he will be treated like the rest of the Akmals, Malik to perform other whys Sania Mirza will divorce him, Sarfraz to perform other whys he will be sacked of captaincy, Amir to perform because people call him an "average bowler" and Hasan to perform other whys they will ban him from doing his celebration.

 

[Kashmirilion]

To win we need the PCB to tell Fakhar to perform other whys they're sending him back to the navy, Shezzy to perform other whys they're banning him from taking Selfies, Babar to perform other whys he will be treated like the rest of the Akmals, Malik to perform other whys Sania Mirza will divorce him, Sarfraz to perform other whys he will be sacked of captaincy, Amir to perform because people call him an "average bowler" and Hasan to perform other whys they will ban him from doing his celebration.

Tell sarfraz they will ban him from biryani, that should give him motivation.

 

[Rayyman]

Bro... where’s the jazba

Jk. Only reason I won't watch is b/c match starts at 1 AM here will probably end at 4. And I have class at 10 AM.

Should I pull an all-nighter for this game?

 

[Square Drive]

Jk. Only reason I won't watch is b/c match starts at 1 AM here will probably end at 4. And I have class at 10 AM.

Should I pull an all-nighter for this game?

Gotta he up for 5:45 but probably will still give it a watch, depending on our playing XI and our antics in the fist half.

 

[giri26]

It is going to be tough for Pakistan with the squad they have at the moment to come back and win the game. NZ have the wood over Pakistan top order. If Pakistan needs to challenge NZ, they need to get a good start in the first 5-6 overs. The top order is not in form and judging by the reports Ahmed Shehzad might play in the game who hasn't played any games so far in the series.

 

[Saeed]

Hopefully Fakhar will play safely today instaed of slogging around. They need to get runs in the first few overs through singles and doubles instead of boundaries.

How is the pitch for batting?

 

[MMHS]

I was reading CI preview - one interesting part was regarding Sarfraz’s Captaincy. There must be something cooking, as Shahriar’s name is mentioned there. If there is a change considered, it should be right now so that the new Captain has time before WC, and may be couple of PSL as well.

 

[Sadevdesai]

With only 20 overs to bat .... why do our openers start as if they are playing a Test Match ??????

 

[Syed1]

So Azhar Ali had 2 years of constant defeat then he was removed, but Sarfaraz has his first series defeat and there is talk of removing him. Then they say there is no bias.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

I was reading CI preview - one interesting part was regarding Sarfraz’s Captaincy. There must be something cooking, as Shahriar’s name is mentioned there. If there is a change considered, it should be right now so that the new Captain has time before WC, and may be couple of PSL as well.

You're cooking up something that isn't even remotely there, Sarfraz has no one contesting his captaincy for the forseeable future. He plays for QG which is owned by Omar Associates with Moin Khan being at the helm of things and Omar Associates has a solid relationship with PCB. They're the only franchise that had no dues pending on them EVER!

Furthermore, Sarfraz is from Karachi and has been part of the Karachi cricketing scene from a very young age. He was grommed in Gymkhana during his early years and through those same channels he made it through to the U-19 captain (A trust which he paid for in full when he lifted the trophy) in 2006 similar to how it happened in 2017.

At the moment only Azhar/Hafeez and Malik are older than him in the team so his stature as captain whether it be age or game experience is not going to be challenged. Everyone else is finding their feet at international cricket and is junior to him and no one including Amir has the necessarily clout to toppe him be it politcally, media or otherwise (by a long shot) - For those reading this, please make your peace with it as well!

Hafeez will never gun for captaincy because (a) He's banned from bowling so his overall value has reduced dramatically as a player and (b) He isn't part of the test team and PCB officials have this theory (backed by statments from Wasim/Imran/Waqar et al) that there should be 1 captain across all formats. What you're seeing here is basically he's fighting for his own survival just as a player and nothing more.

Azhar stepped down from captaincy and is in the mold of Misbah so he would never get into contention for the captaincy and Malik doesn't want it as well. On most occassions people from CI and any such overseas publications have no clue what they're writing about because frankly speaking:

1. They have no idea how lobbying works in Pakistan and who actually has power (you need to interact with people who are locally there or have to yourself be from there as there are many bodies like KCCA et c etc that have immense power to influence these things yet no one ever hears from them

2. Observe players and who they 'hang' out with during off season (Again something that you have to have insane local connection to get from or actually be from their circle)

Hope this helps......

 

[TeamPak95]

So Azhar Ali had 2 years of constant defeat then he was removed, but Sarfaraz has his first series defeat and there is talk of removing him. Then they say there is no bias.

Azhar captaining for that long was just blasphemous. Regarding Sarfraz, I guess patience isn't a very strong virtue among our fans.

 

[MMHS]

You're cooking up something that isn't even remotely there, Sarfraz has no one contesting his captaincy for the forseeable future. He plays for QG which is owned by Omar Associates with Moin Khan being at the helm of things and Omar Associates has a solid relationship with PCB. They're the only franchise that had no dues pending on them EVER!

Furthermore, Sarfraz is from Karachi and has been part of the Karachi cricketing scene from a very young age. He was grommed in Gymkhana during his early years and through those same channels he made it through to the U-19 captain (A trust which he paid for in full when he lifted the trophy) in 2006 similar to how it happened in 2017.

At the moment only Azhar/Hafeez and Malik are older than him in the team so his stature as captain whether it be age or game experience is not going to be challenged. Everyone else is finding their feet at international cricket and is junior to him and no one including Amir has the necessarily clout to toppe him be it politcally, media or otherwise (by a long shot) - For those reading this, please make your peace with it as well!

Hafeez will never gun for captaincy because (a) He's banned from bowling so his overall value has reduced dramatically as a player and (b) He isn't part of the test team and PCB officials have this theory (backed by statments from Wasim/Imran/Waqar et al) that there should be 1 captain across all formats. What you're seeing here is basically he's fighting for his own survival just as a player and nothing more.

Azhar stepped down from captaincy and is in the mold of Misbah so he would never get into contention for the captaincy and Malik doesn't want it as well. On most occassions people from CI and any such overseas publications have no clue what they're writing about because frankly speaking:

1. They have no idea how lobbying works in Pakistan and who actually has power (you need to interact with people who are locally there or have to yourself be from there as there are many bodies like KCCA et c etc that have immense power to influence these things yet no one ever hears from them

2. Observe players and who they 'hang' out with during off season (Again something that you have to have insane local connection to get from or actually be from their circle)

Hope this helps......

I was referring PSL from new leadership perspective - just in case, if there is a change in leadership, PCB can arrange some scopes for new Captain in couple of PSL before WC. Sarfraz has nothing to fear for QG leadership, but that doesn't have much to do with his Captaincy of PAK either. If he keeps carrying is his biryani fitness and contemporary performance, as well as his team keeps carrying similar on field level, Omar Associates and Karachi links won't save him as 3 in 1 for PAK team.

That article actually gives hints to that. I also have very little clue like people in CI, but it's tough to believe that a Captain from Karachi'll keep his job as PAK Captain, for long without personal performance, poor fitness and team having a nose dive in field.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

You're cooking up something that isn't even remotely there, Sarfraz has no one contesting his captaincy for the forseeable future. He plays for QG which is owned by Omar Associates with Moin Khan being at the helm of things and Omar Associates has a solid relationship with PCB. They're the only franchise that had no dues pending on them EVER!

Furthermore, Sarfraz is from Karachi and has been part of the Karachi cricketing scene from a very young age. He was grommed in Gymkhana during his early years and through those same channels he made it through to the U-19 captain (A trust which he paid for in full when he lifted the trophy) in 2006 similar to how it happened in 2017.

At the moment only Azhar/Hafeez and Malik are older than him in the team so his stature as captain whether it be age or game experience is not going to be challenged. Everyone else is finding their feet at international cricket and is junior to him and no one including Amir has the necessarily clout to toppe him be it politcally, media or otherwise (by a long shot) - For those reading this, please make your peace with it as well!

Hafeez will never gun for captaincy because (a) He's banned from bowling so his overall value has reduced dramatically as a player and (b) He isn't part of the test team and PCB officials have this theory (backed by statments from Wasim/Imran/Waqar et al) that there should be 1 captain across all formats. What you're seeing here is basically he's fighting for his own survival just as a player and nothing more.

Azhar stepped down from captaincy and is in the mold of Misbah so he would never get into contention for the captaincy and Malik doesn't want it as well. On most occassions people from CI and any such overseas publications have no clue what they're writing about because frankly speaking:

1. They have no idea how lobbying works in Pakistan and who actually has power (you need to interact with people who are locally there or have to yourself be from there as there are many bodies like KCCA et c etc that have immense power to influence these things yet no one ever hears from them

2. Observe players and who they 'hang' out with during off season (Again something that you have to have insane local connection to get from or actually be from their circle)

Hope this helps......

It is dawning on all that Sarfraz is not a capable leader nor a good enough player (some of us predicted it already)turning up unfit for a tour let alone as a captain is not acceptable.

Sarfraz will eventually lose his place in the team pretty soon.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

So Azhar Ali had 2 years of constant defeat then he was removed, but Sarfaraz has his first series defeat and there is talk of removing him. Then they say there is no bias.

Two wrongs don't make it right.