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Pakistan end Day 3 on 153/3, needing 228 to win the 3rd Test against South Africa

Anyone scoring a scratchy 40 just to save there rear ends should be the first ones to he dropped!!

Selfish individuals scoring easy runs when the series is gone & opposition going through the motions..
 
At least Asad has 1 innings of some substance in the series. Azhar has batted worse than Amir or Hasan while supposedly being best bat in side

Agreed but to me both are useless if they cant win matches for Pak after playing so much.
 
No, I think this format suits PAK team much better. Because players groomed in a flawed system on poor quality wickets can only be better in a longer tournament. 2003 WC was different for different reasons and the format was even more complex - one loss & you are out, when 3 of 4 to make the cut. No point winning against ZIM, NETH - PAK lost first 2 games against AUS & ENG. Particularly the ENG game, because other 2 teams from same group made the finals.

Even in this series, 2nd innings batting has been much better, and I am sure we'll see better bating in ODI series after a month in SAF.

though i am hopeful we will do better in SA odi series
but as much as i know pak players they are mentally week.
this format will relax them.
and if they lost one or two games against westindies, afghanistan, bangladesh, and srilanka.
than it will be hard for them to beat other top teams.
 
Babar vs Shan to be Pakistan top scorer, surprising to see a 50 run opening partnership. Am I dreaming?
 
Be nice if Shan gets a 100 and later on test captaincy. However, that bold would never happen with our culture of promoting seniors only.
 
Qdk ,shan ,amla , markram and babar.

Yesterdays evening and today has changed a lot.

Just shows how poor other batsmen have been, considering we have two in the top 5 and their innings is still on
 
At least Asad has 1 innings of some substance in the series. Azhar has batted worse than Amir or Hasan while supposedly being best bat in side
This is how Pak selectors think when they pick Asad
 
Azhar Ali needs to step up. But I'm worried his dead batting will put the pressure on the rest of the team.

I would have put Babar at 3 for this situation. He would have put the pressure on SA.
 
There is only one thing I want if we lose (which looks likely to happen). Asad Shafiq getting runs here would be disastrous for the near future of this team. Better he scores a duck and is dumped out of the team.
 
when it was required steyn delivered , imo he is the major difference between both teams. There were times when Pakistan cornered South Africa but they escape because there was no go to bowler like steyn.
 
Imam's FC average before Test debut was 34.

Out for 35. That's his limit.
 
Watching Pak bat isnt easy as a fan. Each ball u have to concentrate knowing well that no batsmen ever gets 'Set'.
 
Imam's FC average before Test debut was 34.

Out for 35. That's his limit.

Most first class innings in domestic cricket last about 60 overs. Guess how many times we have batted more than 60 overs In this series?
 
It will be great if Azhar and Shafiq both has pair. So we may get rid atleast 1 of them.
 
when it was required steyn delivered , imo he is the major difference between both teams. There were times when Pakistan cornered South Africa but they escape because there was no go to bowler like steyn.

Valid point. We couldnt incash the pressure situations as a bowling unit as well
 
Imam's FC average before Test debut was 34.

Out for 35. That's his limit.

That's what people do not understand. Nice 20's 30's might do in ODI but not in tests. He doesn't have the game to last for a longer period against top quality bowlers.

Look how Shan improved after playing a few proper seasons of FC. Imam can do the same as he is a educated wise guy. He needs a few seasons batting long sessions and if he averages above 45 then he can come back and stay in the team.
 
Never seen such a timid senior batsman in my life, he looks like a nervous newbie,,, such a garbage investment
 
Classy 35 from nephew better than dekocks 100

Playing as an opener is different though. But know what you are saying however i wont blame guys early in their careers. Azhar, Asad and Sarfraz are to be blamed.
 
Most first class innings in domestic cricket last about 60 overs. Guess how many times we have batted more than 60 overs In this series?

I don't blame Imam, he has come through a shoddy system. Batting is a skill developed through hours upon hours of graft in the middle. That's how you learn to construct a long innings and develop a Test match temperament.

But on damp, uneven pitches where matches become a lottery that's impossible, so a quick 30 is almost akin to a fifty - especially for an opener facing the new ball in Northern Punjab in November !
 
That's what people do not understand. Nice 20's 30's might do in ODI but not in tests. He doesn't have the game to last for a longer period against top quality bowlers.

Look how Shan improved after playing a few proper seasons of FC. Imam can do the same as he is a educated wise guy. He needs a few seasons batting long sessions and if he averages above 45 then he can come back and stay in the team.

Unfortunately I guess Fakhar is the only opener who averages 40 + in 4 day which shows how much we are lacking in that department.

Imam with his low averages was I guess 4th,5th highest scorer among openers last QAE season.
 
Steyn please award Azhar and Shafiq pair for the betterment of Pakistan cricket.
 
I don't blame Imam, he has come through a shoddy system. Batting is a skill developed through hours upon hours of graft in the middle. That's how you learn to construct a long innings and develop a Test match temperament.

But on damp, uneven pitches where matches become a lottery that's impossible, so a quick 30 is almost akin to a fifty - especially for an opener facing the new ball in Northern Punjab in November !


I think Imam can be a good test player. But selecting him in both ODIs and tests won't help his confidence at all. He has been worked over. Shouldn't have been selected for the ODIs.
 
Give some nasty bouncer to Azhar and he will wet his pants and gift wicket.
 
Highly unlikely!!!! Both Him and Shafiq has big support all around Pakistan whether its from formers (Misbah, Yousuf, Mohsin...), Journalists or media.

Azhar atleast averages 43 even now however Shafiq is the biggest downfall I have seen in recent times, he is averaging just 38 now

Both need sometime out
 
though i am hopeful we will do better in SA odi series
but as much as i know pak players they are mentally week.
this format will relax them.
and if they lost one or two games against westindies, afghanistan, bangladesh, and srilanka.
than it will be hard for them to beat other top teams.

No human being is by born mentally weak - they get nervous/sacred (and acts out of comfort zone), when they are out of their depth or unsecured or subject to constant criticism or has a history of regular failures. For PAK players - they are out of depth after playing cricket on UAE garbage, unsecured at highest level where they are constantly competing with better conditioned players than the rubbish PCB arranges as domestic cricket (& for the double standard in selection), they are constantly criticized by fans & media (for a reason as well) and they have lost several close games for failing at one/two critical moments.

A longer tournament like WC with 9 games will give them - 1. time to acclimatize & get used to the condition 2. no fear of selection as junior players are assured of their spot for the entire tournament, 3. being in a competitive environment for 6 weeks instead of QeAzam cricket, 4. a longer tournament gives them chance to come-back, one loss isn't the end of the world, which makes them relaxed.

I have seen PAK cricket more than most here - with a better preparation & selection, there is a SF spot to pick as low hanging fruit. After that, it's a matter of 2 great days.
 
I don't even blame Azhar - where in Pakistan will he develop a backfoot game ? Apart from Diamond Club ground, a batsmen cannot develop shots against short pitched bowling on those slow, uneven, dead pitches.

How can you develop a backfoot game playing in UAE ?

Reached the point of despair as a Pakistan fan.
 
Unfortunately I guess Fakhar is the only opener who averages 40 + in 4 day which shows how much we are lacking in that department.

Imam with his low averages was I guess 4th,5th highest scorer among openers last QAE season.

On merit Abid Ali deserves the most.

Abid Ali has been brought up on lively wickets as well, just like Shan Masood.
 
I don't even blame Azhar - where in Pakistan will he develop a backfoot game ? Apart from Diamond Club ground, a batsmen cannot develop shots against short pitched bowling on those slow, uneven, dead pitches.

How can you develop a backfoot game playing in UAE ?

Reached the point of despair as a Pakistan fan.

The reason Shan Masood and Abid Ali have improved their game over the time. They both play a lot of games in Islamabad at that ground.
 
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