Pakistan drop Wahab Riaz for second Test, Mir Hamza and Fakhar Zaman in 12-man squad

[MenInG]

Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced that Fakhar Zaman will come in for the injured Imam-ul-Haq and Shadab will replace Wahab Riaz in the group of 12 players for the 2nd Test.

Final XI to be announced tomorrow.

Squad of 12: Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Bilal Asif, Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas.

 

[Hasan123]

He deserves to be dropped. 2 leggies is an over kill. Australia have struggled against finger spinners and our think tank don't seem to understand that.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman would make a solid opening duo in theory, would be interesting to see. Don't see why Shadab Khan will play unless Bilal Asif sits out and I don't think that will happen. Otherwise it'll be 3 spinners (Shah, Asif, Shadab) and one pacer (Abbas)

 

[Khalistani99]

There will be two spinners and two fady bowlers. It will be like for like replacement.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

First class PERFORMERS should be given priority over the overrated “fast” bowlers. Ppl have created a myth that first class performances don’t count because of the conditions but the same first class cricket has produced some of our top international performers. So I hope that Mir Hamza gets the opportunity over Shahdab tomorrow.

 

[ShahidDar08]

Usman saluddin should have been selected in place of fakhar.

 

[Sherlock]

3-4 spinners is overkill for me.

Shadab can replace Bilal Asif and Mir Hamza can come in for Wahab.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

3-4 spinners is overkill for me.

Shadab can replace Bilal Asif and Mir Hamza can come in for Wahab.

Yes. At least we didn't play another dud in Usman.

 

[Markhor]

3-4 spinners is overkill for me.

Shadab can replace Bilal Asif and Mir Hamza can come in for Wahab.

Bilal Asif got a 6-fer in the last Test whereas Shadab's legspin requires a lot of improvement. It would not be right to drop Asif given we haven't any other specialist spinners to partner Yasir.

 

[mak36]

3-4 spinners is overkill for me.

Shadab can replace Bilal Asif and Mir Hamza can come in for Wahab.

Why would you drop the only finger spinner??

 

[Amjid Javed]

Can just depend on spinners to do damage. We need more wickets with new ball so Abbas needs support. Hamza should be picked.

We then still have 2 main spinners and 2 part time spinners to do rest of bowling.

 

[Sherlock]

Bilal Asif got a 6-fer in the last Test whereas Shadab's legspin requires a lot of improvement. It would not be right to drop Asif given we haven't any other specialist spinners to partner Yasir.

The 2nd innings he was very poor and for the Aussies played him better than how they did in the 1st and nullified his thread.

 

[Sherlock]

Why would you drop the only finger spinner??

Hafeez is one too so is Haris. Yes they're not full-time bowlers but they can do the job.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pitch supposedly has a tinge of grass. Although something like that should be taken with a grain of salt in UAE but it's better to be safe and go with 2 seamers rather than risk going with one.

Pakistan already has 3 spinners and going with another one in Shadab makes no sense unless the pitch is guaranteed to provide extravagant turn in the first two days.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

I don’t understand why domestic performance is not given value. Usman Salahuddin Should be in your XI, He is sitting on the bench after one test.

On the other hand you keep bringing people like Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan or Babar Azam who have performed in limited over cricket but they haven’t played enough first class cricket.

Imam has played a good amount of first class tournaments and you can see that from his performance and so does Haris Sohail.

Coming back to the XI this would be my XI

Mohammad Hafeez
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Usman Salahuddin
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed
Bilal Asif
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Abbas
Mir Hamza

But they already selected the 12 Men squad so never mind

 

[StreetSmart]

Usman saluddin should have been selected in place of fakhar.

so you are saying an opener should be replaced with a middle order half batsman ?

 

[Deewana Mastana]

So Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz dropped, no surprises

Even though a little harsh for Hasan to be dropped despite not playing the first test, Hamza will be worth the gamble in a must win game, only time will tell.

 

[ManFan]

So Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz dropped, no surprises

Even though a little harsh for Hasan to be dropped despite not playing the first test, Hamza will be worth the gamble in a must win game, only time will tell.

Hasan needed a rest.

Hamza might cause a bit of trouble in his new ball spell as there is expected to be some grass.

 

[the_outsider]

so you are saying an opener should be replaced with a middle order half batsman ?

Azhar should be opening with Hafeez anyway. So why not give Usman a chance in the middle order given his solid FC record?

 

[Justcrazy]

I do not understand what kind of selection policy is this. You bring back Wahab . On what performance ? Then play him in XI , then again drop him?

Pakistan management is confused , they not sure what to do and what not, just making random changes.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

I do not understand what kind of selection policy is this. You bring back Wahab . On what performance ? Then play him in XI , then again drop him?

Pakistan management is confused , they not sure what to do and what not, just making random changes.

Have they not always?

 

[ARK Rafay]

Fakhar
Hafeez
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Bilal
Yasir
Abbas
Mir Hamza

 

[TeamPak95]

Kinda interested in seeing Mir Hamza, not gonna lie. Don't expect him to cause too much of an impact. Let's see though...

 

[Saj]

It worries me that these 12 are supposedly the 12 best Test cricketers in Pakistan - how standards have slipped over the years.

 

[gazza619]

I would drop Bilal Asif and play Shadab. I think Bilal has tried to confuse us by that one performance. I am pretty clear in my head that Yasir & Shadab are our best spinners, like it or not.

 

[the_outsider]

I would drop Bilal Asif and play Shadab. I think Bilal has tried to confuse us by that one performance. I am pretty clear in my head that Yasir & Shadab are our best spinners, like it or not.

But having an off spinner might be crucial against an Aussie line-up with 4 left-handers. If Renshaw and Agar come into the XI there will be as many as 6 southpaws.

 

[Kaka4pope]

Mohammad Hafeez
Azhar Ali
Zaman
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed
Bilal Asif
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Abbas
Mir Hamza

Batting order needs deciding but that’s a good eleven. Room for an attacking batsman like Zaman and Mir Hamza deserves his chance.

Decent batting line up when you consider Babar at 6, he needs to get going though. He scored a great century in Oz albeit in an ODI. 6 is a nice spot to score runs from though...

 

[Rana]

Zaman and Hafeez will open

 

[Ertugrul_Bey]

I still don’t understand what wrong had Junaid done to be not selected specially over someone like Wahab.

Sarfaraz really is lost and doesn’t know what he wants. By now we should have a clear picture of the 15 who will play the WC next year.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Usman saluddin should have been selected in place of fakhar.

i like usman but he should be selected in place of Azhar Ali. and its not happening at the momment

 

[Sunny_majoka]

two leg spinners will not help our cause. better include mir hamza he deserves a chance