Pakistan announce 18-member squad for the 3-match home Test series against England

[GLORY OF '92]

So Azhar Ali was dropped after a poor run of scores replaced with Fawad, now fawad is no longer in the squad. Yet Azhar is retained? why drop him if your going to continue picking same garbage and recycling it? Both players should have been dumped ages ago.

Then we have plastic all rounder Agha salman.

If pakistan are going to pick a 5 man bowling attack, then you need to pick your best 5 batsmen to put runs on the board. Aghas bowling id rubbish and as a batsmen alone hes not one of the best 5 that could be selected.

Instead we are going to end up with a load of mediocre bits and pieces players in test side. clearly shows no faith in a so called 5 man bowling attack if yoir going to pick a plastic all rounder at 5 as the so called 6th bowling option.

i can see a team being picked with Agha, nawaz, wasim jnr in it. if thats case i hope england humiliate pakistan.

Mo wasim needs to go as does Babar as test skipper.

Yes hopefully agha and Wasim don't play otherwise it will get ugly.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Usual suspects can't seem to fathom how Azhar Ali is in the squad. If you actually bothered to follow domestic cricket maybe then you would know why he is there.

Been very critical of Mohammad Waseem as a chief-selector. But he has made a number of good selections here that are actually based on QeA Trophy performances.

Interested to see how Saud does in Pakistan colors. He has been in red-hot form for Sindh. But even more interested to see how Abrar Ahmed does.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Solid squad. Ali & Abrar are deserving selections and its good to see Hasan/Yasir/Fawad dropped. It's a shame Fawad simply didn't play 10 years ago for Pakistan but nowadays, he is just too old and looks to be out of sort vs pace. Struggled really badly vs Aussies & struggled in Sri Lanka too. On the same domestic team, Saud has performed way better than him so the writing was clearly on the wall. It's time for Saud to take over his spot.

I am a bit surprised they didn't select Abbas or Hamza instead of another batsmen and a slight surprise Nauman has been retained. Figured Zafar Gohar would be given a go over him but on a very inexperienced squad, maybe they opted to keep some experience on board.

It's such a large squad Pakistan have kept even though its at home and I am not sure that's required. With the upcoming List A matches, some of those extra players on the squad who aren't really going to play barring some sort of catastrophe like Zahid/Wasim Jr. would be better off playing in that tournament & it also helps to improve the quality of domestic competition.

It is interesting they are keeping Wasim Jr. on the squad with them and it's a bit questionable but also seems like they certain believe in his skills to develop into a Test bowler and they're keeping him around the same way they did with Abdullah. I will say, since Wasim Jr. is just going to ride the bench & with upcoming ODI series + PSL, Wasim Jr. in a way ends up getting rest.

The good thing with this squad, Pakistan have good allrounder options in Faheem & Nawaz to be their 5th bowler and can pick based on conditions. If it favours spin, you go with 3 pacers & Abrar + Nawaz. If it's seaming conditions like Pindi is expected to be, you can go with Naseem/Haris/Ali/Abrar & Faheem as the 5th bowling option.

I would have liked Ghulam over Azhar in the squad but Azhar has performed extremely well this season as annoying as that might be. Nonetheless, it would be interesting if Pakistan will consider Shan over him but may be better off not trying to load up on lefties with England main spinner being an off-spinner.

Abdullah/Imam/Azhar/Babar/Saud/Rizwan/Faheem or Nawaz/Rauf/Naseem/Abrar/Ali is likely the lineup Pakistan will be going with.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

What happened to Sajid Khan?

 

[Sarwar89]

I am expecting Pakistan to win 2-0
England’s away Test stats are not that bright

Babar has to take initiative to beat England 2-0 to brighten chances to reach WTC Final.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

I am expecting Pakistan to win 2-0
England’s away Test stats are not that bright

Babar has to take initiative to beat England 2-0 to brighten chances to reach WTC Final.

I'm expecting 3-0 England. Revolutionary Test team against a timid Pakistan.

 

[Fenrir]

This is not a bad selection.Should have selected Zafar Gohar and Kamran Ghulam instead of Nauman and Salman.A lot of people are composing about Waseem but there aren’t many other options.Dahani is not ready.He needs to play all remaining QEA trophy matches.Sameen and Arshad Iqbal may be good in SENA.Not sure if they can be effective in Pakistan.Muhammad Umar is almost ready.Heshould be tried in series against Sri Lanka in 2023.

 

[Sarwar89]

I'm expecting 3-0 England. Revolutionary Test team against a timid Pakistan.

Come on
This current test team is going to play much better than they did v Australia

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Come on
This current test team is going to play much better than they did v Australia

Why do you think that?

 

[Rana]

If Pakistan can just prepare good spin tracks I recon we can clean sweep or win this series 2-0

 

[Farabi]

Solid squad. Ali & Abrar are deserving selections and its good to see Hasan/Yasir/Fawad dropped. It's a shame Fawad simply didn't play 10 years ago for Pakistan but nowadays, he is just too old and looks to be out of sort vs pace. Struggled really badly vs Aussies & struggled in Sri Lanka too. On the same domestic team, Saud has performed way better than him so the writing was clearly on the wall. It's time for Saud to take over his spot.

I am a bit surprised they didn't select Abbas or Hamza instead of another batsmen and a slight surprise Nauman has been retained. Figured Zafar Gohar would be given a go over him but on a very inexperienced squad, maybe they opted to keep some experience on board.

It's such a large squad Pakistan have kept even though its at home and I am not sure that's required. With the upcoming List A matches, some of those extra players on the squad who aren't really going to play barring some sort of catastrophe like Zahid/Wasim Jr. would be better off playing in that tournament & it also helps to improve the quality of domestic competition.

It is interesting they are keeping Wasim Jr. on the squad with them and it's a bit questionable but also seems like they certain believe in his skills to develop into a Test bowler and they're keeping him around the same way they did with Abdullah. I will say, since Wasim Jr. is just going to ride the bench & with upcoming ODI series + PSL, Wasim Jr. in a way ends up getting rest.

The good thing with this squad, Pakistan have good allrounder options in Faheem & Nawaz to be their 5th bowler and can pick based on conditions. If it favours spin, you go with 3 pacers & Abrar + Nawaz. If it's seaming conditions like Pindi is expected to be, you can go with Naseem/Haris/Ali/Abrar & Faheem as the 5th bowling option.

I would have liked Ghulam over Azhar in the squad but Azhar has performed extremely well this season as annoying as that might be. Nonetheless, it would be interesting if Pakistan will consider Shan over him but may be better off not trying to load up on lefties with England main spinner being an off-spinner.

Abdullah/Imam/Azhar/Babar/Saud/Rizwan/Faheem or Nawaz/Rauf/Naseem/Abrar/Ali is likely the lineup Pakistan will be going with.

Going by your logic, why Imam? He failed in recent QEA. Why not Usmam S, Hurraira, or Shan

 

[feelings2002]

who is mohammad ali never heard of him before

 

[Amjid Javed]

If Pakistan can just prepare good spin tracks I recon we can clean sweep or win this series 2-0

Spin tracks? ) when has that ever happened in pakistan?

plus we have no decent spinners. so we should make our pacers redundant.

we need sporting wickets like when we played SA at home. instead we will get dead pitches ordered by rameez.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Going by your logic, why Imam? He failed in recent QEA. Why not Usmam S, Hurraira, or Shan

Usman isn't an opener. Shan is already on the squad.

Hurraira is super young but his time will come sooner than later. Overall, Imam has done well at the Test level this year too and while he hasn't been great at domestic this year, he has been adequate.

 

[PakFan2010]

Shan Masood had a very strong season in English County Cricket, he averaged 82 and was one of the top performers. Azhar Ali averaged around 40 and was very poor.

Shan should be batting at 3.

 

[Sarwar89]

Why do you think that?

Fawad alam was weak link in Australia series so was sajid

Both are gone.

 

[IMMY69]

Disappointed that Shadab is not in the squad.
If it's down to his lack of desire to play tests then he drops big time in my estimation.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Disappointed that Shadab is not in the squad.
If it's down to his lack of desire to play tests then he drops big time in my estimation.

Has he even played FC at all last couple of seasons? Has had so many injuries last few years and that is likely a big part why and honestly, with his constant injuries and how he puts his body on the line during fielding, leaving him for LOI may be best.

Who knows, if he continues to stay healthy for a while, maybe he'll get some reps in domestic and could be a consideration again.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Shan Masood had a very strong season in English County Cricket, he averaged 82 and was one of the top performers. Azhar Ali averaged around 40 and was very poor.

Shan should be batting at 3.

You do realize that it was division 2 og tbe county championship for both players. neither should be in final test 11.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Disappointed that Shadab is not in the squad.
If it's down to his lack of desire to play tests then he drops big time in my estimation.

He's not a Test player. More of a tiktok lad. Only real men can handle Tests.

 

[Kianig89]

Like t20 WC final this will be another daunting task for Pakistan to come ahead against Eng and add to it we've selected a fragile middle ditto to T20 WC

Haris Sohail should have make the cut but perchis like SaudAbrar are included now Sarfraz should be in playing XI as he is good against spin

Imam
ABShafiq
Shan
Azhar
Babar
Rizwan
Nawaz
Faheem
Naseem
Rauf
Abrar/Noman

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Like t20 WC final this will be another daunting task for Pakistan to come ahead against Eng and add to it we've selected a fragile middle ditto to T20 WC

Haris Sohail should have make the cut but perchis like SaudAbrar are included now Sarfraz should be in playing XI as he is good against spin

Imam
ABShafiq
Shan
Azhar
Babar
Rizwan
Nawaz
Faheem
Naseem
Rauf
Abrar/Noman

Abrar has the most wickets in the QEA by far. Saud is the 4rd highest scorer in QEA and has the most centuries. Haris Sohail hasn’t performed as highly and doesn’t have a knee suited to the rigours of test cricket.

I don’t know your definition of parchi, but they ain’t it.

 

[TheSultan]

Azhar Ali - biggest joke of all.

Please just someone put him out to pasture. Expecting a couple of constipated innings followed by some binary scores. Series ends and all forgotten

 

[Amjid Javed]

Azhar Ali - biggest joke of all.

Please just someone put him out to pasture. Expecting a couple of constipated innings followed by some binary scores. Series ends and all forgotten

PCB has special cake ready for his 100th tests, Also expect some pakistani highway pitches so mr mediocre isnt exposed on his big day. PCB has no interest in winning tests matches or trying to reach WTC finals, just ultra negative safety 1st cricket.

 

[Farabi]

Going by your logic, why Imam? He failed in recent QEA. Why not Usmam S, Hurraira, or Shan

Shan wasn't in his playing 11.

-Mohammad Ali should be preferred as he has shown potential in 4-day cricket.
-Abrar was standout and need a wicket-taking spinner. No-brainer for me.
-Shan Masood has performed well in county cricket as well as more compact than most Paksitani batsmen. We have already wasted Shan Masood. Only have 3-4 years left. Imam has a lot of time, and he didn't impress in QEA than on what grounds should he be given a go vs superior bowling?
-Azhar and Saud both shown current form
-Need Nawaz ahead of Fahim in Karachi. In Pindi, maybe Fahim.


Abdullah S
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
M.Rizwan
Nawaz
Abrar
Naseem
Rauf
Mohammad Ali

Wickets are good to bat on, challenge will be getting Eng out. Eng anyway not bringing their pace attack. Pak need to win test matches to make the top 2 for WC final.

 

[Amjid Javed]

A lot of clueless people here putting Nawaz at 7 in their final 11s, the guys batting is that of a tail ender. Number 7 is the spot for a batting all-rounder, otherwise you end up with a tail starting at 7.

With Tailenders like Azhar and Agha in the top 5 its asking for trouble. Same stupid team selections got exposed in SL.

if your going to pick just 5 batsmen, pick your best 5 batters not plastic all rounders or has beens.

Nawaz should be selected as a specalist spinner and be batting no higher then number 8. Faheems batting could be used at 7 as well using him as a seamer. Even then Fahims been poor for quite a while now as well.

 

[heddie19]

Team for the 1st test at Pindi Cricket Stadium should be

1. Shafique
2. Imam
3. Azhar
4. Babar
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Rizwan
7. Nawaz
8. Faheem
9. Abrar
10. Naseem
11. Rauf

 

[PakFan2010]

You do realize that it was division 2 og tbe county championship for both players. neither should be in final test 11.

Marcus Labuschagne played in division 2 and only averaged 40ish.

 

[Farabi]

A lot of clueless people here putting Nawaz at 7 in their final 11s, the guys batting is that of a tail ender. Number 7 is the spot for a batting all-rounder, otherwise you end up with a tail starting at 7.

With Tailenders like Azhar and Agha in the top 5 its asking for trouble. Same stupid team selections got exposed in SL.

if your going to pick just 5 batsmen, pick your best 5 batters not plastic all rounders or has beens.

Nawaz should be selected as a specalist spinner and be batting no higher then number 8. Faheems batting could be used at 7 as well using him as a seamer. Even then Fahims been poor for quite a while now as well.

3k runs @ 35 avg in FC aren't exactly "tailender" stats. Can you recommend a proper spinner who has better FC record as a batsman?
Zafar Gohar has compiled 2k runs at 24.

I am not interested in your opinion. Please attach FC record/data and ensure the player has demonstrated consistent performance across 3 seasons.

Fahim Ashraf makes no sense in Pakistan outside Rawalpindi.

 

[ElRaja]

Team for the 1st test at Pindi Cricket Stadium should be

1. Shafique
2. Imam
3. Azhar
4. Babar
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Rizwan
7. Nawaz
8. Faheem
9. Abrar
10. Naseem
11. Rauf

id replace faheem with wasim, dont need to bat to 8 on Pakistani pitches, and his pace and bounce would have more use than faheems bowling (which has been pedestrian in county and domestic)

 

[Grunge101]

How does Wasim make the test squad. I'm genuinely surprised because he has displayed nothing uptil now to even remotely suggest he would be a test match bowler.

 

[Farabi]

How does Wasim make the test squad. I'm genuinely surprised because he has displayed nothing uptil now to even remotely suggest he would be a test match bowler.

He showed he can bowl at 140, and people think that is all it takes to succeed in test cricket.
Mohammad Ali, proper 4 day cricket bowler, bowling with tight lines and swing the cherry. Shown maturity and setting up batsmen. Not good enough because he is a "trundler".

Obsession with pace is Pakistan's double-edged sword.

 

[Amjid Javed]

3k runs @ 35 avg in FC aren't exactly "tailender" stats. Can you recommend a proper spinner who has better FC record as a batsman?
Zafar Gohar has compiled 2k runs at 24.

I am not interested in your opinion. Please attach FC record/data and ensure the player has demonstrated consistent performance across 3 seasons.

Fahim Ashraf makes no sense in Pakistan outside Rawalpindi.

pakistan domestic cricket is very poor to say the least. Also with most players so called batting averages you can take atleast 10 off it when it comes to international cricket. everyone getting excited by a few circus T20 knocks and thinking hes a test all rounder

You seriously think if pakistan is 100/5 nawaz is going to walk in and score a 100? like i said before number 7 is for a player whose strongest suit is their batting, nawaz looks better as a bowler.

Id rather pakistan play 6 genuine batsmen and get extra overs needed from one of those batsmen.

Nawaz looked woeful with the bat in SL test series and england bowlers will expose that aswell.

im not interested in your deluded opinion thinking some mediocre domestic all rounder is going to become a reliable test all rounder/ 6th batsmen in the team.

mo wasim makes most of his clueless selections based on pure stats aswell

 

[Amjid Javed]

Marcus Labuschagne played in division 2 and only averaged 40ish.

labuschagne isnt a TTF international test bastmen like Azhar or shan. Both mediocre and time to move on from both.

Dont get this fascination that shan has failed in tests as an opener but some people want him at 3. Same stupid logic used with other test players in past.

Pakistan has players like saud, Ghulam etc.. who should be in test side to see if they are good enough but instead just recycle rubbish like Azhar, shan, fawad etc..

 

[Markhor]

Not sure why people keep saying Agha Salman is a bits and pieces. Not saying he'll become a worldbeater in Tests but he's earned a chance. Some of the pitches have been flat, but the conditions are same for everyone. Here's his QEA Trophy averages:

2019/20 - 74.33
2020/21 - 58.81
2021/22 - 46.50
2022/23 - 55.16

If he fails then fine send him back to domestics, but at least give him a run.

 

[shamaan]

Why no Fawad Alam?

What do you mean why no Fawad Alam ?

 

[shamaan]

Hasan Ali should have been picked for tests. His LOI bowling has fallen off a cliff but I still think he’s handy in tests, especially with no Shaheen

He hasn't performed in this Qaid E Azam.

 

[shamaan]

Why M ALI choose over Hassan Ali? is he just another trundler?

Hassan Ali has lost his pace quite abit.

 

[Nasty Naz]

A lot of clueless people here putting Nawaz at 7 in their final 11s, the guys batting is that of a tail ender. Number 7 is the spot for a batting all-rounder, otherwise you end up with a tail starting at 7.

With Tailenders like Azhar and Agha in the top 5 its asking for trouble. Same stupid team selections got exposed in SL.

if your going to pick just 5 batsmen, pick your best 5 batters not plastic all rounders or has beens.

Nawaz should be selected as a specalist spinner and be batting no higher then number 8. Faheems batting could be used at 7 as well using him as a seamer. Even then Fahims been poor for quite a while now as well.

Maybe you should look at the stats since the 2019 domestic revamp. https://twitter.com/Krick3r/status/1594595489705562112?s=20&t=sY7tpxoDJsrqVzGKQpShEA

Nawaz has a 50.33 AVG in FC since then. He has improved enough to the point he is a proper allrounder. Most of the players in that list are on the Pakistan team including so-called "tailender" Agha Salman.

Early days but Huraira is looking like a special batsmen and could be on the team soon enough.

 

[Farabi]

pakistan domestic cricket is very poor to say the least. Also with most players so called batting averages you can take atleast 10 off it when it comes to international cricket. everyone getting excited by a few circus T20 knocks and thinking hes a test all rounder

You seriously think if pakistan is 100/5 nawaz is going to walk in and score a 100? like i said before number 7 is for a player whose strongest suit is their batting, nawaz looks better as a bowler.

Id rather pakistan play 6 genuine batsmen and get extra overs needed from one of those batsmen.

Nawaz looked woeful with the bat in SL test series and england bowlers will expose that aswell.

im not interested in your deluded opinion thinking some mediocre domestic all rounder is going to become a reliable test all rounder/ 6th batsmen in the team.

mo wasim makes most of his clueless selections based on pure stats aswell

First, I had Nawaz at 7 not 6. I agree on 6 genuine batsmen.
Second, I agree that domestic standard is lower than international, but it is still the same for all those playing in domestic cricket, so someone with higher FC average will generally promise more than lower right. If someone is averaging 20 in FC, then by your own definition, this person would average 10 in international cricket!

Finally, you didn't answer who should be the no7 batsman who can give you 10-15 overs a day? (Note: I am talking about spinner as you need that option as well as a fast-bowling allrounder). Does this player exist or is it a dream

let's agree to disagree but no need to get personal

 

[shamaan]

Overall it is a good squad baring a few selections such as Salman Agha,Wasim Jnr I would have gone with kamran Ghullam or Mubasir instead of Agha.

My xi for first test
Abdullah Shafique
Imaam Ul Haq
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Rizwan
Fahim Ashraf
Nawaz
Naseem Shah
Abrar Ahmed
Ali

 

[Amjid Javed]

Maybe you should look at the stats since the 2019 domestic revamp. https://twitter.com/Krick3r/status/1594595489705562112?s=20&t=sY7tpxoDJsrqVzGKQpShEA

Nawaz has a 50.33 AVG in FC since then. He has improved enough to the point he is a proper allrounder. Most of the players in that list are on the Pakistan team including so-called "tailender" Agha Salman.

Early days but Huraira is looking like a special batsmen and could be on the team soon enough.

A proper all rounder )

The guy couldnt even hit the ball off the square in SL. 4 inns and 48 runs in SL test series and all this from an "All rounder"

A guy who after 5 test is averaging 15 should be depended on bat at number 7. Yasir Shah looks a better player with bat at international level.

i have no issues with Nawaz playing as a front line spinner and batting 8 or 9.

Pakistan domestic cricket is played on life less roads. we see as soon as most of these "all rounders" getting exposed as soon as we play on sporting wickets.

people raving on like pakistan domestic cricket is some sort of world class level league. stop being deluded.

 

[Farabi]

Also [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION], Mohd Wasim is not a great example of using stats and data. He opportunistically uses data to defend his cases, but he also ignores data when it suits his agenda. If Pak was really using data/stats, Pak would perform much better than it does today.

 

[shamaan]

First, I had Nawaz at 7 not 6. I agree on 6 genuine batsmen.
Second, I agree that domestic standard is lower than international, but it is still the same for all those playing in domestic cricket, so someone with higher FC average will generally promise more than lower right. If someone is averaging 20 in FC, then by your own definition, this person would average 10 in international cricket!

Finally, you didn't answer who should be the no7 batsman who can give you 10-15 overs a day? (Note: I am talking about spinner as you need that option as well as a fast-bowling allrounder). Does this player exist or is it a dream

let's agree to disagree but no need to get personal

He isn't in the squad but Mubasir can bat at 6/7 and can easily move 15 overs a day.

 

[Farabi]

Maybe you should look at the stats since the 2019 domestic revamp. https://twitter.com/Krick3r/status/1594595489705562112?s=20&t=sY7tpxoDJsrqVzGKQpShEA

Nawaz has a 50.33 AVG in FC since then. He has improved enough to the point he is a proper allrounder. Most of the players in that list are on the Pakistan team including so-called "tailender" Agha Salman.

Early days but Huraira is looking like a special batsmen and could be on the team soon enough.

Pak should give Nawaz more tests. For some, all it takes is to write off players after 4 innings...

 

[Amjid Javed]

First, I had Nawaz at 7 not 6. I agree on 6 genuine batsmen.
Second, I agree that domestic standard is lower than international, but it is still the same for all those playing in domestic cricket, so someone with higher FC average will generally promise more than lower right. If someone is averaging 20 in FC, then by your own definition, this person would average 10 in international cricket!

Finally, you didn't answer who should be the no7 batsman who can give you 10-15 overs a day? (Note: I am talking about spinner as you need that option as well as a fast-bowling allrounder). Does this player exist or is it a dream

let's agree to disagree but no need to get personal

Nawaz at 7 is to high, sorry but he looked like a tail-ender in SL series. like i said previously the person batting at number has to be able to get into side on batting alone. Does Nawaz do that? no he doesnt.

Nawaz is better then most of our spinners so i dont have an issue with him being at 8 or 9.

Our tail has started at number 7 in the last 3 tests and we have lost 2 of those and the other our main batsmen bailed us out.

our batting is mediocre yet captain decides we only need 5 batsmen which has included passengers like Azhar or fawad etc.. you simply going to get bowled cheaply in 1 inns of a test and be chasing the game.

i said this before the Aussie series pakistans 11 should be (obviously certain players are injured at moment)

Abdullah
opener 2
Saud - left spin if needed
Babar - can bowl off spin
Kamran Ghulam - left spin if needed
Rizwan
6th Batsmen or a Batting all rounder
Front line spinner
Rauf / Hasan Ali / Dhani
Naseem shah
Shaheen

pakistan do not produce rank turners, never have and never will. pace bowling is our strength. Pakistan could easily get 5th bowling overs from a combination of Saud / Ghulam / Babar and who ever is batting 7.

You pick 4 front line bowlers to try and take 20 wickets. More often then not the 5th bowling option gets under bowled and im sure out part timer bowlers can do a job.

Yet again a poor squad doesnt allow for good balance in reality. may look good on paper but cricket aint won on paper.

 

[mon858]

Everything is okay except I wish they had also decided to move on from azhar ali and invest in new talen like Karman ghulam. If you don't do it in home series when will you do it. And also shows double standard between him and fawad Alam.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pak should give Nawaz more tests. For some, all it takes is to write off players after 4 innings...

His batting will never be good enough to play as a 6th batsmen in side. Those 4 inns plus his previous stint in side vs WI showed hes technically not good enough to be depended on with the bat.

 

[Farabi]

He isn't in the squad but Mubasir can bat at 6/7 and can easily move 15 overs a day.

Yes, Mubasir is def a good option, but at 20 years of age, he should be next in-line if Nawaz fails in this season.

 

[Farabi]

His batting will never be good enough to play as a 6th batsmen in side. Those 4 inns plus his previous stint in side vs WI showed hes technically not good enough to be depended on with the bat.

Are you even reading the posts? Everyone has him at 7 not 6. 4 innings are not enough sample size.

 

[Farabi]

Nawaz at 7 is to high, sorry but he looked like a tail-ender in SL series. like i said previously the person batting at number has to be able to get into side on batting alone. Does Nawaz do that? no he doesnt.

Nawaz is better then most of our spinners so i dont have an issue with him being at 8 or 9.

Our tail has started at number 7 in the last 3 tests and we have lost 2 of those and the other our main batsmen bailed us out.

our batting is mediocre yet captain decides we only need 5 batsmen which has included passengers like Azhar or fawad etc.. you simply going to get bowled cheaply in 1 inns of a test and be chasing the game.

i said this before the Aussie series pakistans 11 should be (obviously certain players are injured at moment)

Abdullah
opener 2
Saud - left spin if needed
Babar - can bowl off spin
Kamran Ghulam - left spin if needed
Rizwan
6th Batsmen or a Batting all rounder
Front line spinner
Rauf / Hasan Ali / Dhani
Naseem shah
Shaheen

pakistan do not produce rank turners, never have and never will. pace bowling is our strength. Pakistan could easily get 5th bowling overs from a combination of Saud / Ghulam / Babar and who ever is batting 7.

You pick 4 front line bowlers to try and take 20 wickets. More often than not the 5th bowling option gets under bowled, and im sure out part timer bowlers can do a job.

Yet again a poor squad doesnt allow for good balance in reality. may look good on paper but cricket aint won on paper.

It's too early to comment on Nawaz batting. I wild hold the judgement until he has played at least 6-8 more innings.

I agree with the rest of your analysis.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Are you even reading the posts? Everyone has him at 7 not 6. 4 innings are not enough sample size.

Did you read my post! i said number 7 is to high. Your tail starts at 7.

5 Batsmen + Rizwan (wicket keeper) = 6
Nawaz at 7 = 6th batsmen in the team

i clearly said you need someone at 7 whose strongest suit is batting 1st.

Answer the question - is Nawaz good enough to play as a 6th batsmen?

You think we have 5 world class batsmen + Gilchrist that we can afford a tail starting at number 7?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Also [MENTION=16]Amjid Javed[/MENTION], Mohd Wasim is not a great example of using stats and data. He opportunistically uses data to defend his cases, but he also ignores data when it suits his agenda. If Pak was really using data/stats, Pak would perform much better than it does today.

Mo wasim makes things up as he goes along to suit his agenda i agree on that. He seems to have a fascination right now with players who can bat a bit, bowl a bit rather then picking proper specialists to do job. This is one reason why team was so poor for majority of Aus and SL series.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Everything is okay except I wish they had also decided to move on from azhar ali and invest in new talen like Karman ghulam. If you don't do it in home series when will you do it. And also shows double standard between him and fawad Alam.

Pakistan had perfect chance to blood bew batsmen in last year or so with the following series all being in Asia

Aus (H) - 3
SL (A) - 2
Eng (H) - 3
NZ (H) - 2

Thats 10 tests the like of saud / Ghulam etc.. could have been bed in to see if they are good enough. instead what will happen is these players will get picked in Aussie away tour, find it tough and be dropped and not get picked for years after.

This is how dumb mo wasim and Babar Azam are, they would rather recycle rubbish.

 

[Saj]

Imam picked again despite us hearing that domestic cricket performances are the key to international selection.

 

[Bewal Express]

Mubashir is the best off spinner in domestic cricket and has taken wickets and scored runs. Chacha Nauman couldnt turn the ball in SL and he has been picked again. He offers control but no turn and that isnt going to work against the likes of Root etc

 

[Bewal Express]

Imam picked again despite us hearing that domestic cricket performances are the key to international selection.

I dont mind his selection but he has to perform.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Imam picked again despite us hearing that domestic cricket performances are the key to international selection.

Quite ironic as Mo wasim had a few years ago said Imam needs to improve his domestic red ball performances to earn a recall.

I was willing to give mo wasim benefit of doubt when he 1st became selector of team, but as time has gone on hes just become more and more clueless with his justifications and selections.

 

[Suleiman]

A travesty that Wasim Jr and Dahani got selected ahead of Hasnain.

Wasim is a t20 specialist, this selection makes zero sense.

Babar continues to prove his cluelessness if he signed off on this. He has no idea on how to use an attacking 145k+ pacer with the ability to move the ball around.

 

[moghul]

Most disappointing selection is that of Azhar ALi, after his failure against Australia in at crucial moments I hoped I would not have to see him again playing for Pakistan , but not to be, thanks to our spineless and insecure selector.

 

[Farabi]

Did you read my post! i said number 7 is to high. Your tail starts at 7.

5 Batsmen + Rizwan (wicket keeper) = 6
Nawaz at 7 = 6th batsmen in the team

i clearly said you need someone at 7 whose strongest suit is batting 1st.

Answer the question - is Nawaz good enough to play as a 6th batsmen?

You think we have 5 world class batsmen + Gilchrist that we can afford a tail starting at number 7?

Got it!
So you’re saying no7 should be a batting allrounder basically. I actually agree with that, given how unreliable and inexperienced our top 6 are right now.
But who is this gonna be? Do you have a few names

 

[Farabi]

Mubashir is the best off spinner in domestic cricket and has taken wickets and scored runs. Chacha Nauman couldnt turn the ball in SL and he has been picked again. He offers control but no turn and that isnt going to work against the likes of Root etc

Yup, he was a better option instead of Nauman.
Thoughts on exclusion of Usman S

 

[Bewal Express]

Yup, he was a better option instead of Nauman.
Thoughts on exclusion of Usman S

Salauddin?

 

[Bewal Express]

A travesty that Wasim Jr and Dahani got selected ahead of Hasnain.

Wasim is a t20 specialist, this selection makes zero sense.

Babar continues to prove his cluelessness if he signed off on this. He has no idea on how to use an attacking 145k+ pacer with the ability to move the ball around.

None are playing and Dahani is more suited to tests than either of the other 2.

 

[mazkhan]

What's the odds that m ali will be a flash in the pan bowler like tanvir ahmed .

 

[Farabi]

Salauddin?

Yes Usman Salauddin, he brings loads of experience, also in form (top 5 run getter so far?, not sure)

 

[Kianig89]

Some easy wickets for Anderson & Co.

 

[Savak]

Abrar bowls mostly googlies, top spinners, he varies his pace well. Most of his wickets are bowled, lbws. He doesn't have a big turning leg spinner. This was the same issue with Yasir Shah. England managed to neutralize Yasir Shah by playing him with a straight bat and by not playing across the line.

 

[Xoib]

Not sure why people keep saying Agha Salman is a bits and pieces. Not saying he'll become a worldbeater in Tests but he's earned a chance. Some of the pitches have been flat, but the conditions are same for everyone. Here's his QEA Trophy averages:

2019/20 - 74.33
2020/21 - 58.81
2021/22 - 46.50
2022/23 - 55.16

If he fails then fine send him back to domestics, but at least give him a run.

Yed Salman desrrves a go based on his stats hes in the same ball park of deserved selection as Ghulam and Saud.

I was disappointed what i saw of his bowling though expected alteast a Hafeez level bowler but hes just a part timer.

 

[Titan24]

What are the pitches like now in domestic cricket in Pakistan? favour the fast bowlers still or have they produced better wickets in recent past?

Wickets are definitely better then what they used to be in the previous structure if we talk about them being really seam friendly back then however, sometimes new structure is touching the other extreme a bit. I would like to see more pace and bounce. Batsmen on most pitches are finding it easier than they should be to get better prepared for international level. Some of the averages of the batsmen since new structure are a bit inflated due to flat wickets on few venues as mentioned, while it pushes bowlers to put in the more yards and hard work but a better balance would mean batsmen and bowlers both being developed as required.

Lahore and Karachi have been generally flat. Rawalpindi naturally offers something to the pacers so better competition overall between bat and ball has been there.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Got it!
So you’re saying no7 should be a batting allrounder basically. I actually agree with that, given how unreliable and inexperienced our top 6 are right now.
But who is this gonna be? Do you have a few names

We need either a Afridi/Razzaq/Hafeez type number 6/7 (yes i know hafeez opened) or you pretty much pick a genuine 6th batsmen. Then your 5th bowler comes from your batsmen bowling overs, only needs 1 or 2 to be decent. Aghas bowling isnt even part time so not sure why hes been picked.

ideally Shadab would be a good choice, sadly he seems to have no interest in playing test cricket. so this is where pakistan domestically need to produce a genuine batting all rounder or our batsmen improve their bowling to help.

 

[Titan24]

We need either a Afridi/Razzaq/Hafeez type number 6/7 (yes i know hafeez opened) or you pretty much pick a genuine 6th batsmen. Then your 5th bowler comes from your batsmen bowling overs, only needs 1 or 2 to be decent. Aghas bowling isnt even part time so not sure why hes been picked.

ideally Shadab would be a good choice, sadly he seems to have no interest in playing test cricket. so this is where pakistan domestically need to produce a genuine batting all rounder or our batsmen improve their bowling to help.

Agha Salman to his and team credit has bowled around 100 overs in the ongoing QAE trophy and picked 7 wickets with an economy of around 3.5. So atleast he has been bowling, yes numbers arent great but can chip in with overs if required.

However, with Nawaz and Faheem both in the mix two all rounders (Faheem being considered as batting all rounder in red ball cricket and form while Nawaz as bowling all rounder) can make up for decent batting depth as well as bowling options for now.

 

[wrongun]

Imam picked again despite us hearing that domestic cricket performances are the key to international selection.

You finally find a decent test opener and you want to turf him after he dominates at homes vs Oz and then is solid vs Sri Lanka away?

No nation drops an established Test player with good home Test form because they were "just ok" in early season domestics. It seems an almost deliberately literal -yet unrealistic- reading of "domestic form matters" to me actually. Seems more like you're looking for problems.

I mean if it's me, and I'm selecting openers and one guy scored big and scored big multiple times in the first home series v major opposition in a decade... maybe I keep that guy. Worry about the other end.

 

[PakLFC]

I always welcome new names. The FIFA WC will over shadow this tour still I expect us to win it.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

Don't mind the selection of Abrar but he needs to get a hattrick in the first game.

 

[Major]

We need either a Afridi/Razzaq/Hafeez type number 6/7 (yes i know hafeez opened) or you pretty much pick a genuine 6th batsmen. Then your 5th bowler comes from your batsmen bowling overs, only needs 1 or 2 to be decent. Aghas bowling isnt even part time so not sure why hes been picked.

ideally Shadab would be a good choice, sadly he seems to have no interest in playing test cricket. so this is where pakistan domestically need to produce a genuine batting all rounder or our batsmen improve their bowling to help.

nope, shadab cant play. and it has nothing to do with his interest.

If Shadab plays one test game, he gets injured and we wont have his service in t20 cricket which is also important.

Pakistan needs to develop some other spinner for test cricket.

 

[Ashmal]

Nawaz at 7 is to high, sorry but he looked like a tail-ender in SL series. like i said previously the person batting at number has to be able to get into side on batting alone. Does Nawaz do that? no he doesnt.

Nawaz is better then most of our spinners so i dont have an issue with him being at 8 or 9.

Our tail has started at number 7 in the last 3 tests and we have lost 2 of those and the other our main batsmen bailed us out.

our batting is mediocre yet captain decides we only need 5 batsmen which has included passengers like Azhar or fawad etc.. you simply going to get bowled cheaply in 1 inns of a test and be chasing the game.

i said this before the Aussie series pakistans 11 should be (obviously certain players are injured at moment)

Abdullah
opener 2
Saud - left spin if needed
Babar - can bowl off spin
Kamran Ghulam - left spin if needed
Rizwan
6th Batsmen or a Batting all rounder
Front line spinner
Rauf / Hasan Ali / Dhani
Naseem shah
Shaheen

pakistan do not produce rank turners, never have and never will. pace bowling is our strength. Pakistan could easily get 5th bowling overs from a combination of Saud / Ghulam / Babar and who ever is batting 7.

You pick 4 front line bowlers to try and take 20 wickets. More often then not the 5th bowling option gets under bowled and im sure out part timer bowlers can do a job.

Yet again a poor squad doesnt allow for good balance in reality. may look good on paper but cricket aint won on paper.

4 bowlers strategy is fine if you have spinners who can bowl all day at an economy of 3 and provide sufficient rest to pacers.

But currently Pakistan don't have that luxury.

In recent times, the spinners have leaked runs at more than 4 rpo....and the captain is forced to bring back the pacers and overbowl them which leads to them losing their potency in later spells.

Hence, they need to play an all-rounder and that's why we see the likes of Faheem and Agha getting to play.

They don't rate the bowling of Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam as a wicket-taking threat which leads to them being ignored for allrounders.

 

[shamaan]

We need either a Afridi/Razzaq/Hafeez type number 6/7 (yes i know hafeez opened) or you pretty much pick a genuine 6th batsmen. Then your 5th bowler comes from your batsmen bowling overs, only needs 1 or 2 to be decent. Aghas bowling isnt even part time so not sure why hes been picked.

ideally Shadab would be a good choice, sadly he seems to have no interest in playing test cricket. so this is where pakistan domestically need to produce a genuine batting all rounder or our batsmen improve their bowling to help.

For now it should be fahim at 7 and Nawaz at 8

You also have Qasim Akram or Mubasir who can be groomed for the number 6-7 position.

 

[Farabi]

For now it should be fahim at 7 and Nawaz at 8

You also have Qasim Akram or Mubasir who can be groomed for the number 6-7 position.

This is gonna be likely 11 knowing pak methods:

Imam
Abdullah
Azhar Ali
Babar
Salman
Rizwan
Fahim
Nawaz
Abrar
Naseem
Rauf

 

[mastermind_quad]

Woah it's look like a completely new team. So many unknown names.

I am not sure how these batter's are and no offense to them but it seems to me most of the bulk scoring need to be done by Babar, Shan Masood and maybe Azhar Ali. With some cameo's from Rizwan/Imam.