Pakistan and One Cap Wonders

[Zaz]

Pakistan seems to have a long history where dozens of players gain one cap and then were consigned to the bin

There are approx 45 such players Some famous recent ones include zulqanain haider, humayun farhat, bazid khan, iriaz afridi, iftiqhar anjum

More recently mir hamza, sharjeel khan, usman salahuddin and M Musa have all played only one test match -these may get more chances

This came to a peak in the 90s and 00s where dozens played only one test and many others just a handful

It seems a lot of pakistan players are picked at a young age and if they arent a success immediately are never seen again More so than from many other countries

So what would you say is the reason for this phenomena that means a lot of players arent given more than one or a handful of chances?

 

[Markhor]

It comes down to the constant chopping and changing of captains and coaches we had in the 1990s.

A player in the good books of one captain would get discarded under another captain who'd be under immediate pressure to get results - leading to short-term selection fixes.

We've also had a revolving door of selectors, hence there's never any clear vision or desire to identify a core group of 14-15 players and stick with them for a period of time.

 

[sweep_shot]

I don't think it is exclusive to Pakistan. Many teams sometimes try out different players. If things don't work out, those players get discarded.

 

[Zaz]

I don't think it is exclusive to Pakistan. Many teams sometimes try out different players. If things don't work out, those players get discarded.

Is one cap or 2-3 enough to get a gauge of a quality of a player tho? What would a selector or captain learn after one game about the player?

Most great players didnt perform right from the off but after sustained backing over several series

 

[sweep_shot]

Is one cap or 2-3 enough to get a gauge of a quality of a player tho? What would a selector or captain learn after one game about the player?

Most great players didnt perform right from the off but after sustained backing over several series

You are right. However, there are hundreds of players. You can't give chances to everyone.

Also, some of these players are often played as fillers. They play because main players are injured/unavailable.

 

[hitthestump]

Certainly fast bowlers get a very short rope. Pakistan have always had a significant number of fast bowlers who average low 20's in their domestic set up. It isn't always obvious who is better than who isn't given the poor pitches and substandard batting.

So we end up seeing a merry go round of pacers flung in at the deep end for one or two games and then a very quick decision is made when it's clear they aren't ready.

The selectors will then dip back into the domestic bag and bring out any other low 20's averaging fast bowler. Rinse and repeat.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Zulqarnain. 88 on debut.

 

[Zaz]

Certainly fast bowlers get a very short rope. Pakistan have always had a significant number of fast bowlers who average low 20's in their domestic set up. It isn't always obvious who is better than who isn't given the poor pitches and substandard batting.

So we end up seeing a merry go round of pacers flung in at the deep end for one or two games and then a very quick decision is made when it's clear they aren't ready.

The selectors will then dip back into the domestic bag and bring out any other low 20's averaging fast bowler. Rinse and repeat.

Surely there should be a 3-4 step process before someone plays at the highest level - following a player for a couple of seasons, sending him on A tours monitoring his progress and stats, how he performs against decent opposition

In the past there have been many picked who deserve futher chances and many who you know who werent ready in the first place

One has to wonder what are the selectors playing at sometimes and what basis they select deselect players

 

[Kroll]

Shadab Kabir anyone? Although it wasn't one cap, he was brought in for the England series in 1996 at only 18 years of age after being hyped to the moon. Even commies like Richi Benaud were saying stuff like this guy has got great talent and will serve Pakistan for many years to come.

Suffice to say, I think they brought him back a few years later for another Test series but was then binned and put in that mysterious black hole from which you never see or hear about these players ever again.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Faisal Athar. 1 ODI against NZ and only scored 9 runs.

 

[Salman4.]

Mansoor Amjad - the T20 specialist.

 

[Zaz]

Shadab Kabir anyone? Although it wasn't one cap, he was brought in for the England series in 1996 at only 18 years of age after being hyped to the moon. Even commies like Richi Benaud were saying stuff like this guy has got great talent and will serve Pakistan for many years to come.

Suffice to say, I think they brought him back a few years later for another Test series but was then binned and put in that mysterious black hole from which you never see or hear about these players ever again.

Part of the reason why pakistan underperformed in the 90s was this playin with 9-10 players and a couple of 18yr olds

There was many times it was clear that these young kids were not good enough but were thrown in the deep end and told to sink and swim to the detriment of pakistans on field performance and their own personal careers

 

[Kroll]

Part of the reason why pakistan underperformed in the 90s was this playin with 9-10 players and a couple of 18yr olds

There was many times it was clear that these young kids were not good enough but were thrown in the deep end and told to sink and swim to the detriment of pakistans on field performance and their own personal careers

Yeah, and then you had the alleged 14 year old Hasan Raza thrown in for good measure as well during that period. It all just seemed like a big gimmick.

 

[Zaz]

Yeah, and then you had the alleged 14 year old Hasan Raza thrown in for good measure as well during that period. It all just seemed like a big gimmick.

Yes indeed very farcical Was he really one of the best 6 batsmen in the country at age "14"? And when selected why was he dropped after the sole test innings scoring 27?

Then brought back after 2 yrs in 98/99 one game was dropped and then brought back after 3 yrs

 

[silentkiller187]

Yeah, and then you had the alleged 14 year old Hasan Raza thrown in for good measure as well during that period. It all just seemed like a big gimmick.

Still only 38 years old, debuting in 1996. The 90s saw some interesting characters.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Complete lists

ODIs



T20Is


Tests

 

[Bezli]

Zulqarnain. 88 on debut.

Also against a top bowling line up in English conditions.

Too bad, our fans deemed him as “‘mentally ill”

 

[Thunderbolt14]

In terms of recent test caps, Musa Khan will be the next one cap. I can’t see him making a return to the side.

 

[hitthestump]

In terms of recent test caps, Musa Khan will be the next one cap. I can’t see him making a return to the side.

Lol the guy is just 19 years old. Maybe you're some kind of expert at predicting talent.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Lol the guy is just 19 years old. Maybe you're some kind of expert at predicting talent.

I’m speaking purely in terms of the number of other options available

 

[TeymurBlake]

I’m speaking purely in terms of the number of other options available

Its harsh to say but there is a element of truth in what you say. With a number of young bowlers at our disposal, Mohammad Musa could find himself out of the team for a long time if not forever.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Its harsh to say but there is a element of truth in what you say. With a number of young bowlers at our disposal, Mohammad Musa could find himself out of the team for a long time if not forever.

Exactly. But I have a feeling he might be used at some point in white ball, just not red ball

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Mansoor Amjad.
3 wickets in an over.
Never played again.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Zafar Gohar. Got 2 wickets on debut vs Eng. Not seen since. Good batters he got out too.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Zafar Gohar. Got 2 wickets on debut vs Eng. Not seen since. Good batters he got out too.

Didn’t he sleep through a flight? It’s his own fault

 

[TeymurBlake]

Exactly. But I have a feeling he might be used at some point in white ball, just not red ball

Honestly I don't see him even in the white ball format. If there aren't drastic improvements in Mohammad Musa, then I don't see him featuring for Pakistan at all.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Honestly I don't see him even in the white ball format. If there aren't drastic improvements in Mohammad Musa, then I don't see him featuring for Pakistan at all.

It depends on what your question is. Should he feature unless there’s drastic improvements? No. Will he feature despite that? Given our selectors, almost definitely

 

[TeymurBlake]

It depends on what your question is. Should he feature unless there’s drastic improvements? No. Will he feature despite that? Given our selectors, almost definitely

Yeah despite his obvious limitations, Misbah knows him well from the ISLU days. So he will persist with him. Specially when you have someone like Sameen Gul waiting in the wings.