Pakistan leaving the slogging and big hitters a bit too late?

[Rana]

My honest asssesment of this innings. Lets get one thing clear, Pakistan definetly have guys who can throw the kitchen sink if needed! However, one logic I cannot understand is the purpose of Shahzad at the top of the order. When you have the likes of Faheem Ashraf waiting to swing the ball out of the park only getting a single delivery to face whereas Shahzad faced 33% of the deliveries without a substantial contribution, a case must be drawn for the future that these bigger hitters must be utilised a lot quicker in T20I.

Also, once again Pakistan left the hitting to the last 3 overs. In ODIs they leave it to the last 10 overs. They must get out of this mindset (wickets in hand and launch at the end). Imad wasim and Malik demonstrated perfectly that the best form of attack is an attacking mindset, it rattles the opposition and especially the bowlers

 

[The_Odd_One]

Kane opens in T20s and so should Babar. There's no place for Shehzad in any LO team.

 

[Plumb]

I still think T20 is not Babar's format. I 'll give him next 2 games and some foreign tours to prove that. He was flop in CPL and that's where I base my assessment on.

 

[MMHS]

T20 is a head heavy game- don't think even 70 in last 4 makes it up, if first 16 earns 100. In T20, there is no slog overs - entire game is slogging; most better T20 teams often scores more in 1st 6 overs than last 6. As long as Ahmed is batting like that at top, it won't help.

I think, last 6 overs after Shehzad got out score was 67, which is not bad, considering he scored 39 of 14 overs & his partner (s) were racing at 170+ SR. Shehzad & Sarfraz scored 43 of 39 balls coming at 2 & 5 - no slogging can recover that unless 2 overs goes for 48 - that happens may be once or twice in a year.

 

[New Yorker]

My honest asssesment of this innings. Lets get one thing clear, Pakistan definetly have guys who can throw the kitchen sink if needed! However, one logic I cannot understand is the purpose of Shahzad at the top of the order. When you have the likes of Faheem Ashraf waiting to swing the ball out of the park only getting a single delivery to face whereas Shahzad faced 33% of the deliveries without a substantial contribution, a case must be drawn for the future that these bigger hitters must be utilised a lot quicker in T20I.

Also, once again Pakistan left the hitting to the last 3 overs. In ODIs they leave it to the last 10 overs. They must get out of this mindset (wickets in hand and launch at the end). Imad wasim and Malik demonstrated perfectly that the best form of attack is an attacking mindset, it rattles the opposition and especially the bowlers

to boot, this was in fact a rather un-babarish innings by babar. he's not this fast usually.

no place for shezzy, but then again we all know this.

if narine can open why not faheem, or even shadab?

 

[Saj]

On this same topic, what on earth was Sammy doing coming in so late in the order.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Shehzad needs to be dropped; we need to bring Farhan to open with Fahkar

Malik also needs to go despite what he did today, he isnt a true power hitter. Babar obviously cant be dropped and there is no alternative to Sarfraz right now.

I'd bring Talat in for Malik

 

[Firebreaker]

On this same topic, what on earth was Sammy doing coming in so late in the order.

They had already lost the match

 

[mak36]

On this same topic, what on earth was Sammy doing coming in so late in the order.

He was hitting it as clean as a whistle today. That said, he hasn't been in the greatest form which is maybe why he was sent in so late. I am sure he will bat up the order tomorrow.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Errr.. why has no one mentioned Sarfraz, he's not a hitter at all. He should be below fahim and Imad.....

 

[ads101]

I think there is a place in the team for accumulators. They just need to average high and score at a SR of 120. Which Babar does.

Malik isn't an accumulator these days, he's been scoring over 130 at a great average over last two years. Malik consistently puts clutch performances, finishing games, accelerating in domestic, he just hasn't done it in internationals, but has been doing that more credit to him. Sarfraz is doing alright, scores at a SR of 125. Not a pure batsman as he keeps too, and is captain. I think he'd probably score quicker up the order too. So he's fine too.

I don't think there's a problem when players come in, our batsmen are capable of hitting big. Shehzad just simply shouldn't be playing that's all.

 

[Hamza_]

I'll agree with [MENTION=42125]ads101[/MENTION] that problem is with Ahmed Shehzad, He bats too slow.

However we do need to be more flexible and send Fahim & co. up the order (Shadab too can play shots).

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Shehzad was okay wasn't able to accelerate but as long as he keeps feeding the strike and gets to the other end I don't mind him in the lmited overs side. My only problem with him was dot percentage. Earlier he might hit 3 fours and take 2-3 singles of 20 balls to be at 14-15 of 20. And if unable to hit the boundaries be on 8 of 20. But now even if he doesn't hit boundaries he is at 15 of 20 and with a boundary or so can bat at 100 or strike rate

Sent from the mobile client - Forum Talker

 

[yasir]

I am surprise at people supporting Shezad here, he is a terrible LOI player, including T20. He should not be in the team, period. His fundamental problem is that he does not have technique to play pace bowling, for opener that is a must, he has been dancing around this problem like Hafeez. How long Pakistan will be fouled by such a players?? - If they can play spin, then find a place in middle order...Think tank is not thinking through the basis here, we don't want to waste opening slot for another spin basher :

 

[IAJ]

I really thought neoptism was over in Pak cricket, but to see Shehzad back in the team was really bad.
Babar Azam needs to open with Zaman and another batsman should be brought in.

Sarfraz needs to understand he is not a big hitter and when team is in a good position he should send in Faheem or Imad before himself. He can not hit big when that is expected.

 

[hadi123]

Shehzad needs to be dropped; we need to bring Farhan to open with Fahkar

Malik also needs to go despite what he did today, he isnt a true power hitter. Babar obviously cant be dropped and there is no alternative to Sarfraz right now.

I'd bring Talat in for Malik

Malik to be dropped? Really? He's been an extremely consistent batsman the last few years compared to even the likes of Sarfraz Ahmed and people want him dropped? His innings was important yesterday as we were going nowhere after Azam got out

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Malik to be dropped? Really? He's been an extremely consistent batsman the last few years compared to even the likes of Sarfraz Ahmed and people want him dropped? His innings was important yesterday as we were going nowhere after Azam got out

Malik is in his late 30s, the next t20 world cup is in 2020 and Malik has sadly failed in world tournments.

There is little sense in keeping him, both he and professor should have retired after the CT.


Sarfraz in t20s is a problem, especially with such a one pace batting lineup. However, as i mentioned earlier there no viable alternatives right now. Probably the only one is Umar but he has gone off the reservation, and that still leaves a captaincy issue.

 

[hadi123]

Malik is in his late 30s, the next t20 world cup is in 2020 and Malik has sadly failed in world tournments.

There is little sense in keeping him, both he and professor should have retired after the CT.


Sarfraz in t20s is a problem, especially with such a one pace batting lineup. However, as i mentioned earlier there no viable alternatives right now. Probably the only one is Umar but he has gone off the reservation, and that still leaves a captaincy issue.

The fact that he is in his late 30s shouldn't really matter when you realize he is one of the fittest players in the team. As for failed in world tournaments, he has only been good since 2015 and he was good in the World T20 and can't gather much from Champions Trophy. He was run out vs India and was batting nicely, not out v South Africa and was going along nicely, failed against SL and against India we were going for late runs anyway. He has bettered many of his bad records recently, for example his highest score was only 24 in England but last year he played a match winning innings of 70 odd. Also, if he is in the team now it suggests he is here to stay anyway