Pakistan announce squad of 12 for 1st Test against Australia, Mohammad Hafeez and Bilal Asif to play

[Abdullah719]

Sarfaraz Ahmed announces 12 for 1st Test against Australia: Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas and Wahab Riaz/Mir Hamza

 

[Markhor]

Mir Hamza won't play so the XI is obvious.

So we're actually opening with Hafeez ? What a backwards move, how many balls will he last against Starc ? He shouldn't come higher than 6.

At least team management have swallowed their ego and are playing three spinners as you should in UAE.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Well, the return of the Professor was on the cards.

He will accompany this great team to the World Cup.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

So Mohammad Hafeez to open yet again. Not sure if that's wise as he is much more useful down the order esp in Tests.

Bilal Asif is a Ifti chacha type selection. Will just slog a few and bowl 10-15 overs. Being there because Inzi could not find anything else.

 

[DRsohail]

Hafiz is opening.

 

[AFM]

So our attack will be Wahab, Abbas, Yasir, Bilal and Hafeez.

Expect Yasir to bowl 50+ overs as Sarfraz is determined to end his career prematurely.

 

[WengerOut]

Hafeez will own the left handers

 

[Saj]

Looks a weak 12 to me with the batting looking especially vulnerable.

 

[AFM]

Looks a weak 12 to me with the batting looking especially vulnerable.

The batting is fine with Sarfarz back down at 7. It's the bowling that concerns me.

 

[SupremeSelector]

Looks a weak 12 to me with the batting looking especially vulnerable.

Babar and Haris get out casually more often than not. If these two fail in this series, they should be dropped untill they do something good in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

 

[angrypathan]

Harsh on Usman Salahuddin to only get the 1 test, but makes sense. Hopefully Hafeez comes in the middle order

 

[topspin]

Hafeez doesn't have to open in this XI

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Shafiq
Babar
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Bilal
Yasir
Wahab
Abbas

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Pakistan will need a super Hafeez with the ball if they want to cover Inzi's blunder of not selecting a 2nd spinner.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Hafeez should bat in the late middle order since he's playing.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Pakistan will need a super Hafeez with the ball if they want to cover Inzi's blunder of not selecting a 2nd spinner.

Bilal Asif is the second spinner.

If he's decent or not is another argument.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

wahab should play ahead of mir hamza who is very mediocre.This is the Best possible 11 they can arrange.

 

[Buffet]

This is not an ideal squad, but Aus is too weak to compete in UAE.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Bilal Asif is the second spinner.

If he's decent or not is another argument.

There is a reason Mickey asked for Hafeez. They are probably not too sure about B. Asif. Mickey will expect Hafeez to bowl 12-15 overs in a day. Anything Bilal does will be a bonus.

 

[j_kazmi]

This squad makes me fear that the doom and gloom of the Asia Cup is not going away any time soon.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

This squad makes me fear that the doom and gloom of the Asia Cup is not going away any time soon.

Mickey is adamant that his formula of playing two allrounders will work in Asia as well.

If he fails again losing to Aus, NZ then he is going to face some serious criticism allround.

 

[Boi]

There is a reason Mickey asked for Hafeez. They are probably not too sure about B. Asif. Mickey will expect Hafeez to bowl 12-15 overs in a day. Anything Bilal does will be a bonus.

I don’t think we should read much into what Mickey thinks of certain players. He’s the same guy who has backed rubbish like Nawaz, Imad and Shinwari so I doubt his judgement of talent. Bilal has worked hard with Mushy who himself seems to rate him. Let’s just wait and see how he bowls.

 

[Shaka81]

Looking at that team expecting Pakistan to not only lose but to lose badly. Expect only a blockathon from Azhar to save the team from a total batting collapse in both of their innings and a burnt out Yasir from over bowling.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Will Mir humza play ahead of riaz?

 

[Saj]

Harsh on Usman Salahuddin to only get the 1 test, but makes sense. Hopefully Hafeez comes in the middle order

He flopped for Pakistan A recently but in that match he wss on a hiding to nothing.

 

[Hawkeye]

Pakistan will need a super Hafeez with the ball if they want to cover Inzi's blunder of not selecting a 2nd spinner.

Nothing to do with Inzi.

Mickey Arthur does not like spinners. He employed the same tactics against Sri Lanka and we lost to them in Tests!

 

[Bewal Express]

Hafeez should be batting at 6. Fakhar Zaman recent form cost him a test place.

 

[Josh]

This might be a closely faught series. If you remove Azhar Ali from this team, Australia would have a great chance to win.

 

[Abdullah719]

Hafeez doesn't have to open in this XI

Azhar
Imam
Haris
Shafiq
Babar
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Bilal
Yasir
Wahab
Abbas

He doesn't have to open, but Sarfaraz announced the squad in the order I listed in the OP. It sounded a lot like a batting order.

 

[gazza619]

I have always preferred to see Azhar Ali at 3, he just brings solidity. I would have played Hafeez at no.4, opened with Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq nd dropped the specialist 30 run maker Haris Sohail.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Great decision not to select Usman. I agree with Azhar at 3.

 

[Ozeirk]

There’s a question mark on Haris Sohails ability to play spin, it would have been better for him to play at number 3 to neutralize the pacers. Hafeez should not be risked up the order, if he loses his wicket early it can throw the team into panic mode. We need solidity up the order and azhar Ali was ideal for opening.

 

[mak36]

It's the best XI from the squad, but a pathetic decision to let Hafeez open the batting (and in the process disrupt the rest of the batting order).

 

[castortroy]

We will make Nathan Lyon look like Murali. Expect him to take loads of wickets.

Yasir shah will bowl his customary 50 overs per test for not many wickets.

Expecting a drawn series or Aussie win

Pak team is garbage

 

[Syed1]

How does Wahab Riaz keep getting a recall??? And you guys call me out when I say there is a definite bias for Lahore players by the PCB. Any other pacer has had this many chances despite baqwas performance after baqwas performance?


How the hell does Riaz get a spot but Hasan, Junaid, Shinwari and to a less extent Amir do not get one? Riaz is worse than all of those bowlers I mentioned. No seam, no swing, no direction. Just pace. But pace is pace yaar

 

[Syed1]

Weaken the opening so that you can have a solid number three - Pakistani logic

 

[Ozeirk]

How does Wahab Riaz keep getting a recall??? And you guys call me out when I say there is a definite bias for Lahore players by the PCB. Any other pacer has had this many chances despite baqwas performance after baqwas performance?


How the hell does Riaz get a spot but Hasan, Junaid, Shinwari and to a less extent Amir do not get one? Riaz is worse than all of those bowlers I mentioned. No seam, no swing, no direction. Just pace. But pace is pace yaar

He can be wayward at times however I have seen him breaking partnerships in UAE type wickets. He can effective when Yasir shah is bowling from the other end, it brings a good contrast of pace and spin.

 

[goran]

How does Wahab Riaz keep getting a recall??? And you guys call me out when I say there is a definite bias for Lahore players by the PCB. Any other pacer has had this many chances despite baqwas performance after baqwas performance?


How the hell does Riaz get a spot but Hasan, Junaid, Shinwari and to a less extent Amir do not get one? Riaz is worse than all of those bowlers I mentioned. No seam, no swing, no direction. Just pace. But pace is pace yaar

I am not a Wahab fan, but I think he is better than other pacers in UAE. The other pacers you mentioned haven't got anything to trouble the batsmen on these terrible pitches.

 

[MMHS]

Given the 18 names for 2 Tests, I think this is probably possible best XII. Batting almost picks themselves as they are considering MoHa as “all-rounder”, though I would have opened with Azhar because no way PAK is going to open in SAF with MoHa - they should have kept the settled opening pair intact.

Bilal over Shadab any day, considering he is picked as specialist Offie, with a little bit of batting - now how good Offie he is, we’ll see, but one thing for sure - Shadab won’t do much in Test cricket with his bowling. As they are still thinking a “modified MoHa” is as effective as like his “old action”’ may be a specialist SLAO finger spinner would have been better than Bilal - doesn’t matter, if he has to bat at 11. I think, Arthur has seen Haris to bowl at nets, so he is relieved about the leftist spinner, and Haris definitely can bat - fair enough.

Abbas earns his spot, while from the other 2, I’ll pick Wahab - in UAE he is actually still best bet from PAK if he still has the pace. New ball isn’t going to do much & they have 3 spinners, therefore pacers role is only about 10-12 overs with semi-old/old ball (per 80 overs), and may be even less in 2nd innings. Wahab is good at that role - at least better than others available. Last year, he gave PAK a chance to win a Test from almost impossible position against SRL, can do it in UAE again, though he is one year older now.

Not much to choose from either to be honest. In olden days, we used to wait for a surprise new face in almost every series, even every Test sometimes, but time has changed. Those days domestic cricket couldn’t polish young players so best bet was to bring them raw & develop within national set up. But now, PAK has got into elite status of cricket like IND, ENG, AUS, SAF - that means, selectors don’t pick players unless a youngster is “matured” enough from 5-6, may be even 10-12 years in QeA style - that’s a symbol of established, mature cricket nation - otherwise, may be I would have said that pick Afridi to put him straight into the fire and see if the boy on the burning deck can do what he is asked for.

 

[Amjid Javed]

So looks like haris sohail will be dropped so hafeez and imam can open? Azhar at 3? Pathetic move.

If hafeez plays imam should be dropped the constant moving if azhar and changing openers has gone beyond a joke now

 

[szundercover]

It's the best XI from the squad, but a pathetic decision to let Hafeez open the batting (and in the process disrupt the rest of the batting order).

I agree he will struggle against the new ball(especially against starc),it would have been better if he batted at no 4 or 5 when spinners are operating because he is very good against spin especially in the uae.

 

[szundercover]

Has Any one has seen bilal asif bowl .How is he as a spinner, is he an darter or does he actually spins the ball?

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan should win this . Aussies are at all time low.

 

[Savak]

Have a strong feeling Bilal Asif will be the surprise factor. He can bat and hit big as well.

 

[CadPakFan]

This is some footage of Bilal Asif for those who haven't seen him before.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38o3o8

 

[AFM]

So looks like haris sohail will be dropped so hafeez and imam can open? Azhar at 3? Pathetic move.

If hafeez plays imam should be dropped the constant moving if azhar and changing openers has gone beyond a joke now

Haris is playing.

 

[Mueez]

I guess Asif won't play.

 

[Amjid Javed]

If pakistan even lose 1 test to Australia then sarfaraz should get the boot.

 

[Major]

1 full time spinner on a UAE wicket.

sarfraz Ahmad is the wrost captain ever

 

[alized]

This is a brilliant batting line up and order!!

MARK MY WORDS! they will succeed!!! Awesome seeing Azhar at 3 and Babar by 6!!

They will win this. Everyone above will be embarrassingly wrong.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Great decision not to select Usman. I agree with Azhar at 3.

Azhar will be practically opening with our opening pair, nothings ever learnt in team selection.

 

[Abdullah719]

I guess Asif won't play.

First 10 are confirmed, only 1 spot between Wahab and Mir. Meaning Wahab will play.

 

[Squidward]

Riaz had toothless stats in the warm up game, makes no sense to play him ahead of Hamza.

 

[wrongun]

Pakistan should win this . Aussies are at all time low.

You never heard of the early/mid 80s? Same rubbish batting with a far inferior bowling attack back then.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

How does Wahab Riaz keep getting a recall??? And you guys call me out when I say there is a definite bias for Lahore players by the PCB. Any other pacer has had this many chances despite baqwas performance after baqwas performance?


How the hell does Riaz get a spot but Hasan, Junaid, Shinwari and to a less extent Amir do not get one? Riaz is worse than all of those bowlers I mentioned. No seam, no swing, no direction. Just pace. But pace is pace yaar

Wahab Riaz has done better than almost every Pakistani pacer in the UAE over the last two years. He's nothing special but I don't see any other fast-bowler in the side who can bowl so many long spells on these docile pitches at such a pace and also get the old ball to reverse at crucial stages.

 

[PakLFC]

Where is Hasan Ali?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I've seen Bilal Asif bowl and he can spin the ball. However, it's puzzling how he often uses himself as he is the captain of NBP. Often times, he'll bowl only a couple of overs while at other times he'll bowl 15-16 overs. Maybe this has something to do with the pace-friendly pitches in QEA Trophy but the selectors have clearly seen something in him which is why they have ascended him into the national side, awarded him with a central contract and are now backing him as the second/third spinner. His stats are inconclusive for me. A FC average of 30 is neither good nor bad so I guess we'll just have to wait and see how he does.

 

[the_outsider]

How does Wahab Riaz keep getting a recall??? And you guys call me out when I say there is a definite bias for Lahore players by the PCB. Any other pacer has had this many chances despite baqwas performance after baqwas performance?


How the hell does Riaz get a spot but Hasan, Junaid, Shinwari and to a less extent Amir do not get one? Riaz is worse than all of those bowlers I mentioned. No seam, no swing, no direction. Just pace. But pace is pace yaar

Among bowlers who have played at least 3 tests in UAE, Wahab Riaz has the second lowest bowling average.

Averages for:

Imran Khan - 28.15
Wahab - 30.28
Gul - 31.9
Junaid - 32.26
Rahat Ali - 39
Amir - 56.5

Hasan averaged 36 in the only test he played in UAE.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

So Hafeez is opening.
I Don't understand why they don't choose Fawad Alam he is a much better opener than Hafeez. Yes, Hafeez can bowl some spin but there is Bilal Asif, Yasir shah and Haris.

 

[srh]

Will Mir humza play ahead of riaz?

depends on the pitch; Humza is a better bowler than Riaz for sure but will he be as effective on UAE wickets?

 

[Ozeirk]

Wahab Riaz can be very effective once reverse swing comes into play.

 

[yasir]

Mostly likely Hafeez will open, the bowling along with Abbas

Hafeez Opening the batting would be really bad move, as in SA, Lula langra Steyn is enough for Hafeez, not to mention Vernon and Rabada...

This Asia Cup has done lot more damage to Pakistani team, we are going back to Misbah's Era...Secondly, why we are not investing in specialist spinners in test, this is where Micky has gone horribly wrong, you need two full-time spinners in Asia(most of the time)?


Seamers Abbas and Wahab are no brainer (from the Squad, we got).

 

[Stalin]

Mostly likely Hafeez will open, the bowling along with Abbas

Hafeez Opening the batting would be really bad move, as in SA, Lula langra Steyn is enough for Hafeez, not to mention Vernon and Rabada...

This Asia Cup has done lot more damage to Pakistani team, we are going back to Misbah's Era...Secondly, why we are not investing in specialist spinners in test, this is where Micky has gone horribly wrong, you need two full-time spinners in Asia(most of the time)?


Seamers Abbas and Wahab are no brainer (from the Squad, we got).

What has Asia cup got to do with the selection of the test team ?

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

Will be interesting to see how the three spinners go about business. Top order doesn't seem right, Azhar opening with Hafeez one down would have made some sense...

 

[Hawkeye]

How does Wahab Riaz keep getting a recall??? And you guys call me out when I say there is a definite bias for Lahore players by the PCB. Any other pacer has had this many chances despite baqwas performance after baqwas performance?


How the hell does Riaz get a spot but Hasan, Junaid, Shinwari and to a less extent Amir do not get one? Riaz is worse than all of those bowlers I mentioned. No seam, no swing, no direction. Just pace. But pace is pace yaar

Because Wahab is a good option for dead pitches like in the UAE. And to get reverse swing with the old ball at pace.

I don't like him either but he's good for these conditions.

Criticize he karna bus!