"Our Test team's middle-order now looks very settled" : Sarfaraz Ahmed

[Abdullah719]

Sarfaraz Ahmed at a presser today:

"My tenure finished at the end of the World Cup but I was very relaxed and hopeful that whatever will happen will be for the best"

"When we went to the training camp, there were a lot of positive vibes"

"It's not my domain to say how long PCB should appoint captains for. I think what's most important is communication, if the captain and PCB higher authorities stays in communication then it clears a lot of things"

"During the WC, the Chairman and Wasim Khan were in contact with me so if that happens then things will remain easy"

"I can't say anything about Test captaincy, we have T20Is against SL and my focus will be on performing well in that series. PCB will choose whoever they think is best for Test captaincy"

"Playing XI even before was made after consultation between captain and coach"

"With regards to Misbah bhai, the understanding in the 20-25 days so far has been very good. I have played with him and he's been my captain too. Hopefully we can get together and select the best available players and choose the best XI"

"I have spoken to Misbah bhai and I have decided on a set number to bat at and I will try to stick to that"

"The new domestic system has started, it's great for my team that the openers Abid Ali and Khurram Manzoor played brilliant innings and made hundreds, we will to put on a big total to put the opposition under pressure"

"It's a very good thing that Babar Azam is the vice-captain, it's good that he will be groomed in the role. I have a very good understanding with him as he stays near me in the slips often. I take input from him and other players also so it's a good sign that a player who is a good performer is also a vice-captain and will be groomed for the future"

"The toughest time for us was after the Australia and India games and then a lot of things happened but tough times come for everyone. You need to try to be strong in those moments. I've always been near people who have a lot of understanding of cricket so they always supported me, in the good and bad times. I would like to thank all those people who supported me during the tough times"

"Our Test team's middle-order now looks very settled. Shan Masood performed well at #3, Imam-ul-Haq is improving day by day. After that, you have Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam and Haris Sohail who are the backbone. If they improve further in Tests then Pakistan have good chances of doing well in the Test Championship. However, two of our fast-bowlers have sidelined themselves so we'll have to look at that aspect and get some bowlers who can get wickets in Test cricket. To win Tests, we want to see a spinner with Yasir Shah who can support him and take wickets. As a player, I am confident that these players can take Pakistan forward in the Test Championship"

 

[Khan12]

So we will be carrying on with Azhar, Shafiq then. Why is this rubbish still our captain.

 

[Abdullah719]

So we will be carrying on with Azhar, Shafiq then. Why is this rubbish still our captain.

He hasn't yet been sacked or retained as Test captain. He clearly said he was speaking from the perspective of an ordinary player with regards to the Test team.

 

[Khan12]

He hasn't yet been sacked or retained as Test captain. He clearly said he was speaking from the perspective of an ordinary player with regards to the Test team.

Yes, but we can gather is that he will be the captain. He should have been sacked as odi captain but hasn't been so i doubt he will be as tests as well.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Im sure Azhar ali will be the test captain.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Translation of sarfrazs comments mean same failures from last 18 months will be retained.

Patheric stuff from pcb really.

Test championship, T20 world cup snd 4 years to prepare for a odi world cup.

Fresh captains, fresh squads. Instead same old rubbish and expect same rubbish results.

 

[Barragan]

Very concerning to hear because the middle order is definitely the reason why we have fallen down the rankings and lost at home to NZ and SL.

 

[Mamoon]

Yes, they are settled failures.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Meaning, Azhar/Haris/Shafiq/Babar from 3-6. And having two crappy openers.

It's odd for a lineup to get the run it has for so long despite being consistently terrible for years now and even losing so many matches in UAE.

At the very least, Azhar should be the opener with Imam if he's going to be in the lineup and it gives the team an ability to add a bat like Saud Shakeel in the lineup who actually deserves to and has potential to be great.

 

[Saj]

I'd rather he said places are up for grabs and everybody's places are up for grabs.

The Test team needs a shake-up and perhaps a change of skipper.

 

[Savak]

I'd rather he said places are up for grabs and everybody's places are up for grabs.

The Test team needs a shake-up and perhaps a change of skipper.

Change of Skipper is definately happening. Pakistan need to say goodbye to Azhar Ali now. Asad Shafiq still shows odd moments of eye catching brilliance and he has more ability than Azhar Ali with the bat so he can stay as the lone experienced guy. But rest of the batting line up needs examination.

We have 2 settled openers in Shan Masood and Imam ul Haq. Babar has cemented the number 3 position and we will have Asad Shafiq at number 4. Real question is what are the options afterwards and what kind of balance is Pakistan looking for in the test team?

Harris Sohail has issues with his knee so there are question marks over his longevity.

Should Pakistan look to play an all rounder who can be the 3rd-4th seamer to give the pacers a breather?

Should Pakistan look at integrating Umar Akmal in the test side again?

Can Sarfaraz's inconsistent performances with the bat be tolerated?

How many miles does Yasir Shah have left? Should Pakistan look to now give charge to Shadab Khan? Shadab looks a better option than Yasir in overseas conditions

Lol, with so many question marks how can anyone say the test team is settled?

 

[moghul]

What else can you expect from Misbah .

 

[mak36]

So the top five will be:

Imam
Shan
Haris
Azhar
Asad
Babar

Azhar is too one-dimensional to bat at 4 and Asad is... well, Asad.

 

[mak36]

. Babar has cemented the number 3 position

In tests? Since when?

 

[Savak]

So the top five will be:

Imam
Shan
Haris
Azhar
Asad
Babar

Azhar is too one-dimensional to bat at 4 and Asad is... well, Asad.

Azhar should be shown the door, is everyone forgetting his tailender batting on the tour to SA?

 

[The Viper]

Bad news.

Azhar will be exposed overseas and can’t even finish the job in UAE as evidenced by that failure to chase vs Nz.

 

[mak36]

Azhar should be shown the door, is everyone forgetting his tailender batting on the tour to SA?

Preaching to the choir.

 

[Shazzam]

Sarfraz’s press conferences are always boring. He has nothing but good things to say about everything. Comes out as fake. I hope Babar in the future is level headed. Says it like it is instead of playing this goody goody act.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan's captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is confident that his team is ready to make an impact in the ICC World Test Championship after struggling for form in this format in the last two years.

"After in-and-out performances in the last two years since the retirements of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, I think we are now ready to challenge other teams in the World Test Championship," he said.

Pakistan's first challenge will be a tour to Australia in November where they play two Tests followed by home Test series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Pakistan is presently placed 7th among 12 Test teams in the ICC World Rankings and Sarfaraz admitted his team had neither been consistent nor convincing in the longer format for a while now.

"We have struggled after losing Misbah and Younis and we are in a rebuilding process. But now I think our batsmen are ready to fill the gaps and take responsibility," he said.

"We have Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail and Babar Azam who have now gone through the grind and can do well at the Test level. There is also a lot of experience now behind Azhar and Asad."

Sarfaraz said that Pakistan needed to find one or two Test class spinners to support Yasir Shah and a couple of fast bowlers to step up since Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Aamir have now stopped playing Test cricket.

"We need to work on our bowling now and we have a couple of exciting pacers to look at and find some spinners. I think we are now in a position to do well in the test format which now has more meaning and purpose and every match is important," he added.

Sarfaraz as captain has seen his team lose home Test series to Sri Lanka and New Zealand while being outclassed in South Africa.

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...fident-bowling-improvement-1599822-2019-09-16

 

[Amjid Javed]

As expected same loser batsmen will be exposed in Australia and SL series, they have had plenty of time to get over YK/misbah retirements. Asad/Azhar and sarfaraz need to be dropped.

 

[Usman]

So the top five will be:

Imam
Shan
Haris
Azhar
Asad
Babar

Azhar is too one-dimensional to bat at 4 and Asad is... well, Asad.

I would honestly replace one of Azhar or Shafiq (probably Azhar) with Rizwaan. Azhar has been a serious let down since MisYo retirements, as has Shafiq.

I would also push Barber up the order as far as possible - 3 if he is willing to play at that number. I don't care about the seniority rubbish when it comes to Azhar and Shafiq. Barber and Harris are out best two bats by far and they should be occupying the number 3 and 4 spots. Imam is number 3 after these two. After that there's daylight followed by the others. Rizwaan is perfect to fill that daylight.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Abid Ali should be given a chance.Let us see how he performs in the new domestic system.If he scored heavily then he deserves to open with Imam

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Kick out azhar/shafiq/sarfraz, bring in rizwan/usman/fawad/abid etc.

 

[coy0607]

Kick out azhar/shafiq/sarfraz, bring in rizwan/usman/fawad/abid etc.

more like bring in Shehzad / Akmal / Ifti / Nawaz

 

[Junaids]

There are two options here, given that Misbah has already recalled Umar Akmal for white ball cricket and stated that Rizwan is now in the team as a batsman.

Option 1: Sarfraz has Misbah’s confidence, and has been reassured that he is still Test skipper and Azhar and Shafiq carry on as if their last two years haven’t been a failure.

Option 2: Misbah is more cunning than we think, and intends to cull Azhar and Sarfraz from the Test squad and replace them with Umar Akmal and Mohammad Rizwan - but hasn’t broken the news to Sarfraz or Azhar yet.

Misbah would have my absolute support if he took a team to Australia looking like this:

1. Sami Aslam
2. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
3. Shan Masood (c)
4. Haris Sohail or Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Umar Akmal
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir (with an away only deal)
10. Mohammad Abbas
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

That would be ruthless but brilliant!

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Fawad Alam and Umar Akmal. They keep bringing him back in LOI's, not tests unfortunately.

 

[PakLFC]

Sure thing. We will be 100-6 then the great Sarfaraz will come and score a double ton. All is well!

 

[mak36]

I would honestly replace one of Azhar or Shafiq (probably Azhar) with Rizwaan. Azhar has been a serious let down since MisYo retirements, as has Shafiq.

I would also push Barber up the order as far as possible - 3 if he is willing to play at that number. I don't care about the seniority rubbish when it comes to Azhar and Shafiq. Barber and Harris are out best two bats by far and they should be occupying the number 3 and 4 spots. Imam is number 3 after these two. After that there's daylight followed by the others. Rizwaan is perfect to fill that daylight.

Preaching to the choir re Azhar and Asad.

 

[Kroll]

"Our Test team's middle-order now looks very settled and is crap"

 

[Rellu_Katta]

There are two options here, given that Misbah has already recalled Umar Akmal for white ball cricket and stated that Rizwan is now in the team as a batsman.

Option 1: Sarfraz has Misbah’s confidence, and has been reassured that he is still Test skipper and Azhar and Shafiq carry on as if their last two years haven’t been a failure.

Option 2: Misbah is more cunning than we think, and intends to cull Azhar and Sarfraz from the Test squad and replace them with Umar Akmal and Mohammad Rizwan - but hasn’t broken the news to Sarfraz or Azhar yet.

Misbah would have my absolute support if he took a team to Australia looking like this:

1. Sami Aslam
2. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
3. Shan Masood (c)
4. Haris Sohail or Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Umar Akmal
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir (with an away only deal)
10. Mohammad Abbas
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

That would be ruthless but brilliant!

why is there an "OR" against Harris sohail.. he shld be the 1st name on the list ..
Umar Akmal at no6? just waste of space.. might as well play imad..much better
Rizwan is not an opener.. he is good at no5/6 ..
Aamir is gone ... Faheem isnt 1 for tests ... and y isnt yasir around?

 

[Junaids]

why is there an "OR" against Harris sohail.. he shld be the 1st name on the list ..
Umar Akmal at no6? just waste of space.. might as well play imad..much better
Rizwan is not an opener.. he is good at no5/6 ..
Aamir is gone ... Faheem isnt 1 for tests ... and y isnt yasir around?

Several points here.

Firstly, let's concentrate on actual Test FACTS.

As I showed in an earlier thread, even prior to his recent outbreak of maturity, of all Pakistan's batsmen since 2008, Umar Akmal in Tests scored under 20 in the lowest percentage of innings and over 40 in the highest percentage of innings.

Secondly, people tend to belittle Faheem Ashraf based on his white ball horror shows. But it is a simple fact that after 4 Tests he is averaging 23 with the bat and has 11 wickets at an average of 26.10 each. Moreover, in his last Test - away to South Africa - he took 6 wickets for 99 runs.

Obviously you can't select Faheem Ashraf in Asia. But he is the incumbent all-rounder in Tests outside Asia, and you can't drop him after he took 6-99 in his last Test.

Thirdly, Mohammad Rizwan. His batting is clearly miles ahead of Sarfraz Ahmed's, and he opens up the ability to bat the keeper in the Top Six and play Shadab and Faheem outside Asia as the fourth and fifth bowler, with Yasir Shah making way.

But Rizwan is not a great batsman against spin. And there are only 2 Tests in Australia.....and the Second is with a Pink Ball at Adelaide, where innings never last even to the second new ball.

So open with Rizwan. If he scores 30 in 15 overs he has seen off the shiny period of the Kookaburra ball, and his job is done.

And I wouldn't touch Yasir Shah with a bargepole in Australia or New Zealand or South Africa. He averages 2 wickets per Test at 80 runs each, and can't bat. Shadab's record outside Asia is far superior to Yasir Shah's, and he must play.

 

[Junaids]

why isn't Yasir around?

I think you need to read this thread to see just how catastrophically Yasir Shah has performed in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...b-Khan-should-replace-Yasir-Shah-outside-Asia

And the facts also inform us that Shadab is a far superior batsman and fielder too in those countries.

The short version is this:

In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
YASIR SHAH:
9 wickets in 6 Tests, average 95.11
81 runs in 6 Tests at an average of 9.00

SHADAB KHAN:
4 wickets in 1 Test, average 20.00
52 runs in 1 Test at an average of 52.00

In England and Ireland
YASIR SHAH:
19 wickets in 4 Tests, average 40.73
92 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 15.33

SHADAB KHAN:
7 wickets in 3 Tests, average 34.43
171 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 42.75

Yasir Shah should be unselectable in the two upcoming Australia Tests.

 

[The Viper]

I think you need to read this thread to see just how catastrophically Yasir Shah has performed in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...b-Khan-should-replace-Yasir-Shah-outside-Asia

And the facts also inform us that Shadab is a far superior batsman and fielder too in those countries.

The short version is this:

In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
YASIR SHAH:
9 wickets in 6 Tests, average 95.11
81 runs in 6 Tests at an average of 9.00

SHADAB KHAN:
4 wickets in 1 Test, average 20.00
52 runs in 1 Test at an average of 52.00

In England and Ireland
YASIR SHAH:
19 wickets in 4 Tests, average 40.73
92 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 15.33

SHADAB KHAN:
7 wickets in 3 Tests, average 34.43
171 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 42.75

Yasir Shah should be unselectable in the two upcoming Australia Tests.

Hopefully Misbah takes the decision to oust Yasir from the squad. He offers nothing in Aus.

 

[The Viper]

Sami Aslam is making a case to open.

I would still stick with Shan and Imam for now.

 

[Junaids]

Sami Aslam is making a case to open.

I would still stick with Shan and Imam for now.

Openers: Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam

Middle-order: Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Umar Akmal (+Shan Masood)

Wicketkeeper: Mohammad Rizwan

All Rounder (Spinner): Shadab Khan

All Rounder (quick): Faheem Ashraf

Specialist spinner for Brisbane and a Pink Ball Adelaide Test: none

Six quick bowlers: Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir (grovel to him), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Hasnain

 

[Mercurial]

Lol, this has to be our weakest Test batting line up ever.

 

[Saj]

I worry about our Test batting line-up. Since Misbah and Younis' retirement the lack of mental toughness and a lack of responsibility has really been evident.

Players who should have done better have shown just how weak they are and how they are not leaders with the bat.

 

[mak36]

Several points here.

Firstly, let's concentrate on actual Test FACTS.

As I showed in an earlier thread, even prior to his recent outbreak of maturity, of all Pakistan's batsmen since 2008, Umar Akmal in Tests scored under 20 in the lowest percentage of innings and over 40 in the highest percentage of innings.

Secondly, people tend to belittle Faheem Ashraf based on his white ball horror shows. But it is a simple fact that after 4 Tests he is averaging 23 with the bat and has 11 wickets at an average of 26.10 each. Moreover, in his last Test - away to South Africa - he took 6 wickets for 99 runs.

Obviously you can't select Faheem Ashraf in Asia. But he is the incumbent all-rounder in Tests outside Asia, and you can't drop him after he took 6-99 in his last Test.

Thirdly, Mohammad Rizwan. His batting is clearly miles ahead of Sarfraz Ahmed's, and he opens up the ability to bat the keeper in the Top Six and play Shadab and Faheem outside Asia as the fourth and fifth bowler, with Yasir Shah making way.

But Rizwan is not a great batsman against spin. And there are only 2 Tests in Australia.....and the Second is with a Pink Ball at Adelaide, where innings never last even to the second new ball.

So open with Rizwan. If he scores 30 in 15 overs he has seen off the shiny period of the Kookaburra ball, and his job is done.

And I wouldn't touch Yasir Shah with a bargepole in Australia or New Zealand or South Africa. He averages 2 wickets per Test at 80 runs each, and can't bat. Shadab's record outside Asia is far superior to Yasir Shah's, and he must play.

That's all very interesting, but perhaps you could explain why you are debating whether to include Haris in the XI?!

 

[Junaids]

That's all very interesting, but perhaps you could explain why you are debating whether to include Haris in the XI?!

Because he is 30 years old, has less than a thousand Test runs and was involved in two unacceptable home Test series defeats.

A man of 28 joining the Test side should be mature enough to fit straight in and lead, but Haris hasn’t been great in spite of playing so many of his Tests on dead UAE wickets.

To me Haris Sohail is a very, very, very marginal selection.

 

[Kroll]

Because he is 30 years old, has less than a thousand Test runs and was involved in two unacceptable home Test series defeats.

A man of 28 joining the Test side should be mature enough to fit straight in and lead, but Haris hasn’t been great in spite of playing so many of his Tests on dead UAE wickets.

To me Haris Sohail is a very, very, very marginal selection.

It's disgraceful, Haris wasn't inducted to the test side much earlier while guys like Asad Shafiq have been getting a free ride for years. Then of course you had Misbah and YK prolonging their careers by an additional two years when clearly they were a spent force.

 

[Amjid Javed]

I worry about our Test batting line-up. Since Misbah and Younis' retirement the lack of mental toughness and a lack of responsibility has really been evident.

Players who should have done better have shown just how weak they are and how they are not leaders with the bat.

Sarfaraz, Asad and Azhar hvae had plenty of time to step up and make themselves leader of pack in test cricket, all 3 have failed to do so.

Seems like all poor test results in last 2 years have simply been forgotten and players arent accountable for their shockingly poor performances.

 

[Saj]

Sarfaraz, Asad and Azhar hvae had plenty of time to step up and make themselves leader of pack in test cricket, all 3 have failed to do so.

Seems like all poor test results in last 2 years have simply been forgotten and players arent accountable for their shockingly poor performances.

None are leaders, none are guys who can save you a Test or win you a Test on their own and that's disappointing given how long they have been around.

These three should be the backbone, but sadly they aren't.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

I'd rather he said places are up for grabs and everybody's places are up for grabs.

The Test team needs a shake-up and perhaps a change of skipper.

This would never occur to someone like Sarfraz. Just his brain, no offense to him. He would not think of this.

 

[CricketDon]

We ain’t played test matches in I don’t know how long and when we were, we were being smashed

How can our skipper turn round and say this? It seems like he is trying to save face in the dressing room.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I worry about our Test batting line-up. Since Misbah and Younis' retirement the lack of mental toughness and a lack of responsibility has really been evident.

Players who should have done better have shown just how weak they are and how they are not leaders with the bat.

Don't think its a lack of mental toughness or anything. It's just that no batsmen on the team is talented as those two other than possibly Haris. Babar should be better but he's been so poor in FC.

Azhar/Shafiq/Sarfraz have also just gotten too old and are past their peak. Hence. their decline. There's not a single batsment currently that can currently be reliable and carry the lineup and consistently get centuries.

Simply, it's a talent issue. Which is sorely lacking on the Test team as it is.

 

[Junaids]

Don't think its a lack of mental toughness or anything. It's just that no batsmen on the team is talented as those two other than possibly Haris. Babar should be better but he's been so poor in FC.

Azhar/Shafiq/Sarfraz have also just gotten too old and are past their peak. Hence. their decline. There's not a single batsment currently that can currently be reliable and carry the lineup and consistently get centuries.

Simply, it's a talent issue. Which is sorely lacking on the Test team as it is.

I largely agree.

Azhar, Shafiq and Sarfraz were marginal Test players at their peak, and are all in clear terminal age-related decline (although Shafiq has declined the least of the three).

You're a bit harsh on Babar Azam: his development was delayed by 2 years due to senior players being retained too long and obstructing his development.

Nothing has changed.

Babar Azam and Umar Akmal are the only two batsmen of Test standard.

Haris Sohail is marginal but is a short-term option.

Shan Masood is less talented, but has worked on his weaknesses and is probably the only viable captain.

But then there is a huge drop to players like Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman who aren't good enough, and Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed who are washed-up has-beens.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

So Sarfaraz Ahmed is a part of JG's Test team plan?