Pakistan announce Test squad for the tour of South Africa, Mohammad Amir and Shan Masood back

[MenInG]

Lahore- December 7, 2018: The National Selection Committee headed by Inzamam ul Haq after consultation with Captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Head Coach Mickey Arthur has announced the 16 member Test squad for three Test matches against South Africa. The first Test match of the three-match series will be played at Centurion from December 26 to 30, 2018. The second Test match will be played at Cape Town from January 3 to 7, 2019. The third and final Test match of the series will be played at Johannesburg from January 11 to 15, 2019.

“The best possible squad has been selected keeping in mind the conditions of South Africa. Three openers have been selected in the squad, where Shan Masood has been selected after the retirement of Mohammad Hafeez from Test cricket. Mohammad Amir makes a comeback in the team after regaining his form in the domestic cricket, giving strength to fast bowling attack that includes four pace bowlers. Mohammad Rizwan has been included in the squad after performing consistently in the domestic cricket and for Pakistan ’A’,” concludes Chief Selector Inzamam ul Haq.

 

[angrypathan]

Shan Masood over Abid Ali...
Amir back, good to see Rizwan being taken too.

 

[Savak]

We are playing in South Africa. Have the selectors forgotten the importance of needing cutters and puller and hookers in the team.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Shan Masood is back!

 

[Suleiman]

Shan MASOOOD )

Killing it in 50 over cricket, has been a proven mug in tests, chosen for tests. Classic Inzi

Inzi has lost the plot completely. Seeing his bhateeja get owned time and again has sent him into shock and now he is doing wack things.

Bechara Shan Masood. If he fails in tests they won't select him for ODIs again as well, the FORMAT HE SHOULD'VE BEEN SELECTED FOR. Not his fault.

Maulvi saab did the same thing with Mohammad Sami, effectively cutting his ODI career in half.

So frustrating. But literally everyone predicted this move from Mr. "credit to the boyzz" from a mile away.

 

[arehaan]

Useless squad white wash on cards. Imam on a paid holiday to South Africa

 

[Asif321]

Mirhamza , Saad Ali, Usman axed for no reason total stupidity
While Lara Sohail is a golden boy now

 

[Asif321]

Inzi can’t see any opener beyond nephew and Baba Shaan
One of the worst selector. Had so much hopes

 

[BilalSez]

Good timing for declaration of Squad. Inzi you legand. Imam again....

 

[hussain.r97]

Shan Masood in Tests? Imam ul Haq still there after proving to be useless and technically poor?

Where are Saad Ali and Abid Ali?

 

[Something]

What a pathetic batting line up there. Why the hell would you drop Bilal Asif and replace him with Shadab when he's done well in this series as a bowler.

Inzi should really step down.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Shan Masood over Abid Ali...
Amir back, good to see Rizwan being taken too.

Shan Masood is back!

Useless squad white wash on cards. Imam on a paid holiday to South Africa

Inzi can’t see any opener beyond nephew and Baba Shaan
One of the worst selector. Had so much hopes

Good timing for declaration of Squad. Inzi you legand. Imam again....

Shan Masood in Tests? Imam ul Haq still there after proving to be useless and technically poor?

Where are Saad Ali and Abid Ali?

Abid’s fitness came in his way otherwise Shan wouldn’t have made the cut.


To his credit Shan was highest rungetter vs NZ A where he scored 2 FC tons at an Average of 88 and impressive Sr of 72.


Imam will either end in slips like Hafeez or would be found out on Hook or Pull. Might even get injured again aswell (God forbid)



Two aggressive openers in shape of Fakhar and Shan have been picked. Shan in last 2 years has scored heavily and the change has been SR be it be domestic or his appearances for Pakistan A.

 

[Kroll]

Think it was time to boot out Shafiq the passenger and give someone else a chance. What has this guy ever done for Pakistan?

 

[Mamoon]

Good or bad, this is the exact squad everyone expected.

 

[Fahdi]

Saad Ali dropped without getting a game.

Shan Masood back.

I can understand not selecting Abid Ali because he is 32 but he deserves the go ahead of Shan whose performances have come in the 50 over format.

Bowling line up is good though.

 

[b.lesner]

Sadab khan is not made for test cricket and Mohammad aamir too and by selecting Aamir again and again is showing young players that they are not worth it

 

[as-95]

Imam can't handle the short ball in Abu Dhabi so what makes Uncle Inzi think he can handle it in South Africa?

Pathetic nepotistic selection. Abid Ali should have been selected over Imam as the starting opener and we should have had Saud Shakeel or another talented youngster instead of Masood(who is better in Limited Overs Cricket only).

Inzi was a terrible captain and he is an even wore Chief Selector. He does not know how to select a team based on the format. He does not know how to select people based on merit. He does NOT know how to drop under performing players.

 

[Something]

They're going to be absolutely wrecked in SA. It's going to be a thrashing for the ages.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Shan and Imam, just shows if you have relatives in the PCB you will keep getting selected for pakistan.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Clever move by Inzi to name sqaud before we have lost this series to NZ, Just so calls cant be made for his head or other players.

As Mushy said, Inzi is a politician.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Shadab Khan (blue eyed boy of Sarfraz and Mickey) had no business for this tour.

Saud Shakeel or Saad Ali should have been picked instead.


No backup middle order batsman has been picked. Rizwan is a wicket keeper batsman and not a specialist batsman. SA will expose his technique vs Pace aswell as spin. He is lbw candidate, lacks balance while driving and picks up length late while hooking and pulling so finds it difficult to transfer weight on backfoot (exposed against 142 + pacers only)


Maharaaj would eat him up aswell. (V poor against Leg spin or Left arm spin of any type)



Because Rizwan has performed exceptionally well for Pakistan A so his selection as Sarfraz’s back up keeper (in case of injury + tour match keeping) is ok



But Saud Shakeel should have been picked as backup middle order batsman in case Asad, Babar or Haris get injured or fail to score in first two Tests.



Why Saud over Saad ? Because Saud is technically more sound and has shots all round the ground against pace.



Abid’s SR and fitness cost him Test Selection.



Fakhar should open with Azhar.



1. Fakhar
2. Azhar
3. Haris
4. Asad
5. Babar
6. Faheem
7. Sarfraz
8. Yasir
9. Amir
10. Hasan
11. Abass


Should be the line up for first Test.



Faheem hasn’t showed his true potential with the bat in International Cricket as of yet. His batting success would be crucial and he needs to be batting ahead of a captain Sarfraz Ahmed.


Shaheen can replace Amir or Hassan in the second Test if either one has v poor figures in 1st Test. No point in benching Amir if you have selected him and Hasan has performed well vs NZ so he should be retained.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Think it was time to boot out Shafiq the passenger and give someone else a chance. What has this guy ever done for Pakistan?

He has scored a Test hundred in SA, has scored a Test ton 2 days ago and averages highest 125 in current F.C. season with 2 FC tons.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Shan and Imam, just shows if you have relatives in the PCB you will keep getting selected for pakistan.

Shan Masood was the highest Scorer from both sides (352 runs) in Pakistan A series vs Nz A.

He was only batsman who scored two FC tons in that series.

He had the highest SR From both sides 73.


His selection this time is merited 100 %.

 

[amvbfm]

Just 4 middle order bats? So regardless of performance you will play the same middle order in all the tests unless you want to bring in Rizwan as a specialist batsman who is not good enough for that. Also cant see the point of taking Shadab as it is highly unlikely that we will go in with two spinners.

 

[Markhor]

No matter who you pick, we are getting whitewashed in South Africa regardless. However this is a mediocre and uninspiring selection of batsmen, showing the selectors have a group of 16 players in mind and are hellbent on sticking to them REGARDLESS of results.

Imam can't handle the short ball in UAE so how does Inzamam think he'll fare in South Africa ? Shan Masood has had 3-4 runs in the Test team and has failed each time whilst Abid Ali is ignored DESPITE being the best opener in QEA Trophy along with Fakhar Zaman for the last two seasons.

Also where is the backup middle-order batsman ? Saad Ali and Saud Shakeel have been sent to this useless Emerging Players Cup when they'd learn more with the national team. Fawad Alam doesn't even get a look in ? What do these guys have to do ?

For the top 7, I'd go:

Azhar
Fakhar
Haris
Babar
Shafiq
Rizwan
Sarfraz

 

[Kroll]

He has scored a Test hundred in SA, has scored a Test ton 2 days ago and averages highest 125 in current F.C. season with 2 FC tons.

What was the outcome of that Test match? and we're heading for defeat here. He can score a hundred all he likes to help himself now and again but nowhere to be seen when the team needs to him step up.

 

[Savak]

Just 4 middle order bats? So regardless of performance you will play the same middle order in all the tests unless you want to bring in Rizwan as a specialist batsman who is not good enough for that. Also cant see the point of taking Shadab as it is highly unlikely that we will go in with two spinners.

Shadab might get the nod ahead of Yasir because he can bat a bit as well

 

[Savak]

There are too many one dimensional slow accumulators in the batting line up, not a single aggressive counter attacking player. Do you seriously expect to put up a fighting chance in South Africa like this?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Just 4 middle order bats? So regardless of performance you will play the same middle order in all the tests unless you want to bring in Rizwan as a specialist batsman who is not good enough for that. Also cant see the point of taking Shadab as it is highly unlikely that we will go in with two spinners.

Shadab is there in case we want to drop Yasir and play with 4 pacers.

 

[amvbfm]

Shadab might get the nod ahead of Yasir because he can bat a bit as well

But his bowling is just not good enough to justify the runs that he might contribute. Also sense a little confusion about the possible composition of the team given Faheem's selection (unless I am overestimating the level of thinking and planning that goes into the selection process). With 4 pacers already there the only way I see Faheem playing is if we go with 5 bats or drop the spinner (more likely). Regardless, I would have liked to see another middle order bat in place of Shadab or Faheem.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Shadab is there in case we want to drop Yasir and play with 4 pacers.

Shadab is not a middle order batsmen

 

[amvbfm]

Shadab is there in case we want to drop Yasir and play with 4 pacers.

That will need us to drop a specialist batsman and I don't think Shadab is good enough for that role yet.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Shadab is not a middle order batsmen

He and Faheem together are better than a middle order batsman + tail ender.

 

[Junaids]

Shadab might get the nod ahead of Yasir because he can bat a bit as well

But his bowling is just not good enough to justify the runs that he might contribute. Also sense a little confusion about the possible composition of the team given Faheem's selection (unless I am overestimating the level of thinking and planning that goes into the selection process). With 4 pacers already there the only way I see Faheem playing is if we go with 5 bats or drop the spinner (more likely). Regardless, I would have liked to see another middle order bat in place of Shadab or Faheem.

At Johannesburg and Centurion Yasir Shah would be playing as a specialist batsman, so might as well play Shadab Khan instead.

The real scandal is only 4.5 quick bowlers, of whom Mohammad Abbas is unfit anyway.

Ehsan Adil should have been in this squad in place of the ninth batsman.

 

[amvbfm]

At Johannesburg and Centurion Yasir Shah would be playing as a specialist batsman, so might as well play Shadab Khan instead.

In that case you can play Faheem instead of Yasir. Still can't see the logic of picking both Shadab and Faheem.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

That will need us to drop a specialist batsman and I don't think Shadab is good enough for that role yet.

They can if they play both Shadab and Faheem.

Shadab
Faheem
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[161]

lol at the timing of this ... sneaky inzi

 

[Junaids]

Shadab might get the nod ahead of Yasir because he can bat a bit as well

But his bowling is just not good enough to justify the runs that he might contribute. Also sense a little confusion about the possible composition of the team given Faheem's selection (unless I am overestimating the level of thinking and planning that goes into the selection process). With 4 pacers already there the only way I see Faheem playing is if we go with 5 bats or drop the spinner (more likely). Regardless, I would have liked to see another middle order bat in place of Shadab or Faheem.

In that case you can play Faheem instead of Yasir. Still can't see the logic of picking both Shadab and Faheem.

Faheem plays anyway as the fourth quick batting at 8, with Hasan Ali making way for Mohammad Amir at 9.

The question then becomes who is most qualified to bat at 7 - Yasir Shah or Shadab Khan?

 

[amvbfm]

They can if they play both Shadab and Faheem.

Shadab
Faheem
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

You might be right but don't think that will be a good strategy. Also in that case we will have to open with Azhar.

 

[AAli98]

At least wev seen the back of Hafeez & bilal why is safraz in the squad? Waste of space better announce his retirement in the coming days from all formats!!

 

[aloo paratha]

Imam ul Haq retained... This guy can't score runs in UAE, how is he gonna score in South Africa?

 

[latecut]

It will be interesting to find great crowd watching this series as matches get over in three days.They will love it.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Lol at those who are selecting PSL teams and criticising Inzi for test selection.

 

[Madplayer]

Where are the bloodyyyy batsmen Inzimam?

What a useless batting line up that is!!!!!! Imam selected again. Shan masood in tests on swinging pitches! Rizwan performed in List A and he is selected in tests! Amir back in the squad after dropping on flat tracks.

This batting will be demolished by Saffer pace attack.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Shan Masood in Tests? Imam ul Haq still there after proving to be useless and technically poor?

Where are Saad Ali and Abid Ali?

Saad ali need rest after so much hard work and non stop providing service to players this year

 

[as-95]

If Hafeez hadn't retires, I am certain that the pathetic Chief Selector would have picked him. Inzimam needs to go. Sarfraz needs to sit on the bench as the backup keeper.

 

[Hawkeye]

Shan Masood.

Mockery of Pakistan cricket.

Unbelievable how he gets selected every time.

 

[KyoOne]

Another 3-0 coming our way.

At least we'll see the back of Sarfraz captaincy (though I'd still play him over Rizwan as a keeper-bat)

 

[Usman Chadda]

We will be mauled. End of.

 

[JaanZeb]

This is a rushed decision before Pakistan bats to another series loss, to announce the team immediately not to suffer any blowback and put Inzamam's nephew selection in doubt.

I guess this will also be Sarfraz and Mickey Arthur fault as they are chief selectors also.

Sarfraz, Arthur, Mahmood are trying to work out form the best of the resources they have and they are not being provided due to open nepotism and corruption going on in selection panel.

It also exposes our pathetic media who don't care about the devastation of Pakistan cricket, moreover just to protect their pawns in the board. More interested in backdoor information leaks, PCB funded trips, who is doing what in the dressing room and other related gossip. I've stopped watching that Yahya Hussaini because of his biased reporting

Feel bad for Imam also, don't know why his uncle is hell bent in getting him hurt. Some sort of family legacy issue going on plus blocking a deserving player like Abid Ali. Rabada and Steyn will smash his helmet to pieces.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

The end of Sarfraz's Test reign?

Bowling looks decent, but the batting selected terribly mediocre especially at the top. Wouldn't surprise me if this team doesn't cross 150 a couple of times in the series.

No proper test opener neither backup in the middle order. It's the norm these days for Inzi and co. Like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] said it is as expected.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Brainless Inzi will never learn. He was poor as captain and now he is proving as the worst selector of all time.

Shan Masood is good in limited over cricket still he is picked in Tests(proven failure).

Saad Ali should have been preferred over Shan.

Rizwan should replace Sarfaraz as soon as possible.

Left arm spinner in place of Shadab.

Mir Hamza in place of trundler Fahim as Abas is not fully fit.

 

[mesmerizer85]

Until the mamas and chachas of mediocre players are there in PCB, we wouldn't be seeing any wins Im afraid. Better change the selectors first!

 

[coy0607]

Shan Masood selected in the wrong format once again
Imam retained over Saad Ali is a farce
Asad, Haris... SA are going to toy with this batting

 

[mesmerizer85]

In my opinion they should select selectors from Rashid Latif, Misbah, Younis Khan and Afridi

 

[Hasan123]

Shan Masood scoring in list A cricket and he is picked for test cricket in South Africa) .

 

[Majid Khan]

Brainless Inzi will never learn. He was poor as captain and now he is proving as the worst selector of all time.

Shan Masood is good in limited over cricket still he is picked in Tests(proven failure).

Saad Ali should have been preferred over Shan.

Rizwan should replace Sarfaraz as soon as possible.

Left arm spinner in place of Shadab.

Mir Hamza in place of trundler Fahim as Abas is not fully fit.

Makes perfect sense, let’s include ODI specialist Shan in test team and then drop him for ODIs, saying we told you this guy is no good.

And maybe bring back test specialist Fawad Alam for T20 , watch him struggle and then use that to justify why he doesn’t get into Test team. Wah , Kya logic hai

 

[Zaz]

So we come off a home series defeat where the batsmen repeatedly kept on collapsing so you retain your failing nephew and pick shan masood who has no business being there playing test cricket

No back up middle order batsmen selected and batsmen such as salahuddin and saad are dropped for no reason Fawad again doesnt get a look in to this bradmanesque lineup

Diabolical selections

 

[JaanZeb]

I think poster [MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION] was saying that captain and coach are part of the selection decisions. I think Rizwan's selection shows there is politics and games being played with the team management by Inzamam.

P.s. Congrats to Saad Ali for becoming another Asif Zakir.

Hope somebody wakes up from PCB and stops Inzamam who himself is playing with Pakistan.

 

[Chokli]

Shan Masood was the highest Scorer from both sides (352 runs) in Pakistan A series vs Nz A.

He was only batsman who scored two FC tons in that series.

He had the highest SR From both sides 73.


His selection this time is merited 100 %.

He deserves a run in the ODI side not Tests

 

[sully3]

man What did Abid Ali do to deserve this.

Also Happy for Mo Rizwan easily the best keeper/batsman in Pakistan and much better then the fruad Salfraz Ahmed.

Also Harris Sohail another fruad will get exposed badly on this tour, no time for lazy slow minded batsman in todays game. If you want to throw it away every match after scoring 30 odd runs that means you are physically and mentally unfit to be playing internatioal cricket.

 

[Amjid Javed]

The footballing equivalent of retaining a team after being relegated or having a failed season, the manager and players all get their contracts reniewed.

This is what Inzi is doing at a cricketing X1.

Whilst Mickey, sarfraz and inzi are in charge of things pakistan will keep going backwards.

 

[Ali_Pakistan]

To hell with nepotism !
Small men in big positions.

 

[Dark_Horse]

Good job Inzi if you are not going to exclude your nephew from squad than I hope he plays and sa bowlers will surely play with him As the number of headblows will be quite high
What have Saad Ali done wrong he could have easily replaced Asad Shafiq one hundred per series in a losing cause wonder

 

[castortroy]

I would drop Yasir for SA. We need a better tail and I think it's worth going in with Shadab

 

[Shams123]

Guys its a great thing that imam and shan have been selected in my opinion.
Its very obvious that we are going to get smash in southafrica and I dont think selecting saad ali or abid will change this. This coming series provides us a great chance to get rid of dead weight in the form of imam and shan.

 

[MMHS]

Beautiful squad 10 out of 10. This should ensure Imam plays 3 Tests as well.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Beautiful squad 10 out of 10. This should ensure Imam plays 3 Tests as well.

Doesn't give Mickey too many options. Mickey's tactics are clear: the UK formula once again.

In the batting front they do not have any other serious option so Imam will have to do no matter the situation. Shan is poor against swing and Sarfraz cannot be replaced by Rizwan being the captiain.

Things will only get interesting IF someone gets injured.

 

[Zeeraq]

Why Saad Ali was dropped from the squad but a non-performer like Imam-ul-Haq continue to easily find their place in the squad?

 

[Sirris]

Shan MASOOOD )

Killing it in 50 over cricket, has been a proven mug in tests, chosen for tests. Classic Inzi

Inzi has lost the plot completely. Seeing his bhateeja get owned time and again has sent him into shock and now he is doing wack things.

Bechara Shan Masood. If he fails in tests they won't select him for ODIs again as well, the FORMAT HE SHOULD'VE BEEN SELECTED FOR. Not his fault.

Maulvi saab did the same thing with Mohammad Sami, effectively cutting his ODI career in half.

So frustrating. But literally everyone predicted this move from Mr. "credit to the boyzz" from a mile away.

Pakistan cricket should be a meme.

Do well in LOIs, get selected for Tests over and over again. While still to debut in LOIs.

 

[Brilliance]

3 nil on cards

 

[Amjid Javed]

Why Saad Ali was dropped from the squad but a non-performer like Imam-ul-Haq continue to easily find their place in the squad?

Heres the clue, its in Imams surname

 

[Mainul]

What a squad, what a nepotism and biasedness!!? Only possible in Pak cricket. Still no Fawad! Shaan is back in test!!! He was doing well in 50 overs format! Asad the hack is retained. Saad Ali is dropped without being tested at all,bechara.Amir is back on what basis? Has he improved significantly? What more needs to do for Abid Ali to be selected? All are question marks selection.

 

[Mainul]

This team will be harassed in SA.

 

[Kroll]

Good job Inzi if you are not going to exclude your nephew from squad than I hope he plays and sa bowlers will surely play with him As the number of headblows will be quite high
What have Saad Ali done wrong he could have easily replaced Asad Shafiq one hundred per series in a losing cause wonder

The odd century every now and again in a losing cause gives his fan boys justification for his inclusion.

 

[jadaja]

Good or bad, this is the exact squad everyone expected.

I don't think both Indian and Pakistan fans have any clue , they think selector's job is to create new players.

Players who are not selected are always world beaters in their views.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

No matter the selection/playing XI; with Sarfaraz as captain: we are destined to a 0-3 phainta.

 

[TalhaSyed]

Good to see Fakhar, Abbas, Shadab and Amir fit and back in the squad!

Also good to see Rizwan's excellent recent performance being rewarded.

 

[PakPremi]

Saad Ali should have been retained over Shan Masood and Imam should have been replaced by Abid Ali.

 

[Kroll]

Good to see Fakhar, Abbas, Shadab and Amir fit and back in the squad!

Also good to see Rizwan's excellent recent performance being rewarded.

Amir's been average at best since his come back.