Pakistan dropped the WRONG batsman between Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq

[Junaids]

People are so happy at the dropping of the mediocre Asad Shafiq that they are losing track of the real problem - that Misbah has dropped the wrong batsman.

Consider the facts:

Azhar Ali - 35 years old, can't field
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 31.37
Away Average since MisYou retired: 20.20
21 away innings since MisYou: 1 century, 1 fifty, 18 sub-50 scores

Asad Shafiq - 34 years old, the only Test class slip fielder
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 35.11
Away Average since MisYou retired: 27.45
20 away innings since MisYou retired: 0 centuries, 6 fifties.

So, to be precise, since MisYou retired over 3 years ago:

Asad Shafiq is averaging 35 to Azhar Ali's 31.
Asad Shafiq is averaging 27 away to Azhar Ali's 20.
Asad Shafiq has reached fifty 6 times in 20 away innings: Azhar Ali has reached fifty 2 times in 21 innings.

Pakistan have retained the older batsman who is performing worse and have dumped the younger, higher-performing one who is a key slip fielder.

 

[Junaids]

To be clear, I would prefer to drop BOTH batsmen.

But the more urgent need was to drop the one who is performing worse, who can't field, is older, and whose only decent recent away score was at Southampton on a featherbed batting wicket.

 

[Rana]

People are so happy at the dropping of the mediocre Asad Shafiq that they are losing track of the real problem - that Misbah has dropped the wrong batsman.

Consider the facts:

Azhar Ali - 35 years old, can't field
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 31.37
Away Average since MisYou retired: 20.20
21 away innings since MisYou: 1 century, 1 fifty, 18 sub-50 scores

Asad Shafiq - 34 years old, the only Test class slip fielder
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 35.11
Away Average since MisYou retired: 27.45
20 away innings since MisYou retired: 0 centuries, 6 fifties.

So, to be precise, since MisYou retired over 3 years ago:

Asad Shafiq is averaging 35 to Azhar Ali's 31.
Asad Shafiq is averaging 27 away to Azhar Ali's 20.
Asad Shafiq has reached fifty 6 times in 20 away innings: Azhar Ali has reached fifty 2 times in 21 innings.

Pakistan have retained the older batsman who is performing worse and have dumped the younger, higher-performing one who is a key slip fielder.

And Fawad Alam has come out unscathed in all of this because he apparently deserves more chances at the age of 35

 

[Thunderbolt14]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] they’re probably dropping Azhar as well after this tour or next.

For now, they made the easy decision of dropping Asad as dropping Azhar means dropping your captain without phasing him out.

I suspect this is Azhar’s phase out series - demoted from captaincy, there to provide an easy transition to Babar’s captaincy, and can be dropped at any time if his form suffers.

 

[BigShak]

Azhar is a goner after New Zealand series anyway. He struggled out there even during his peak years so now that he’s on his last legs there’s a good chance he’ll flop miserably and be dropped.

 

[kingusama92]

Both should be dropped.

Although, I think there are benefits of keeping Azhar around right now. You don't want Babar leading the test side without any semblance of leadership support around him. If Azhar is gone, who is left to guide Babar during his debut series as skipper? Shan Masood? Yasir Shah?

I realize Azhar is a rubbish captain (lol) but support is support. He has leadership experience at this level, which can help a new skipper that may miss out on small details here and there.

On top of that, it's a psychological thing too. Babar is already a one-man show batting wise, you don't want to do the same thing on the leadership side too. It will get to the stage where he mentally checks out. You often see that with good players on bad teams.

Plus, Azhar is in the middle of a good patch right now. His last three FC innings have been 63, 95*, and 63. Of course, the 141 in Southhampton too.

It's likely better to transition Azhar out of the squad after this series or the next.

Not a fan of Azhar, but it was smarter to get rid of Asad first and then Azhar.

 

[Rana]

Tbh, I wouldn’t mind one of them going on to play 100 tests. They both are around the 80 Test mark and it saddens me that we are playing at an average of 6-7 Tests a year. At this rate we will have Test careers of 50-60 max Tests.

 

[PakPremi]

You are as good as you last few matches. Azhar has played a very good inning in last match and backed it up with a 50. Asad failed in all matches, and looked hopeless whilst at crease whereas Azhar was looking increasingly better in each and eventually sorted himself. If he fails in the next two series he will so be rightly shown the door, probably for ever, whereas Asad will be allowed back if he shows form.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

People are so happy at the dropping of the mediocre Asad Shafiq that they are losing track of the real problem - that Misbah has dropped the wrong batsman.

Consider the facts:

Azhar Ali - 35 years old, can't field
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 31.37
Away Average since MisYou retired: 20.20
21 away innings since MisYou: 1 century, 1 fifty, 18 sub-50 scores

Asad Shafiq - 34 years old, the only Test class slip fielder
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 35.11
Away Average since MisYou retired: 27.45
20 away innings since MisYou retired: 0 centuries, 6 fifties.

So, to be precise, since MisYou retired over 3 years ago:

Asad Shafiq is averaging 35 to Azhar Ali's 31.
Asad Shafiq is averaging 27 away to Azhar Ali's 20.
Asad Shafiq has reached fifty 6 times in 20 away innings: Azhar Ali has reached fifty 2 times in 21 innings.

Pakistan have retained the older batsman who is performing worse and have dumped the younger, higher-performing one who is a key slip fielder.

100% agreed.

In his last 16 Test Matches, Asad Shafeeq has 7 50s and 4 40's.

He wasn't performing very bad at 4.

In my opinion, the original mistake was made when PCB appointed Azhar Ali as Test Captain for the very first time after Misbah retired.

This was CRUCIAL mistake. Azhar NEVER had it in him what it takes to be the captain.


It was then, when Asad Shafiq should've been named the captain. I guarantee you, we would've had a different and better picture for both of them today.

And here, they simply couldn't drop Azhar to save their own face.

Can't drop a player from captaincy and kick him out of the team in the same stroke, otherwise, it will put a question mark on your own judgement as to why this player was appointed captain in the first place?

So PCB had to save it's own face, which is not surprising.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Tbh, I wouldn’t mind one of them going on to play 100 tests. They both are around the 80 Test mark and it saddens me that we are playing at an average of 6-7 Tests a year. At this rate we will have Test careers of 50-60 max Tests.

From 2010-19, Pakistan played 83 tests, an average of 8.3 each year. Same amount as New Zealand in fact.

 

[shamaan]

Both should be dropped but if I had to choose one I'd stil go with shafiq to be dropped

 

[Rana]

From 2010-19, Pakistan played 83 tests, an average of 8.3 each year. Same amount as New Zealand in fact.

They were playing as much cricket as the other teams in 2010 before the Big 3 thing became the big deal for the ICC. Our usual 3 Test away series have been reduced to 2 in Australia and New Zealand. The same teams don’t want to play more than 2 Tests against us in the UAE and now Pakistan.

In a 4 year span, Pakistan will play 6-7 Tests against Australia (home and away). Whilst Australia will play 15 Tests against England (home and Away) and 12 Tests against India.

We are not playing enough cricket

 

[Zaz]

You are as good as you last few matches. Azhar has played a very good inning in last match and backed it up with a 50. Asad failed in all matches, and looked hopeless whilst at crease whereas Azhar was looking increasingly better in each and eventually sorted himself. If he fails in the next two series he will so be rightly shown the door, probably for ever, whereas Asad will be allowed back if he shows form.

This, well said Azhar has shown some form so there is a promise there but shafiq has just gone from bad to worse

Shafiq has rightly been shown the door Azhar will be next if he fails in the next series or two

 

[Nasty Naz]

Both batsmen should be dropped and frankly, it seems like Azhar Ali is nearing his end too with being woefully horrible since MisYou retired and being stripped of his captaincy already.

This NZ tour will probably see the end of Azhar Ali as well.

 

[choudhary6964]

Asad shafiq is the most useless cricketer ever.He has played more than 70 matches with a single match winning knock outside Asia.Most useless cricketer ever. Pakistan has wasted a decade on this loser.

 

[Usman Chadda]

How would you drop Azhar after the century he scored against England, which we have to admit was a really brave effort on his part.

Asad has been mediocre for far too long, and he took his spot for granted. It was a travesty to call him a senior player.

 

[coy0607]

There's no reason to drop one or the other, they are both amongst the worst test batsmen in world cricket right now, and neither one deserves to play for Pakistan.

Azhar is about to lay a massive egg in NZ

 

[GreenKhan]

And Fawad Alam has come out unscathed in all of this because he apparently deserves more chances at the age of 35

That is such a lame comparison. Fawad might be 35 but he has played two tests in the last 9 years . He deserves a good run on the back of his domestic performances. Has he played 10 tests without any returns then it’s a logical argument .

 

[sshakir411]

They’re a pair. Both are responsible for Pakistan’s horrible test record in the last few years.

 

[Baigel]

People are so happy at the dropping of the mediocre Asad Shafiq that they are losing track of the real problem - that Misbah has dropped the wrong batsman.

Consider the facts:

Azhar Ali - 35 years old, can't field
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 31.37
Away Average since MisYou retired: 20.20
21 away innings since MisYou: 1 century, 1 fifty, 18 sub-50 scores

Asad Shafiq - 34 years old, the only Test class slip fielder
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 35.11
Away Average since MisYou retired: 27.45
20 away innings since MisYou retired: 0 centuries, 6 fifties.

So, to be precise, since MisYou retired over 3 years ago:

Asad Shafiq is averaging 35 to Azhar Ali's 31.
Asad Shafiq is averaging 27 away to Azhar Ali's 20.
Asad Shafiq has reached fifty 6 times in 20 away innings: Azhar Ali has reached fifty 2 times in 21 innings.

Pakistan have retained the older batsman who is performing worse and have dumped the younger, higher-performing one who is a key slip fielder.

haha. This is exactly the problem with us. We are never satisfied and we are never happy. Everybody in this forum was calling for Asad to be dropped. He was, now we are saying that Asad was better than Azhar. Another example, we want to play young guys and give them opportunities, however 1 bad game from Khushdil makes him a leg side hack? You guys need to be consistent in your arguments, you can't keep changing your opinion. Stick to something

 

[Indiafan]

The sick ageism on display once again. Discriminating a player based on nothing but age is stupid. Thank God Aussies never did that and gave us legends like Hussey

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

The sick ageism on display once again. Discriminating a player based on nothing but age is stupid. Thank God Aussies never did that and gave us legends like Hussey

When you are not performing for a long, you are bound to face criticism for the all the things you do.

Look at Rohit Sharma, a conventional player who doesn't bother about fitness, but as long as he is performing for the country no one would bat an eye on his fitness.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

They were playing as much cricket as the other teams in 2010 before the Big 3 thing became the big deal for the ICC. Our usual 3 Test away series have been reduced to 2 in Australia and New Zealand. The same teams don’t want to play more than 2 Tests against us in the UAE and now Pakistan.

In a 4 year span, Pakistan will play 6-7 Tests against Australia (home and away). Whilst Australia will play 15 Tests against England (home and Away) and 12 Tests against India.

We are not playing enough cricket

This is indeed the reality. I hope Wasim Khan is aware of it and addresses it quickly.

For any player playing for 10 years on avg will end playing only 70-80 tests. Same applied to big 3 players he will end playing 150 tests. Same thing when applied to ODIs they will end playing 20 JAMODIS a year which makes them reach 200 ODIs in 10 years

As per FTP Pakistan plays just 12 ODIs in 2021 where 3 of them is against WIn and AfG

That makes 6 days of one day cricket against Top5 teams in a calendar year that’s like real minnows level.

This is also another reason why they are a poor ODI side. That’s is why BABAR is a beast with such less number of games.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Azhar better play his career best cricket this series. He is a goner if he fails in NZ.

Finally, Asad / Azhar torture is over.

 

[shamaan]

haha. This is exactly the problem with us. We are never satisfied and we are never happy. Everybody in this forum was calling for Asad to be dropped. He was, now we are saying that Asad was better than Azhar. Another example, we want to play young guys and give them opportunities, however 1 bad game from Khushdil makes him a leg side hack? You guys need to be consistent in your arguments, you can't keep changing your opinion. Stick to something

Exactly pakistan fans are fickle they chop and change their argument like the weather

 

[Rana]

This is indeed the reality. I hope Wasim Khan is aware of it and addresses it quickly.

For any player playing for 10 years on avg will end playing only 70-80 tests. Same applied to big 3 players he will end playing 150 tests. Same thing when applied to ODIs they will end playing 20 JAMODIS a year which makes them reach 200 ODIs in 10 years

As per FTP Pakistan plays just 12 ODIs in 2021 where 3 of them is against WIn and AfG

That makes 6 days of one day cricket against Top5 teams in a calendar year that’s like real minnows level.

This is also another reason why they are a poor ODI side. That’s is why BABAR is a beast with such less number of games.

People like to crucify Azhar Ali for his defence of Asad Shafiq’s age, but he was totally right about the fact that these older players who are still active need to be playing cricket wherever they can to stay fit. If you only have 6-8 Tests a year to look forward to as a Test cricketer, why wouldn’t you want to play all the FC Matches, List A matches and the T20 tournaments to ensure that you are still playing some kind of competitive cricket in order to stay match fit?

 

[Hasan123]

Both need to go. That's not even a debate anymore. But it would have been harsh to drop Azhar after his knock against England.

 

[Abdullah719]

People are so happy at the dropping of the mediocre Asad Shafiq that they are losing track of the real problem - that Misbah has dropped the wrong batsman.

Consider the facts:

Azhar Ali - 35 years old, can’t field
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 31.37
Away Average since MisYou retired: 20.20
21 away innings since MisYou: 1 century, 1 fifty, 18 sub-50 scores

Asad Shafiq - 34 years old, the only Test class slip fielder
Overall Average since MisYou retired in mid-2017: 35.11
Away Average since MisYou retired: 27.45
20 away innings since MisYou retired: 0 centuries, 6 fifties.

So, to be precise, since MisYou retired over 3 years ago:

Asad Shafiq is averaging 35 to Azhar Ali’s 31.
Asad Shafiq is averaging 27 away to Azhar Ali’s 20.
Asad Shafiq has reached fifty 6 times in 20 away innings: Azhar Ali has reached fifty 2 times in 21 innings.

Pakistan have retained the older batsman who is performing worse and have dumped the younger, higher-performing one who is a key slip fielder.

The only thing I can see from these numbers is that both should be dropped.

 

[Firebat]

If I really had to choose, I would drop Asad. I have never felt so frustrated from cricket in a long time watching his dismissals in this recent England series.

Also, the replacements for Asad seem more obvious than the ones for Azhar. Haris, Fawad, even Shadab come to mind as #5/6/7 batsmen. But who's ready right now to slot into the #3 position for us in Test cricket?

Regardless, if Azhar fails once again, it will be impossible to justify not dropping him.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Asad is the worst investment Pakistan ever made. Good riddance. Azhar is a fighter and can still produce some good knocks but Asad is a lost cause.

 

[Mirpur express]

Should’ve dropped both along with Fawad (feel sorry for him but he’s past his best too)

 

[Rana]

Asad is the worst investment Pakistan ever made. Good riddance. Azhar is a fighter and can still produce some good knocks but Asad is a lost cause.

Not really man. He has done well for his 6000 runs @42 considering he played his peak years in a Pakistan side rebuilding after the 2010 debacle. A young Azhar Ali that arrived on the scene in 2010 in this current Test set up would be very welcome, a player who puts a value on his wicket batting at number 3 and allowing Babar to play at ease in his number 4 position.

 

[Energy]

Right decision made. Asad has had an easy career, taking zero responsibility and all the credit for the little knocks he's played along the way.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Should’ve dropped both along with Fawad (feel sorry for him but he’s past his best too)

Nah Fawad still deserves a proper chance in my eyes. He's technically had one test and should've played the home series against SL and Bang which went to the purchi players. I think that there was a lack of confidence from his comeback but i hope he performs in NZ.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

The only thing I can see from these numbers is that both should be dropped.

Precisely no reason as to why they should continue. I was hoping at one point Azhar would become highest test scorer for Pakistan but don't see that happening now.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Azhar could have been an even better batsman had he not sustained the knee injuries that he did. Regardless of that, he has served Pakistan Cricket to the best of his ability, and what he needs to do now is perform consistently away from home so that Babar can ease into his captaincy. Azhar needs to be the mentor figure who is dependable if youngsters make mistakes so that Pakistan can become a better test-match team.

 

[MMHS]

The only thing I can see from these numbers is that both should be dropped.

No, I'll back Misbah for this one - don't judge the book only by the cover.

Misbah dropped Asad for poor figures for a lengthy period and sacked Azhar from Captaincy, would have dropped him as well. But, what Azhar did in his last Test deserves a second chance - he has scored hundreds in his last two series and the last one was better than anything from a PAK Test batsman since YK's 218, in 2016.

If he fails in NZ, I am sure he'll be dropped at least from playing XI. They took 35 players - be honest with yourself, you'll realize that in fact Asad was hard done by - no way, no way there are 10-12 better Test middle order batsmen than Asad Shafique in PAK right now. In that regard, he was also hard done by.

 

[Abdullah719]

No, I’ll back Misbah for this one - don’t judge the book only by the cover.

Misbah dropped Asad for poor figures for a lengthy period and sacked Azhar from Captaincy, would have dropped him as well. But, what Azhar did in his last Test deserves a second chance - he has scored hundreds in his last two series and the last one was better than anything from a PAK Test batsman since YK’s 218, in 2016.

If he fails in NZ, I am sure he’ll be dropped at least from playing XI. They took 35 players - be honest with yourself, you’ll realize that in fact Asad was hard done by - no way, no way there are 10-12 better Test middle order batsmen than Asad Shafique in PAK right now. In that regard, he was also hard done by.

It’s quite likely that Asad’s replacement may not fare a lot better than him in the immediate future, whoever it is. But this has to be a decision based on the long term and in the long term, it’s quite clear what his ceiling is.

 

[Zaz]

It’s quite likely that Asad’s replacement may not fare a lot better than him in the immediate future, whoever it is. But this has to be a decision based on the long term and in the long term, it’s quite clear what his ceiling is.

Exactly on paper there may not be a better bat than shafiq domestics but you cant have a 34 yr old avging in his 20s for the last two years not winning matches for his team n generally batting like a tailender

Its better to cust your losses n invest in someone young who may in 3-4 years be a solid test batter for the next decade

If azhar fails in NZ he ll be next to go too Theyre expected to be leading from the front in terms of batsmanship at this stage in their career Not the reverse

 

[Shoaibbtt]

It’s quite likely that Asad’s replacement may not fare a lot better than him in the immediate future, whoever it is. But this has to be a decision based on the long term and in the long term, it’s quite clear what his ceiling is.

Regardless of who Asad's replacement is he should be given a fair chance probably not as long as Asad but a fair chance, if we keep dropping someone new in the team who is only been a part of one or two series then how is he ever to develop? Part of becoming a success is failing and learning from those failures and hence we have Shan Masood who credit to him has improved much more than i thought.

Pakistan should not hit the drop button too soon and be patient with younger/newer talent as oppose to going back to the oldies who won't be of any benefit to Pakistan in the long run.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

haha. This is exactly the problem with us. We are never satisfied and we are never happy. Everybody in this forum was calling for Asad to be dropped. He was, now we are saying that Asad was better than Azhar. Another example, we want to play young guys and give them opportunities, however 1 bad game from Khushdil makes him a leg side hack? You guys need to be consistent in your arguments, you can't keep changing your opinion. Stick to something

I exactly agree with that we need to be patient with younger talent and if that results in failing that's fine as long as they gain experience and learn from mistakes. However, one thing is for certain is that Iftikhar doesn't deserve a spot in any of the teams.

 

[shamaan]

Regardless of who Asad's replacement is he should be given a fair chance probably not as long as Asad but a fair chance, if we keep dropping someone new in the team who is only been a part of one or two series then how is he ever to develop? Part of becoming a success is failing and learning from those failures and hence we have Shan Masood who credit to him has improved much more than i thought.

Pakistan should not hit the drop button too soon and be patient with younger/newer talent as oppose to going back to the oldies who won't be of any benefit to Pakistan in the long run.

I think 1 or 2 series and more chances if he shows some determination and has couple decent innings but If a player who hasnt showed anything and doesnt learn why perisist with him example naseem il persist with as hes shown good spells .

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I think 1 or 2 series and more chances if he shows some determination and has couple decent innings but If a player who hasnt showed anything and doesnt learn why perisist with him example naseem il persist with as hes shown good spells .

I think just have a policy in place to give players chances i.e. some series away and some at home/UAE.

 

[shamaan]

I think just have a policy in place to give players chances i.e. some series away and some at home/UAE.

The thing with pakistan is that you either get dropped way to early or way to late thiers no middle ground

 

[Swing]

Both are terrible right now and need to go. I was very certain that both would be playing until their legs gave out but at least one of them is gone.

The recent series with England might have gone different if either of these two neanderthals bothered to score a few runs.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

The thing with pakistan is that you either get dropped way to early or way to late thiers no middle ground

Fact is we were duped by these con artists in Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

I mean i can't believe Tanvir Ahmed defended him from being dropped, i thought he would be the one guy that would be happy. I've now come to the conclusion he's a bit of a moaner.

Sorry to get off topic but yes i still feel that we must give someone a chance on away conditions and home conditions then average over the whole thing and how well they did overall, then you can do an average based on just home and away conditions separately. If someone gets an average in the low 40s or high 30s i'd take that for now and see how they progress.

 

[shamaan]

Fact is we were duped by these con artists in Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

I mean i can't believe Tanvir Ahmed defended him from being dropped, i thought he would be the one guy that would be happy. I've now come to the conclusion he's a bit of a moaner.

Sorry to get off topic but yes i still feel that we must give someone a chance on away conditions and home conditions then average over the whole thing and how well they did overall, then you can do an average based on just home and away conditions separately. If someone gets an average in the low 40s or high 30s i'd take that for now and see how they progress.

I think having low 40s is fine but if he isnt going to progress no point in having that player example asad has been ok for majority of his career but hasnt really progressed or won games.haider ali may have average of high 30s but his match winning percentage will be alot higher I'd take that if he wins games

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Both are terrible right now and need to go. I was very certain that both would be playing until their legs gave out but at least one of them is gone.

The recent series with England might have gone different if either of these two neanderthals bothered to score a few runs.

calling players as "Neanderthals" sounds quite ironic when you basically missed the premise of the OP.

The undertaking is, we HAD to pick one of them, and which one it should've been?

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I think having low 40s is fine but if he isnt going to progress no point in having that player example asad has been ok for majority of his career but hasnt really progressed or won games.haider ali may have average of high 30s but his match winning percentage will be alot higher I'd take that if he wins games

I mean overall both Azhar and Asad deserved dropping a while ago. In terms of tests i would like to see how Fawad Alam and Saud Shakeel go, in my eyes both deserve shots equally and in my view have been hard done by.

I feel it's a little too late for the likes of Tabish and Numan Ali. However, Zahid Mehmood could be an attractive option in tests.

 

[shamaan]

I mean overall both Azhar and Asad deserved dropping a while ago. In terms of tests i would like to see how Fawad Alam and Saud Shakeel go, in my eyes both deserve shots equally and in my view have been hard done by.

I feel it's a little too late for the likes of Tabish and Numan Ali. However, Zahid Mehmood could be an attractive option in tests.

I agree with all your points made in this post espically fawad hes been hard done by even saud should have been given a go

 

[BunnyRabbit]

The difference is Azhar goes out of form and then comes back to form with 100 and then his patch lasts a few Tests. Asad on the other hand, is always the same. Scores a fifty or a 100, gets ducks gets out almost every time he is needed.

Azhar has fought hard throughout his career. He improved. From his SR in 30s, he improved. From not converting 50s, he improved the conversion rate. He even improved his batting as his average soared to 45 plus at a point. Meanwhile Asad has always been average 37 38, maybe once or twice he got it to around 40 and that's it.

Another point, Azhar has almost always batted in the top 3, meanwhile Asad has always been shielded at no.6. The highest he has batted is at no.3 probably for 3 or 4 innings.

But I can see Azhar getting dropped in a year or two as well.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

It will only take one series for the clamours to start
Pakistani fans have the resonance and the voice to raise once players dont score 100s with 50 strike rates in t20s or average 50s in test cricket home and abroad when our talent pool isn't really that deep
We will shout until the roosters crow home about out fast bowling talent but I can't remember the last bowler to take 200 wickets for us in test cricket
We shout from the rooftops when debutant like abid ali score back to back hundreds but go quiet when they fail in follow up series
I'm sure asads successors will bring back the skills and swagger of younis khan etc

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I agree with all your points made in this post espically fawad hes been hard done by even saud should have been given a go

Muhammad Saad and Usman Salhuddin looked ok but too slow.